The last couple of years have been tumultuous for American law enforcement. Outrage over several high-profile police brutality cases, particularly the 2020 murder of George Floyd, fueled movements to defund police departments across the country. Now, however, over two years later and facing a spike in violent crime, Americans are more likely to call for increased investment in law enforcement. (These are the states where the police kill the most people per capita.)
According to an October 2021 survey conducted by the Pew Research Center, 47% of American adults say they want increased police spending in their area, up from 31% in June 2020. In this year’s State of the Union address, President Biden even called for increased police funding to boost hiring, improve training, and invest in new resources.
According to data from the FBI, there were an estimated 660,300 men and women working as police officers in the United States in 2021, or about 233 for every 100,000 Americans. In some parts of the country, the concentration of police officers is far higher.
To identify the states with the most police, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed data from the FBI’s Uniform Crime Reporting Program. Both the number of police officers and the population they serve are current as of 2021. Supplemental data on the violent crime rate – the number of violent crimes for every 100,000 people – is also from the FBI and is current as of 2020. States are ranked by the number of police officers for every 100,000 people, based on FBI population data.
Click here to see the states with the most police officers.
Police officers, as defined by the FBI, are individuals who have full arrest powers, typically carry a badge and a gun, and are compensated with public funds. The number of police officers ranges by state from as few as 135 per 100,000 people, to over 400. The states with the fewest police officers per capita are concentrated in the West, while the 10 states ranking highest on this list span the country.
The concentration of police officers in a given state appears to be partially a reflection of need. While there are exceptions, states with fewer police officers tend to have lower than average violent crime rates, and those with a higher concentration of police often have more violent crime. (Here is a look at America’s most dangerous states.)
50. Washington
> Police officer count: 135 per 100,000 people (10,431 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 294 per 100,000 people – 16th lowest (22,596 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 252 – 21st most
> Population covered: 7,705,506 – 10th largest
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49. Oregon
> Police officer count: 148 per 100,000 people (6,286 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 292 per 100,000 people – 15th lowest (12,380 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 197 – 25th lowest
> Population covered: 4,246,155 – 22nd largest
48. Idaho
> Police officer count: 159 per 100,000 people (2,995 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 243 per 100,000 people – 9th lowest (4,432 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 102 – 10th lowest
> Population covered: 1,884,072 – 14th smallest
47. Utah
> Police officer count: 164 per 100,000 people (5,446 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 261 per 100,000 people – 12th lowest (8,471 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 134 – 16th lowest
> Population covered: 3,324,060 – 24th smallest
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46. Vermont
> Police officer count: 169 per 100,000 people (1,089 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 173 per 100,000 people – 3rd lowest (1,081 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 85 – 8th lowest
> Population covered: 644,595 – 2nd smallest
45. Maine
> Police officer count: 171 per 100,000 people (2,348 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 109 per 100,000 people – the lowest (1,466 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 129 – 15th lowest
> Population covered: 1,370,436 – 10th smallest
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44. Arizona
> Police officer count: 175 per 100,000 people (12,652 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 485 per 100,000 people – 9th highest (35,980 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 111 – 13th lowest
> Population covered: 7,219,091 – 11th largest
42. Minnesota
> Police officer count: 176 per 100,000 people (10,041 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 277 per 100,000 people – 13th lowest (15,698 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 401 – 11th most
> Population covered: 5,694,465 – 17th largest
43. Iowa
> Police officer count: 176 per 100,000 people (5,251 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 303 per 100,000 people – 17th lowest (9,601 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 225 – 23rd most
> Population covered: 2,982,692 – 20th smallest
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41. Alaska
> Police officer count: 177 per 100,000 people (1,297 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 838 per 100,000 people – the highest (6,126 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 38 – 2nd lowest
> Population covered: 732,673 – 3rd smallest
40. Montana
> Police officer count: 184 per 100,000 people (2,032 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 470 per 100,000 people – 11th highest (5,077 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 112 – 14th lowest
> Population covered: 1,104,271 – 8th smallest
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39. Michigan
> Police officer count: 186 per 100,000 people (17,961 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 478 per 100,000 people – 10th highest (47,641 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 538 – 3rd most
> Population covered: 9,663,515 – 7th largest
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38. Kentucky
> Police officer count: 189 per 100,000 people (7,494 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 259 per 100,000 people – 11th lowest (11,600 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 289 – 19th most
> Population covered: 3,971,950 – 24th largest
37. New Mexico
> Police officer count: 193 per 100,000 people (3,181 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 778 per 100,000 people – 2nd highest (16,393 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 94 – 9th lowest
> Population covered: 1,650,825 – 12th smallest
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36. West Virginia
> Police officer count: 195 per 100,000 people (3,456 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 356 per 100,000 people – 23rd lowest (6,352 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 339 – 15th most
> Population covered: 1,768,313 – 13th smallest
35. Hawaii
> Police officer count: 196 per 100,000 people (2,828 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 254 per 100,000 people – 10th lowest (3,576 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 4 – the lowest
> Population covered: 1,441,553 – 11th smallest
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34. Nebraska
> Police officer count: 201 per 100,000 people (3,798 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 334 per 100,000 people – 22nd lowest (6,473 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 157 – 20th lowest
> Population covered: 1,888,040 – 15th smallest
32. Texas
> Police officer count: 207 per 100,000 people (59,121 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 446 per 100,000 people – 15th highest (131,084 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 973 – the most
> Population covered: 28,550,468 – 2nd largest
33. Wisconsin
> Police officer count: 207 per 100,000 people (11,105 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 323 per 100,000 people – 20th lowest (18,861 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 381 – 13th most
> Population covered: 5,370,316 – 18th largest
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31. Connecticut
> Police officer count: 210 per 100,000 people (7,557 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 182 per 100,000 people – 4th lowest (6,459 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 107 – 11th lowest
> Population covered: 3,605,597 – 25th smallest
30. Colorado
> Police officer count: 214 per 100,000 people (12,416 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 423 per 100,000 people – 20th highest (24,570 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 240 – 22nd most
> Population covered: 5,801,890 – 16th largest
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29. New Hampshire
> Police officer count: 214 per 100,000 people (2,871 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 146 per 100,000 people – 2nd lowest (2,000 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 193 – 24th lowest
> Population covered: 1,339,962 – 9th smallest
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28. Indiana
> Police officer count: 216 per 100,000 people (4,606 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 358 per 100,000 people – 24th lowest (24,161 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 75 – 7th lowest
> Population covered: 2,136,079 – 18th smallest
26. Virginia
> Police officer count: 218 per 100,000 people (18,542 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 209 per 100,000 people – 6th lowest (17,925 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 272 – 20th most
> Population covered: 8,489,762 – 9th largest
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27. Mississippi
> Police officer count: 218 per 100,000 people (4,494 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 291 per 100,000 people – 14th lowest (8,638 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 137 – 17th lowest
> Population covered: 2,064,423 – 16th smallest
25. South Dakota
> Police officer count: 220 per 100,000 people (1,935 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 501 per 100,000 people – 8th highest (4,476 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 137 – 18th lowest
> Population covered: 880,991 – 5th smallest
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24. South Carolina
> Police officer count: 221 per 100,000 people (10,642 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 531 per 100,000 people – 7th highest (27,691 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 185 – 23rd lowest
> Population covered: 4,823,991 – 20th largest
23. Arkansas
> Police officer count: 225 per 100,000 people (6,788 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 672 per 100,000 people – 4th highest (20,363 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 301 – 17th most
> Population covered: 3,021,943 – 22nd smallest
22. North Carolina
> Police officer count: 226 per 100,000 people (23,788 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 419 per 100,000 people – 21st highest (44,451 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 513 – 5th most
> Population covered: 10,533,622 – 5th largest
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21. Oklahoma
> Police officer count: 227 per 100,000 people (9,025 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 459 per 100,000 people – 13th highest (18,255 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 436 – 9th most
> Population covered: 3,981,345 – 23rd largest
20. Rhode Island
> Police officer count: 227 per 100,000 people (2,491 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 231 per 100,000 people – 7th lowest (2,440 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 47 – 4th lowest
> Population covered: 1,095,610 – 7th smallest
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19. California
> Police officer count: 230 per 100,000 people (77,621 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 442 per 100,000 people – 16th highest (174,026 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 466 – 7th most
> Population covered: 33,681,412 – the largest
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18. Ohio
> Police officer count: 231 per 100,000 people (10,922 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 309 per 100,000 people – 18th lowest (36,104 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 224 – 24th most
> Population covered: 4,722,587 – 21st largest
16. Florida
> Police officer count: 233 per 100,000 people (47,993 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 384 per 100,000 people – 25th highest (83,368 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 344 – 14th most
> Population covered: 20,581,447 – 3rd largest
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17. Delaware
> Police officer count: 233 per 100,000 people (2,324 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 432 per 100,000 people – 17th highest (4,262 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 53 – 5th lowest
> Population covered: 999,231 – 6th smallest
15. Alabama
> Police officer count: 240 per 100,000 people (12,056 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 454 per 100,000 people – 14th highest (22,322 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 397 – 12th most
> Population covered: 5,024,956 – 19th largest
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14. Georgia
> Police officer count: 245 per 100,000 people (24,324 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 400 per 100,000 people – 22nd highest (42,850 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 473 – 6th most
> Population covered: 9,915,271 – 6th largest
12. Maryland
> Police officer count: 247 per 100,000 people (15,184 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 400 per 100,000 people – 23rd highest (24,215 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 145 – 19th lowest
> Population covered: 6,148,883 – 15th largest
13. North Dakota
> Police officer count: 247 per 100,000 people (1,908 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 329 per 100,000 people – 21st lowest (2,518 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 110 – 12th lowest
> Population covered: 773,166 – 4th smallest
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11. Massachusetts
> Police officer count: 253 per 100,000 people (15,923 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 309 per 100,000 people – 19th lowest (21,288 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 300 – 18th most
> Population covered: 6,294,191 – 13th largest
10. Tennessee
> Police officer count: 257 per 100,000 people (17,886 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 673 per 100,000 people – 3rd highest (46,328 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 452 – 8th most
> Population covered: 6,971,448 – 12th largest
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9. Pennsylvania
> Police officer count: 258 per 100,000 people (16,202 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 390 per 100,000 people – 24th highest (49,793 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 792 – 2nd most
> Population covered: 6,272,968 – 14th largest
8. Missouri
> Police officer count: 260 per 100,000 people (9,466 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 543 per 100,000 people – 6th highest (33,385 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 220 – 25th most
> Population covered: 3,637,629 – 25th largest
7. Nevada
> Police officer count: 261 per 100,000 people (7,136 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 460 per 100,000 people – 12th highest (14,445 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 43 – 3rd lowest
> Population covered: 2,738,311 – 19th smallest
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6. Kansas
> Police officer count: 270 per 100,000 people (5,677 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 425 per 100,000 people – 19th highest (12,385 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 309 – 16th most
> Population covered: 2,104,783 – 17th smallest
5. Wyoming
> Police officer count: 278 per 100,000 people (1,551 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 234 per 100,000 people – 8th lowest (1,364 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 59 – 6th lowest
> Population covered: 558,398 – the smallest
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4. Illinois
> Police officer count: 287 per 100,000 people (9,301 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 426 per 100,000 people – 18th highest (53,612 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 179 – 22nd lowest
> Population covered: 3,236,561 – 23rd smallest
3. New York
> Police officer count: 328 per 100,000 people (58,388 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 364 per 100,000 people – 25th lowest (70,339 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 403 – 10th most
> Population covered: 17,797,949 – 4th largest
2. Louisiana
> Police officer count: 342 per 100,000 people (10,211 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 639 per 100,000 people – 5th highest (29,704 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 160 – 21st lowest
> Population covered: 2,983,699 – 21st smallest
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1. New Jersey
> Police officer count: 430 per 100,000 people (38,223 total)
> Violent crime rate, 2020: 195 per 100,000 people – 5th lowest (17,353 total)
> Number of law enforcement agencies: 529 – 4th most
> Population covered: 8,882,067 – 8th largest
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