Inconsistent Reporting Hampers Wisconsin Police Use-of-Force Data Analysis

Milwaukee, WI, August 19, 2026 —

MADISON, Wis. – Data collected by Wisconsin law enforcement agencies on the use of force by police officers faces significant challenges due to a lack of uniform reporting standards across departments. This inconsistency makes it difficult to accurately compare use-of-force incidents between different municipalities, according to available information.

Departments across the state appear to have varying definitions of what constitutes a reportable use of force. For instance, some agencies may consider incidents such as dog bites or the act of pointing a firearm at an individual as reportable events, while others may not. This disparity leads to what analysts describe as an “apples-to-oranges” comparison when attempting to analyze statewide use-of-force data.

The trend summary indicates that while data is being collected, the varying criteria for what triggers a report and how those incidents are categorized create significant hurdles for comprehensive analysis and comparison. Without standardized definitions and reporting protocols, understanding the full scope and variations in police use of force across Wisconsin remains a complex undertaking.

Further details regarding specific departmental policies, the exact nature of the inconsistencies, or efforts to standardize reporting were not provided in the trend summary. The lack of standardized data collection hinders the ability of researchers, policymakers, and the public to gain a clear and comparable understanding of police use-of-force incidents throughout Wisconsin.

Story summarized from the original created by Paul Kiefer / Wisconsin Watch and Hongyu Liu / Wisconsin Watch on milwaukeenns.org, see more information here.

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