In a critical move that has significant implications for the ongoing struggle for police accountability, the Trump administration has decided to shut down the National Law Enforcement Accountability Database (NLEAD), the only federal resource for tracking police misconduct. Introduced as a key accountability measure following the police killing of George Floyd in 2020, NLEAD had served as a crucial tool for tracking officers’ misconduct records at a federal level, filling a gap left by previous administrations’ failure to establish an efficient, systematic approach to holding law enforcement accountable.
Shutting Down NLEAD: A Step Backwards
Approved by President Joe Biden in 2023, NLEAD aimed to provide transparency into police violence by tracking misconduct at a national level. The database, essential for activists, lawmakers, and the public, helped to shine a light on the pervasive issue of police violence and systemic injustice. However, under a new executive order issued by President Trump on January 20, 2024, the database is no longer operational. The Department of Justice has confirmed that user agencies can no longer access the database or add new data, effectively shutting it down in accordance with federal guidelines.
This action coincides with an alarming rise in police-related deaths. In 2024, U.S. police killed 1,260 people—the highest number in over a decade. These deaths underscore the urgent need for effective tracking systems and accountability mechanisms, particularly as Black Americans continue to be disproportionately impacted.
Police Violence Continues to Surge
The shutdown of NLEAD represents a major setback in efforts for transparency and accountability in law enforcement. According to MappingPoliceViolence.us, an organization dedicated to tracking police violence, 2024 has seen a sharp rise in police killings, with Black Americans suffering from disproportionately high rates of police violence. While Black people make up 13% of the U.S. population, they account for 28% of those killed by police in 2024. This stark overrepresentation highlights the systemic disparities in how police violence impacts communities of color.
Samuel Sinyangwe, the founder of Mapping Police Violence, has long criticized the federal government for its failure to adequately track police violence. “It became clear early on that the federal government wasn’t doing a halfway decent job of systematically collecting data on police violence,” Sinyangwe stated in an interview with The Black Wall Street Times. “They could tell you how much rainfall there was going back a hundred years in rural Wisconsin. They couldn’t tell you how many people were killed by police this year, last year, or the year before that.”
Sinyangwe’s organization has filled the void left by the government’s inaction, offering one of the most comprehensive databases tracking police violence across the country. His work, which began in response to the 2014 killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri, continues to provide critical data.
The White House’s Defense
In defense of the decision to shut down NLEAD, a statement from the White House outlined the administration’s stance on the issue. The statement argued that President Trump is trying to balance holding law enforcement accountable while ensuring that officers can perform their duties effectively. The administration specifically criticized the Biden-era executive order for its emphasis on “equitable policing” and its focus on addressing “systemic racism,” terms which Trump’s supporters have increasingly associated with an overly “woke” agenda they believe undermines law enforcement.
This ideological divide—between those who see police reform as essential to community safety and those who believe it impedes law enforcement—has intensified in recent years. Yet the reality remains that Black Americans continue to face disproportionately high levels of police violence, underscoring the urgent need for continued reform.
Minnesota’s Struggle with Police Violence
While the national conversation often focuses on high-profile incidents in states like Minnesota, the state’s own struggles with police violence remain critical. Following the killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis, Minnesota became a focal point in the fight for police justice. The state has seen its share of police-related deaths, and Black residents continue to face disproportionate rates of violence at the hands of law enforcement.
In 2024, Black Minnesotans continued to experience higher rates of police killings despite making up a smaller portion of the state’s population. According to Mapping Police Violence, Black Minnesotans are more likely to be killed by police than their white counterparts. This disturbing trend highlights the need for systemic accountability and reform at both the local and national levels.
A Call for Greater Accountability
With the closure of NLEAD, the work of Mapping Police Violence becomes even more critical. Sinyangwe’s organization continues to track police misconduct and expand its database, recognizing that police violence is just the visible part of a broader, more pervasive issue. “For every case when somebody is killed by police, there are as many as 300 other instances where police used violence against someone, and that person survived,” Sinyangwe noted. “The full picture of police violence is much broader and impacts more people than even the existing data suggests.”
While the shutdown of NLEAD marks a significant setback, it also strengthens the resolve of organizations like Mapping Police Violence to continue pushing for systemic change and transparency in law enforcement.
Original Reporting by: Deon Osborne | The Black Wall Street Times