A new Ohio University study shows the state is below the national average in fatal police shootings, but blacks are disproportionally affected. and that effect is even more pronounced in Franklin County.
The Ohio Alliance for Innovation in Population Health study shows Franklin County's rate of Blacks killed by police ranks 18th highest in the nation. Data analysis from 2015 to 2020 found Franklin County's rate of 4.81 deaths per one million residents is above the national average of 2.99. Rates in Montgomery and Summit counties were also above the national average at 4.7 and 3.39 deaths per million residents respectively.
Other urban counties in Ohio, like Cuyahoga and Hamilton were below the national average.
The study also showed a disparity between the number of African-Americans killed by police compared to their percentage of the population in different counties. 20 percent of the states Black population live in Franklin County, but 33 percent of police-involved fatalities in that population occurred in Franklin County. In comparison, Cuyahoga County is home to 25 percent of the state's Black population, but accounted for 16 percent of the fatalities. Hamilton County, with 14 percent, accounted for 11 percent of the fatalities.
Franklin County has drawn state and national attention - and investigations -following the separate fatal shootings of Black men in December, by a Franklin county Deputy Sheriff and a Columbus Police officer.
