Implementation of Compstat has had other important benefits in addition to crime reduction. Because there are fewer serious crimes, there are fewer confrontations between police and public. Because of police effectiveness in apprehending suspects, there are fewer guns on the street reducing the number of officer-involved shootings. Because accountability is demanded for all actions, police stops are more likely to be conducted for reasonable suspicion or probable cause. And because of accountability, officers are more likely to comport themselves professionally resulting in fewer citizen complaints.


• In New York City in 1990, there were 2,245 murders, and 40 people died as a result of police shootings, the highest number on record for both categories. By 2003, murders had dropped to 597, and 14 died as a result of police shootings.

• In 1985, the 26,000-member NYPD received 7,000 citizen complaints. By 2003, the 37,000-member NYPD received 5,000 complaints. The complaint rate per officer had been cut by more than half.

• In New Orleans in 1992, 32 people were killed or injured from police shootings, the highest year on record; by 2002 that number had dropped to 6, a decrease of over 81%.

• In 1996, the year prior to Compstat implementation, the NOPD received one complaint per 51 arrests; by 2002, after violent crime had been cut by more than half, the ratio had decreased to one complaint per 63 arrests.

• In Baltimore in 1999, 32 people were shot by the police; in 2002, while more intensive police action was reducing violent crime by 26% and murder by 17%, 14 were shot, a decrease of over 56%.