Protectors or enforcers? Majority of officers, half of public say police are both

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January 6, 2017

6. Police views, public views

Protectors or enforcers? Majority of officers, half of public say police are both

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Protectors or enforcers? Majority of officers, half of public say police are both

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6. Police views, public views
Police more likely than public to say that no more changes are needed to give blacks equal rights with whites
Younger police and younger adults more likely to favor legalization of marijuana
A majority of police, public favor relaxing marijuana laws
Majority of police and a larger share of the public favor body cameras
Police, public disagree about accountability as a protest motive
Many blacks and whites say anti-police bias is a protest motive
Most officers, public agree anti-police bias is a motive for protests
Large racial differences on perceptions of deadly black-police encounters among police, the public
Majority of police say fatal police-black encounters are isolated incidents; majority of the public says the encounters point to a bigger problem
Officers more worried about their personal safety on the job
Do Americans understand the challenges police face? Public says yes, police say no
Americans who see local police as enforcers less likely to want a greater police presence
Among blacks, police and public have different views of role of police
Police, public differ on perceptions of deadly black-police encounters
Officers say policing is harder now, public views it as more dangerous
Police more supportive of gun rights than public
Public sees more benefits than police from use of body cameras
Police work: More frustrating, less fulfilling than most other jobs
Majority of public wants no change in size of force; officers say more police needed

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ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts.

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