Results: Current view of law enforcement personnel
Published on 05/11/2015
QUESTIONS
GO to COMMENTS
Comments
1.
1.
I'm interested in current thoughts about law enforcement, so here goes. Were you raised to believe the police officers were your friends? Yes, I was told that by my parents/relatives
54%
937 votes
No, I was told to be careful around police officers
11%
194 votes
I don't really recall the subject being discussed when I was young
34%
593 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
18 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.46% | 8 | |
| n/a | 0.06% | 1 |
| told they were helpful but not friends | 0.06% | 1 |
| authority not friends | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was raised to respect the law | 0.06% | 1 |
| na | 0.06% | 1 |
| none | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was raised by an ohio state patrolman and he was wonderful and the men he worked with were wonderful | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was told both of the first two options. | 0.06% | 1 |
| i was taught to be respectful, and that police are there to help people, not that they are friends. | 0.06% | 1 |
| not my friends, but to be respected | 0.06% | 1 |
2.
2.
If you were told when young that police officers were your friends, what do you believe now? Some are, some are not--they are merely human, and there are good ones and bad ones
55%
960 votes
I am very suspicious of police officers
15%
255 votes
I believe that they are my friends so long as I am not breaking the law
19%
330 votes
N/A
18%
318 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
9 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.21% | 4 | |
| friends? thats an arbitrary question but i would definitely say they are not anyones friends. that's not their job. | 0.05% | 1 |
| they aree just normal people like me and you doing extra to protect the people and the world we live in. they should be treated like normal people, if you have done nothing wrong you should not be scared or worried to be arround them. | 0.05% | 1 |
| most police officers are bullies with badges who don't care about protecting and serving who break the law as often as the criminals and think they are above the law. most of them where i live don't do their jobs at all | 0.05% | 1 |
| like obama says, their favorite thing to do is kill black people. | 0.05% | 1 |
| depends on the situation | 0.05% | 1 |
3.
3.
Have recent highly publicized events affected your opinion? Yes
10%
182 votes
Yes, particularly the ones with videos
17%
301 votes
No, I think that a few isolated incidents have been singled out
41%
708 votes
No, I've been suspicious of abuse of power for a long time
18%
305 votes
N/A
17%
303 votes
Other (please specify)
1%
15 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.17% | 3 | |
| no - some good, many bad | 0.06% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.06% | 1 |
| no, for neither of the reason you list | 0.06% | 1 |
| undecided | 0.06% | 1 |
| neutral | 0.06% | 1 |
| recent events have strengthened my cynicism | 0.06% | 1 |
| no! | 0.06% | 1 |
| no...10-1/2 years as a legal secretary changed my mind! | 0.06% | 1 |
| there are good cops and bad cops that get some ego like they are above the law and are abbusive. but not all cops are. | 0.06% | 1 |
| my own experience in the last year as affected my opinion | 0.06% | 1 |
| no | 0.06% | 1 |
| bad apples in all groups of people. | 0.06% | 1 |
4.
4.
If you are concerned about police conduct, what are your concerns? Too militaristic in makeup and conduct
20%
354 votes
Lack of education and/or training
26%
450 votes
The feeling that often officers cover up for other officers
40%
705 votes
Too quick to use too much force
41%
709 votes
N/A
33%
567 votes
Other (please specify)
3%
47 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.39% | 11 | |
| even if you are in the right! doesnt matter you will never win against a police man | 0.04% | 1 |
| when fear is used to try to keep others in line it has a tendacy to backfire and they become the victims of their own propaganda. | 0.04% | 1 |
| they try to intimidate (women) | 0.04% | 1 |
| like you said in your second question, some are good and some are bad | 0.04% | 1 |
| too many to even list here! | 0.04% | 1 |
| racism | 0.04% | 1 |
| they are afraid to do their jobs because of they are put under a microscope and then when they try to do the right thing they may react to quickly and make decisions based on pressure. also 1 bad apple don't spoil the whole bunch | 0.04% | 1 |
| disrespect of the public in stops and bully tactics. | 0.04% | 1 |
| not sure | 0.04% | 1 |
| some are clearyly doing it because of race as well. | 0.04% | 1 |
| maybe abusive types might be attracted to the job | 0.04% | 1 |
| too broad a subject to pick one of these answers | 0.04% | 1 |
| allowing personal prejudice to affect the way they treat people. | 0.04% | 1 |
| too many criminals getting away | 0.04% | 1 |
| generally disrespectful | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't blame police for countries troubles look to agitators. | 0.04% | 1 |
| all of the above! | 0.04% | 1 |
| ability to be impartial | 0.04% | 1 |
| some people get power trips. | 0.04% | 1 |
| power trips | 0.04% | 1 |
| the vast majority of police officers are good. | 0.04% | 1 |
| corruption | 0.04% | 1 |
| you get what you pay for. | 0.04% | 1 |
| too dishonest | 0.04% | 1 |
| coruption | 0.04% | 1 |
| they have power and know it and use it against anyone they want | 0.04% | 1 |
| give some people a badge and they think they are god. not all, just some.. | 0.04% | 1 |
| media propaganda | 0.04% | 1 |
| i think they cover up for each other, use too much force, and are militaristic. | 0.04% | 1 |
| they break the law more often then criminals and they don't do their jobs at all. you call them and its useless they either don't bother to come or they don't do anything. they are lazy and think the laws don't apply to them | 0.04% | 1 |
| it could be them dead | 0.04% | 1 |
| all of the above | 0.04% | 1 |
| absolute power corrupts | 0.04% | 1 |
| corruption, unfairness, and the belief that they are entitiled | 0.04% | 1 |
| trigger happy when the situation does not call for it | 0.04% | 1 |
| racism!!! | 0.04% | 1 |
5.
