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Boise, Idaho has gone 18 months without an officer-involved shooting, and the Idaho Statesman took a closer look at why.
According to the Statesman, Boise Police has not had an Officer Involved Shooting (OIS) since November 2024, down from six shootings in both 2023 and 2024. City leaders credit a combination of training, de-escalation tactics, and expanded use of less-lethal tools, with PepperBall launchers specifically named as a key factor in the shift.
PepperBall use by Boise officers jumped from twice in 2024 to 18 times in 2025. Over the same period, the overall use of less-lethal weapons rose 57%, while instances of officers pointing firearms at suspects dropped 18%. As of late March, the department had 26 launchers in service with 30 officers trained and certified to use them.
Nicole McKay, director of Boise's Office of Police Accountability, credited the change to training, tools, and leadership, including scenario-based exercises focused on de-escalation.
The results in Boise reflect what PepperBall hears from law enforcement partners across the country: when officers have effective less-lethal options and the training to use them with confidence, outcomes improve for everyone involved.
Read the full story in the Idaho Statesman here
