By D.M. Livingston|Published July 1, 2025

Last Updated Dec 4, 2025 5:08AM

Waterbury-In a year where 45 officer-involved shootings occurred in South Carolina and more than 140 in Texas, Connecticut stands in stark contrast — with just three fatal police shootings recorded statewide in 2024. According to data compiled by the Police Brutality Center, Connecticut ranks among the lowest in the nation, outpacing nearly every other state in demonstrating restraint, de-escalation, and professional conduct in high-stress situations.

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Perhaps even more impressive is the fact that Waterbury Police Department did not kill a single suspect in 2024 — a record that speaks volumes about the level of training, community connection, and accountability upheld by local officers.

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A National Context: Where CT Stands

Here’s how Connecticut compares:

• Texas: 144 fatal police shootings
• California: 114
• Florida: 82
• South Carolina: 26
• Connecticut: 3

While population sizes and crime rates vary, the consistent pattern among higher-ranking states suggests a lack of sufficient training, support systems, and accountability structures. Connecticut, on the other hand, has invested heavily in de-escalation training, mental health crisis intervention, and building community trust — all of which are showing measurable results.

Waterbury’s Track Record

Waterbury, Connecticut’s fifth-largest city, has had its share of challenges — from poverty and gun violence to staffing shortages in its police force. Yet despite these pressures, Waterbury officers made zero fatal use-of-force decisions in 2024. That puts the city in a rare category nationwide: urban departments with no killings by police in a full calendar year.

This isn’t just luck. Officers here undergo rigorous use-of-force simulations, continuous training on implicit bias, and strict post-incident review protocols. The department’s growing focus on community policing, youth outreach, and transparency has made a difference — not just in headlines avoided, but in lives preserved.

A Model for Others

Connecticut’s policing model isn’t perfect, but it’s worth recognizing — especially in times when the national conversation around law enforcement so often skews toward tragedy and abuse. In 2024, Connecticut stood out for what didn’t happen: no widespread violence, no media-covered fatal mishandlings, no patterns of excessive force.

Waterbury’s officers deserve credit for showing what restraint and responsibility in law enforcement can look like. Their professionalism under pressure serves not just the citizens of Waterbury, but offers a potential blueprint for departments across the country.

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At a time when many states are asking how to reduce violent police encounters, they might want to start by asking what Connecticut — and specifically Waterbury — is doing right.

The Waterbury Times