Americans Are Increasingly Skeptical of the Police

Americans are increasingly skeptical of the police, according to a Pew Research Center Survey. A growing majority thinks police performance around the country is below par on measures such as using the right amount of force, treating racial and ethnic groups equally, and being accountable for misconduct.

Only 35 percent of the public thinks police do a good/excellent job of using the right amount of force. Fully 64 percent think police performance by this measure is only fair or poor. In 2016, Americans were more evenly split on this question, with a larger 45 percent rating police use of force good/excellent and a smaller 54 percent saying it was only fair/poor.

Similarly, when it comes to treating race and ethnic groups equally, only 34 percent think the police are doing a good/excellent job, far below the 47 percent who felt this way in 2016. When asked what kind of job police are doing holding themselves accountable for misconduct, only 31 percent say good/excellent, well below the 44 percent of 2016.

Regardless of race or Hispanic origin, most Americans agree that police performance is below par on these three measures. Blacks are especially likely to think so, and the majority of non-Hispanic whites agree.

Police are doing only fair/poor job of using the right amount of force
87% of Blacks
70% of Hispanics
57% of non-Hispanic whites

Police are doing only fair/poor job of treating racial/ethnic groups equally
90% of Blacks
73% of Hispanics
57% of non-Hispanic whites

Police are doing only fair/poor job of holding themselves accountable for misconduct
86% of Blacks
65% of Hispanics
65% of non-Hispanic whites

Source: Pew Research Center, Majority of Public Favors Giving Civilians the Power to Sue Police Officers for Misconduct

This Time Is Different

Six years ago when Michael Brown was killed by police in Ferguson, Missouri, and Eric Garner was killed by police in New York City, the Washington Post asked Americans whether these deaths were isolated incidents or indicative of broader problems in policing. Only 43 percent of the public said the killings indicated a broader problem, and 51 percent called them isolated incidents.

When the Washington Post asked Americans the question again on June 2-7 in the aftermath of the George Floyd killing, fully 69 percent of the public said the killing was a sign of broader problems in policing. Only 29 percent called it an isolated incident.

This time is different. The widespread revulsion over the killing of George Floyd and the multiple incidents of police misconduct revealed by smartphones in the following days appear to be a tipping point. Most Americans, from every walk of life, are fed up with the police.

"Do you think the killing of George Floyd was an isolated incident or a sign of broader problems in treatment of black Americans by police?"

(percent saying the killing is a sign of broader problems)

69% of all adults

64% of men
74% of women

77% of people aged 18 to 29
72% of people aged 30 to 39
75% of people aged 40 to 49
66% of people aged 50 to 64
60% of people aged 65-plus

68% of whites
75% of nonwhites

68% of those without a college degree
73% of those with a college degree

64% of whites without a college degree
74% of whites with a college degree

72% of urban residents
69% of suburban residents
64% of rural residents

Republicans are the only remaining holdouts. Among them, 51 percent call the killing an isolated incident, and 47 percent say it a sign of a broader problem in policing.

Source: Washington Post, Big Majorities Support Protests over Floyd Killing and Say Police Need to Change, Poll Finds and June 2-7 Washington Post-Schar School National Poll results