The Bakersfield Police Department reported a 17% decrease in use-of-force incidents in 2025, marking the lowest total in five years, according to its latest annual review.
The department recorded 457 use-of-force incidents in 2025, down from 551 in 2024. Over a five-year period, the numbers have fluctuated, but the latest report shows a continued downward trend following a smaller decline the year prior.
Only three incidents involved deadly force in 2025, unchanged from the previous year and representing less than 1% of all cases.
In the report, police officials said the reduction reflects a continued shift toward lower-level force and deescalation strategies. In 2025, about 76% of incidents involved controlling force, such as control holds or restraints, while intermediate force made up about 23%.
The report also shows that use-of-force incidents most commonly occurred during calls for service, accounting for about 70% of cases, with self-initiated activity and traffic stops making up smaller portions…