ACLU of Maryland Releases Years-Long Database and Report on Police Killings in Maryland

BALTIMORE, MD – The ACLU of Maryland has published a comprehensive database and 50-page report on police killings in Maryland from 2015 to 2023. The report: Crisis 911: Police Killings, Racial Disparities, Behavioral Health Crisis, and Institutional Complicity in Maryland, spans several years of data and offers in-depth analysis into patterns that contributed to fatal encounters of Maryland residents.

Between 2015 and 2023, 143 people were killed in Maryland police encounters, an average of 16 people per year. Black Marylanders make up nearly 32 percent of the state’s population, and account for 64 percent of the people killed by police. Nearly half of all victims were showing signs of a behavioral health crisis or medical emergency when they were killed. Of those cases, 24 of them had someone call 911 to seek help for the person who ended up killed. Unarmed victims make up 28 percent of these fatal encounters, while unarmed victims who were also Black make up 78 percent. During the nine-year study period, not a single on-duty officer was convicted of any crime relating to the 143 deaths.)

“My brother, Emanuel, should still be here. His life was filled with purpose, dreams, and people who loved him. While our family can never get him back, we can choose what his legacy will accomplish,” said Shamāiah Manriquez, sister of Emanuel Oates. “As a woman of faith, I believe justice and mercy must walk together. My prayer is that this report moves beyond acknowledgement and becomes a catalyst for real action by lawmakers and leaders. We need policies that protect lives, promote accountability, and restore public trust so that future generations can live in a society where every person is treated with dignity, fairness, and humanity.”

The Crisis 911 report offers policy recommendations to reduce deadly police encounters, which include:

• Reducing Unnecessary Police Encounters - limiting street stops and police vehicle pursuits, and mandating post-incident reviews to assess necessity and harm.
• Building Community-Rooted Safety Systems - recognizing community-based alternatives as essential public safety infrastructure, with consistent, equitable support free from politicized defunding threats.
• Increase Public Safety Oversight, Transparency, and Accountability - establishing independent, community-led oversight bodies with real authority to investigate police practices and hold systems accountable.
• Guarantee Families’ Right to Information and Support - ensuring families of those harmed or killed by police receive timely access to all records, including autopsies, body-camera footage, and officer discipline histories.

“William was a radiant light in this world. He brought joy wherever he went, constantly smiling, laughing, and treasuring every moment with his family. He loved people deeply, and he left an indelible mark on everyone he met. He was a unifier, driven by a desire to leave a positive mark on this world,” said Nikki Owens, cousin of William ‘Boo Boo’ Green. “His life and legacy are worth every ounce of my remaining strength. I will spend the rest of my days ensuring his name is remembered and help other grieving families navigate this broken system to find the justice they deserve.”

The report’s findings are corroborated by other reports and analyses. In May of 2025, an independent audit of the Maryland Office of the Chief Medical Examiner (OCME) commissioned by the Maryland Attorney General, released a 70-page report that concluded at least 36 deaths that occurred in police custody between 2003 and 2019 were wrongly classified as “undetermined”, “accidental”, or “natural”—despite clear evidence they were homicides. Conducted by a panel of more than a dozen independent forensic reviewers, the audit documented patterns of pro-police bias and racial disparities. The reviewers also issued recommendations for preventing such abuses and ensuring compliance with national standards going forward.

“This database and report are products of decades of advocacy by family and community members forced to defend the humanity of their loved ones and fight for the truth,” said Sonia Kumar, Senior Staff Attorney at ACLU of Maryland. “Through their sheer resilience, they rejected the false narratives and official records falsely claiming their loved ones’ deaths could not have been prevented. Our report reiterates what they have long said: deadly police encounters can and must be prevented now, and in the future.”

The ACLU of Maryland extends its sincere gratitude to the dedicated family members, community organizers, advocacy partners, researchers, and loved ones who made this database and report possible through their unwavering bravery, resilience, courage and commitment to ending police violence.

The database and report’s lead authors are Amy Cruice and Jessy Jimenez.

The full report and database are available here: Crisis 911: Police Killings, Racial Disparities, Behavioral Health Crisis, and Institutional Complicity in Maryland