By Sarah Roebuck
Police1
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Axon Enterprise Inc. announced the launch of a new national database set to play a crucial role in achieving the company’s goal of reducing gun-related deaths between police officers and civilians at IACP 2023 in San Diego.
In partnership with the Institute for Intergovernmental Research (IIR), Axon has created the Axon Public Safety Gun Fatality Database. This database provides a comprehensive view on fatalities resulting from gunfire involving both law enforcement officers and civilians in the United States from 2021 until June 2023.
“When Axon launched our moonshot goal to cut gun deaths between police and the public, we realized that to drive progress, we all need better data,” Rick Smith, Axon founder and CEO, said. “Today’s database launch highlights our commitment to our customers and to the public in achieving the moonshot goal we unveiled in 2022. Axon’s part is to invest in technology, training and data that deepens trust. We are also thrilled to partner with IIR, a neutral and independent party doing this important and critical research.”
According to the database, the number of lives lost in 2022 mirrored that of 2021, with similar projections for 2023. In 2022, 1,201 lives were claimed by gun fatalities, setting the baseline data for the moonshot goal. The goal is to reduce this number by 50% before 2033, even as the population grows, Axon said.
The Axon Public Safety Gun Fatality Database will provide fresh perspectives on these occurrences and act as an extra tool to investigate, examine and propose strategies that propel the industry toward ensuring safety, according to Axon. Incorporating accessible public data related to each incident, the database records specific factors that are typically overlooked in these instances.
The initial set of variables incorporates general information about the incident, the use of TASER energy weapons and the circumstances that led to the incident, to name a few. Axon said this data set will be further broadened to encompass information such as the length of the incident, whether it happened indoors or outdoors, the officers’ training experience and whether they were equipped with a TASER energy weapon.
Explore Axon’s viewpoint on this extensive data and understand how incorporating additional variables can contribute to solutions aimed at reducing fatalities from police-public gunfire in their latest blog post.