States With the Most Police Officers

Special Report

August 5, 2022 10:00 am

Last Updated: August 5, 2022 11:21 am

City Hall, Lead SD (CC BY-SA 2.0) by David Brossard

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

Source: Sean Rayford / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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

24/7 Wall St.
States Where the Police Kill the Most People per Capita

Source: Benjamin Krain / Getty Images News via Getty Images

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

Source: Roberto Galan / iStock Editorial via Getty Images

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

Source: Sean Pavone / iStock via Getty Images

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

Sponsored: Find a Qualified Financial Advisor

Finding a qualified financial advisor doesn’t have to be hard. SmartAsset’s free tool matches you with up to 3 fiduciary financial advisors in your area in 5 minutes. Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests. If you’re ready to be matched with local advisors that can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now.