Hamilton police report a 14% rise in use-of-force incidents in 2024, attributed to a surge in gun-related crime across the city. Chief Frank Bergen emphasizes that the record 60 shootings and a heightened number of weapons-related calls have created more dangerous scenarios for officers, who recorded 303 such incidents out of nearly 204,000 public interactions.
The use-of-force report also highlights geographical and racial disparities in incidents, revealing that 63% of those affected were white, followed by 16% Black and 8% Middle Eastern individuals. The findings come on the heels of community scrutiny regarding the police’s handling of force, especially following recent officer-involved shootings that have raised questions about accountability and the justification of force in volatile situations.
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