Police Misconduct Cost Taxpayers Over $3.2 Billion in Settlements

Lawsuits to settle allegations of misconduct by more than 7,600 officers from around the country have amounted to more than $3.2 billion over the past decade. The  alleged misconduct  led to nearly 40,000 payouts to resolve lawsuits and claims of wrongdoing at 25 of the nation’s largest police and sheriff’s departments between 2010 and 2020.  More than 1,200 officers in the departments surveyed had been the subject of at least five payments; more than 200 had 10 or more.
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In Chicago, for example, officers who were subject to more than one paid claim accounted for more than $380 million of the nearly $528 million in payments in that city. The typical payout for cases involving officers with multiple claims — ranging from illegal search and seizure to use of excessive force — was $10,000 higher than those involving other officers. Few cities or counties track claims by the names of the officers involved — meaning that officials may be unaware of officers whose alleged misconduct is repeatedly costing taxpayers.  While multi-million dollar settlements regarding allegations of police misconduct often generate headlines, the median amount of the payments is $17,500, and most cases are resolved with little or no publicity. New York, Chicago and Los Angeles accounted for the bulk of the overall payments documented at more than $2.5 billion.