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Axon’s Moonshot initiative has an ambitious goal to drastically reduce gun-related deaths in encounters involving police officers and the public. The primary aim of the Moonshot initiative is to reduce these fatalities by 50% within 10 years.
In this episode of the “Policing Matters” podcast, host Jim Dudley engages with Axon’s experts to unravel the complexities of officer-involved shootings and the potential for reducing gun fatalities. Axon has initiated an ambitious project: the Axon Public Safety Gun Fatality Database. This database, a product of meticulous research and analysis in collaboration with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), aims to provide groundbreaking insights into shooting deaths involving officers and civilians from 2021 through June 2023 across all U.S. jurisdictions.
The discussion pivots on the genesis and objectives of Axon’s Moonshot goal and the database. Guests Mike Wagers, Senior Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at Axon, and Ty Nguyen, Senior Data Scientist, discuss the unique approach and methodology behind the database, highlighting how it stands apart from existing studies. The episode also explores the initial findings and their implications for enhancing law enforcement training, decision-making and safety.
About our sponsor
This episode of the Policing Matters Podcast is brought to you by Lexipol, the experts in policy, training, wellness support and grants assistance for first responders and government leaders. To learn more, visit lexipol.com.
Memorable quotes
- “Every life saved is meaningful and matters.” – Mike Wagers on Axon’s Moonshot goal
- “We need a lot more data if we’re going to try to prevent these tragic deaths.” – Mike Wagers on the necessity of detailed data analysis
- “We’re not just doing machine learning; we’re trying to collect as much information as we can to reduce deaths in officer-involved shootings.” – Ty Nguyen on the importance of comprehensive data collection
Key takeaways
- Axon’s Public Safety Gun Fatality Database: This comprehensive collection and analysis of data on shooting deaths involving police and civilians aims to inform better training and policy decisions.
- The Moonshot Goal: Axon’s ambitious target to reduce gun deaths between police and the public by 50% within 10 years.
- Unique data collection methodology: The database uses a blend of open-source data, body camera footage, and detailed case studies, offering insights not available in other databases.
- Impact on training and policy: The findings from the database are expected to influence police training methods, particularly around the use of less lethal technologies like TASERs.
- Ongoing development: The database is a living project, with continual updates and refinements to ensure it remains a valuable resource for law enforcement and public safety.
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