Catherine Barber1, Deborah Azrael1, Amy Cohen1, Matthew Miller1, Deonza Thymes1, David Enze Wang1, David Hemenway1. 1. Catherine Barber, Deborah Azrael, Amy Cohen, and David Hemenway are with the Harvard Injury Control Research Center, Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA. Matthew Miller is with the Department of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, MA. At the time of the study, Deonza Thymes was a master's of public health student at the Harvard T. H. Chan School of Public Health. David Enze Wang is a student at Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) as a surveillance system for homicides by law enforcement officers. METHODS: We assessed sensitivity and positive predictive value of the NVDRS "type of death" variable against our study count of homicides by police, which we derived from NVDRS coded and narrative data for states participating in NVDRS 2005 to 2012. We compared state counts of police homicides from NVDRS, Vital Statistics, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Supplementary Homicide Reports. RESULTS: We identified 1552 police homicides in the 16 states. Positive predictive value and sensitivity of the NVDRS "type of death" variable for police homicides were high (98% and 90%, respectively). Counts from Vital Statistics and Supplementary Homicide Reports were 58% and 48%, respectively, of our study total; gaps varied widely by state. The annual rate of police homicide (0.24/100,000) varied 5-fold by state and 8-fold by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: NVDRS provides more complete data on police homicides than do existing systems. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Expanding NVDRS to all 50 states and making 2 improvements we identify will be an efficient way to provide the nation with more accurate, detailed data on homicides by law enforcement.
OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS) as a surveillance system for homicides by law enforcement officers. METHODS: We assessed sensitivity and positive predictive value of the NVDRS "type of death" variable against our study count of homicides by police, which we derived from NVDRS coded and narrative data for states participating in NVDRS 2005 to 2012. We compared state counts of police homicides from NVDRS, Vital Statistics, and Federal Bureau of Investigation Supplementary Homicide Reports. RESULTS: We identified 1552 police homicides in the 16 states. Positive predictive value and sensitivity of the NVDRS "type of death" variable for police homicides were high (98% and 90%, respectively). Counts from Vital Statistics and Supplementary Homicide Reports were 58% and 48%, respectively, of our study total; gaps varied widely by state. The annual rate of police homicide (0.24/100,000) varied 5-fold by state and 8-fold by race/ethnicity. CONCLUSIONS: NVDRS provides more complete data on police homicides than do existing systems. POLICY IMPLICATIONS: Expanding NVDRS to all 50 states and making 2 improvements we identify will be an efficient way to provide the nation with more accurate, detailed data on homicides by law enforcement.