5.
When considering concerns, do you also consider the following? Hindsight is a terrible thing--what appears excessive in hindsight may not be when actually involved in the situation
24%
426 votes
Many police officers are injured and sometimes killed, and that is always in the back of their minds
40%
692 votes
Officers with less experience are more likely to overreact, probably due to fear
37%
648 votes
I don't have concerns about police officers
27%
477 votes
Other (please specify)
4%
65 votes
| Other Answers | Percentage | Votes |
|---|---|---|
| 0.82% | 19 | |
| na | 0.17% | 4 |
| no | 0.09% | 2 |
| other | 0.09% | 2 |
| none | 0.09% | 2 |
| police are controlling assholes | 0.04% | 1 |
| need mor information | 0.04% | 1 |
| i consider that they aren't doing their job correctly | 0.04% | 1 |
| many different factors | 0.04% | 1 |
| i don't trust them. | 0.04% | 1 |
| abuse of authority. | 0.04% | 1 |
| the police are simply too agressive these days. | 0.04% | 1 |
| these trigger happy copsare murdering inocent unarmed peopkle and should be held accountable, put them on trail and let a jurury put them in prison with other murderers | 0.04% | 1 |
| if the people stop breaking the law all would be fine | 0.04% | 1 |
| they like to throw their weight around | 0.04% | 1 |
| jesus said, treat others like you would want to be treated. | 0.04% | 1 |
| don't consider any of these | 0.04% | 1 |
| im really not too sure what to say about it these days ... cops have zero respect for civilians and visa versa | 0.04% | 1 |
| none of the above | 0.04% | 1 |
| they think they bare above the law. the majority of them were probably bullied in school. | 0.04% | 1 |
| if it is excessive it is excessive hindsight or not. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i consider all, but there is no excuse for a lot of their behavior | 0.04% | 1 |
| some officers take advanage of there badges | 0.04% | 1 |
| my concerns lie elsewhere | 0.04% | 1 |
| there are some bad cops and hopefully more good cops | 0.04% | 1 |
| psychotic and/or violent tendencies | 0.04% | 1 |
| they are not trying to protect, but jump into force and abuse | 0.04% | 1 |
| n/a | 0.04% | 1 |
| authority goes to there heads and they think they can hide behind the shirld. way too many people being killed or hurt and animals being murdered. do not like cops at all and i have never had a speeding ticket, just do not like what they do. | 0.04% | 1 |
| im not sure | 0.04% | 1 |
| some police officers just think they are above the law and can do what ever they want and get away with it. | 0.04% | 1 |
| too many details to discuss | 0.04% | 1 |
| hate cop dont give a rats ass about them | 0.04% | 1 |
| i lost all faith in the police 2 years ago. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i think they believe they are above the law. to quick to react @x's. excessive force, looking family pets. | 0.04% | 1 |
| lack of compassion | 0.04% | 1 |
| its possible that most people don't see the whole picture, that police consider that they may get hurt or killed and that less experienced officers may overreact. | 0.04% | 1 |
| i'm concerned that cops are racist and that affects how they interact with civilians. | 0.04% | 1 |
| they need to find another career | 0.04% | 1 |
| if you're scared don't take the job | 0.04% | 1 |
| no mitigations | 0.04% | 1 |
COMMENTS