Results indicate that while violent crime rates have trended upward from the 1960s, the rate of police-caused homicides has trended downward; although the variance has been fairly restricted. In addition, the variance in the earlier data of police-caused homicides was lower than the variance of the more current rate of police-caused homicides. Accordingly, a fairly robust relationship which was evident in the 1960s, between rates of violent crime and rates of police-caused homicides has been attenuated. Reasons for the drop in police-caused homicides may include the Tennessee v. Garner Supreme Court ruling, shifting policies/guidelines which more circumscribe the officer’s discretion to shoot, enhanced abilities to communicate/coordinate with back-up officers, an enlarged arsenal of nonlethal devices, a shifting in the cost-benefit rate for engaging into a threatening situation, plus enhanced medical facilities and protocols. Although the previously strong relationship between rates of violent crime and police-caused homicides has essentially evaporated, the levels of police-caused homicides reflect other characteristics of the policeman’s referent community. Ethnic mix and level of education of the referent community are aligned with levels of police-caused homicides. Violent crime rates were related to both deaths in police custody and rates of male unemployment, while police-caused homicides were independent from both indices. The lack of a found relationship between current rates of police-caused homicides and rates of police who have been killed also suggests an internal dynamic wherein systematic abuse is absent. Tables, figure, note, references, and appendix