Reece Sisto
The Center for Policing Equity (CPE) and the Watertown Police Department (WPD) have released a new Justice Navigator Assessment (JNA) — a deep dive into recent policing data to identify racial disparities and move toward more equitable public safety in Watertown, CT.
WPD began working with CPE in 2019 and joined the National Justice Database in 2021 — voluntarily sharing its data for independent analysis, something most U.S. law enforcement agencies don’t do. This assessment builds on a 2022 report with updated findings on use of force, vehicle stops, and calls for service.
CPE’s analysis covers use-of-force (2020–2023), vehicle stop data (2021–2023), as well as calls for service and officer-initiated activity (mid-2020 through 2023), comparing findings to earlier years where possible to understand how outcomes have changed over time. The goal isn’t just to describe disparities — it’s to provide a roadmap for action.
Legislative Efforts Spur Policing Policy Reforms
Context matters. Since the first assessment, the state of Connecticut enacted sweeping police accountability reforms — including a near-total ban on consent searches, or searches without a warrant or probable cause, legalization of recreational marijuana, and standardized use-of-force reporting. WPD responded by tightening search restrictions, strengthening de-escalation requirements, enhancing force review procedures, expanding bias training, and requiring body and dashboard cameras. These reforms are essential for understanding recent trends.
The assessment finds that use-of-force incidents remain relatively rare, though recorded use-of-force totals rose from 2020 to 2023 — likely reflecting better reporting practices, not an increased use of force. Still, 17% (11 of 72 total occurrences) of those incidents involved Black individuals, who make up just 2% of Watertown’s population. There were no firearm discharges during the assessment period. Most use of force incidents occurred during disturbances and mental health calls, pointing to a clear opportunity: investing in crisis response and prevention upstream could significantly reduce force overall.
The consent search ban had a striking effect on vehicle stops. Before the reform (2014–2020), Black drivers were searched more than four times as often as White drivers. After the ban (2021–2023), that flipped — Black drivers were searched at roughly half the rate of White drivers. Research consistently shows that limiting discretionary searches reduces racial disparities and improves the efficiency of policing. The majority of stops in both periods were for moving violations, reflecting WPD’s focus on traffic safety.
A Growing Need for Alternative Response Programs
WPD averaged more than 16,000 calls per year between mid-2020 and 2023, with only a small percentage involving bodily harm, property harm, or threats. Meanwhile, mental health-related incidents increased substantially. That increase signals a growing need for crisis response models that connect residents to professionally trained mental care professionals — not just law enforcement officers.
The findings show real progress and opportunity. Reforms are shifting search practices. Better reporting is enabling stronger analysis of use of force. And calls-for-service data reveal where alternative response models could better serve the community.
How Data Transparency Fuels Positive Change
The assessment outlines practical next steps, including reviewing firearm-point protocols, setting clearer criteria for officer-initiated activity, collecting pedestrian stop data, improving dispatch data quality, and exploring expanded non-police responses where appropriate. CPE’s Justice Navigator, an interactive digital platform, offers evidence-based resources to help departments, policymakers, and community members translate data into action.
Policing outcomes are shaped by many factors — local context, state policy, departmental leadership, and community conditions. JNAs support collaborative, data-informed decision-making; they are not meant to assign blame. By continuing to share its data and engage in independent analysis, WPD is helping to build safer, more equitable public safety systems in Watertown and beyond.
To explore the full findings and recommendations, visit the Justice Navigator.
Related Resources from the Center for Policing Equity: