Events of recent years have brought attention to the issue of law enforcement use of force in the United States, especially in cases that result in a fatality. Law enforcement, commentators, politicians, public officials, civil rights leaders, and the citizenry offer different ideas about the causes, meanings, and effects of this issue. Even the basic facts of what actually happens in these cases are often disputed. With use of force in the public consciousness, the United States is in need of a systematic way to measure and track incidents.