URBANA, IL (Chambana Today) — Annual reports from the Urbana Police Department show African American residents account for a large share of the people involved in police use-of-force incidents in the city over the past four years.

According to the department’s 2021 through 2024 annual use-of-force reports, African Americans represented between 74% and 81% of the individuals subjected to force during those years.

In 2021, Urbana police used some form of force on 156 people in 125 incidents. Of those individuals, 115 — about 74% — were African American.

That same year, displaying or pointing a firearm at a citizen accounted for 81 of the 125 incidents, or about 64%. Officers pointed or displayed firearms at 89 people, including 75 African Americans, or 84%.

In 2022, officers used force on 107 people in 95 incidents. Of those, 79 individuals — or 74% — were African American.

Displaying or pointing firearms occurred in 42 of those incidents, about 44%. Officers pointed or displayed firearms at 42 citizens, including 30 African Americans, or 71%.

In 2023, police used force on 88 people in 69 incidents. African Americans accounted for 65 of those individuals, again about 74%.

That year, 36 incidents — about 52% — involved officers displaying or pointing firearms. Officers pointed firearms at 36 people, including 28 African Americans, or 78%.

The department’s 2024 report shows police used force on 89 people in 72 incidents involving 85 total force actions. Of those 89 individuals, 72 — or 81% — were African American.

In 2024, 28 of the 85 force actions, or about 33%, involved displaying or pointing firearms. Officers pointed or displayed firearms at 43 citizens, including 37 African Americans, or 86%.

Urbana Police Chief Larry Boone acknowledged the disparities while discussing the data, saying statistics alone do not tell the full story.

“Our data indicates that African American residents appear more frequently in our use-of-force reports,” Boone said. “But numbers alone never tell the full story.”

Boone said many police calls occur in neighborhoods with higher levels of crime, repeat calls for service and fewer non-police resources.

“Historically and structurally, those areas are disproportionately Black,” Boone said. “That does not mean race causes force, and it does not excuse disparities.”

The chief said the department must examine how officers are deployed and how encounters with residents unfold.

“Disparities, even in a small department, affect trust,” Boone said. “And trust matters deeply in Urbana.”

Boone said the department plans to continue sharing the data publicly and working with residents, the University of Illinois and community organizations to better understand the numbers and reduce disparities.

He said efforts will include reducing unnecessary police contact, improving decision-making during encounters and supporting prevention programs so police are not the default response to every community challenge.