Empower Wisconsin | June 26, 2020
MADISON — If it seems these days much of America has given up on police and reason, a new poll finds that simply is not the case.
Most Americans value the role of the police and worry that increasing criticism of cops will make their communities less safe, according to the latest Rasmussen Reports national survey.
The poll finds 63 percent of American adults still regard being a police officer as one of the most important jobs in society, although that’s down 5 percentage points from three years ago. Another 26 percent disagree, up from 19 percent in the previous poll.
As the Black Lives Matter and other left-wing groups call for defunding police departments, 64 percent of those surveyed expressed concern that the constant attacks on police will lead to a shortage of law enforcement officers and diminish public safety — including 39 percent that are very concerned. Another 33 percent say they aren’t very concerned about the impact on public safety, with 14 percent not concerned at all.
The Rasmussen poll finds blacks (67 percent) are most concerned about public safety where they live, compared to 63 percent of whites and 65 percent of other minority Americans.
Read more at Rasmussen Reports.