BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — The Bakersfield Police Department released its Use of Force Annual Review for 2025, recording a significant decrease in its use-of-force incidents as the number of personnel complaints continues to climb through the years.

The report covers data from use-of-force reports made in the department from Jan. 1, 2025, through Dec. 31, 2025.

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According to the report, BPD received 248,631 calls for service and made 11,518 arrests. There were 457 use-of-force incidents, which is 94 fewer than the use-of-force incidents reported in 2024 and is the only time BPD reached a number below 500 in the past five years.

It also marked a 17% reduction compared to 2024, which is the largest year-over-year decline in those five years, according to officials.

Use of force can be reported for any force used to gain compliance that results in death, visible injury, complaint of injury or pain beyond temporary discomfort or any restraint on top of handcuffing.

In total, 296 officers and 428 community members were involved in one or more use-of-force incidents.

Two BPD officers were involved in 25 use-of-force incidents each, officials said. Seven officers were classified as outliers for being involved in 12 or more incidents, and three of those seven were also outliers in 2024.

Twenty-six community members were involved in two or more incidents, while one person was involved in four separate incidents, according to police.

There were three deadly force incidents among the 457 use-of-force incidents reported last year, which stayed the same since 2024, according to officials.

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On the other hand, 348 involved controlling force while 106 used intermediate force. The force level shifted to more lower-level incidents compared to 2024, the report said.

Controlling force is when officers apply control holds or bodyweight, and intermediate force is when they use an impact weapon — such as batons, 40mm impact rounds or improvised weapons — canines, chemical agents, TASERs and personal body weapons.

Deadly force refers to the discharge of a firearm, vehicle interventions or any intentional strikes to the head with impact weapons, the report said.

About 34.8% of use-of-force incidents in Bakersfield occurred in the Metro zone, but the three deadly force incidents occurred in the Central, South and North patrol zones on the west side of Bakersfield, according to the report.

“The department remains committed to continuous improvement and transparency,” said Bakersfield Police Chief Greg Terry in the report.

The number of personnel complaints against BPD went up from 190 in 2024 to 213 last year — a 12% increase — according to the department’s 2025 Personnel Complaint Annual Review.

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BPD’s annual number of complaints has been steadily increasing since 2021.

Of the 213 complaints, 57 were submitted through Public Portal, BPD’s newly implemented online personnel complaint reporting system, the report said.

To view the full use of force and personnel complaint reports, click here.

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