Sixty-three percent of American adults “still regard being a police officer as one of the most important jobs in our country today” while 26 percent disagree and 11 percent aren’t certain, according to a new Rasmussen survey released this week.
The same survey revealed that “Blacks (67%) are the most concerned about public safety where they live, compared to 63% of whites and 65% of other minority Americans.”
Meanwhile, 64 percent of survey respondents “are concerned that the growing criticism of America’s police will lead to a shortage of police officers and reduce public safety in the community where they live.”
“That includes 39% who are Very Concerned,” Rasmussen reported. “But 33% don’t share that concern, with 14% who are Not at All Concerned about the risk to public safety.”
Police and sheriff’s deputies are under a political microscope, and a separate survey of police officers in the District of Columbia revealed that 71 percent “are preparing to depart the police force as police reform legislation seemingly hampers any attempts at law and order principles and protocols,” according to The Union Journal.
In a press release, the DC Police Union which “represents the 3,600 officers, detectives and sergeants of the District of Columbia’s Metropolitan Police Department” cited 71 % of the DC police is gearing to go elsewhere, even considering changing their careers.
“Just 52% of Democrats consider being a police officer one of the most important jobs in the country, a view held by 82% of Republicans and 60% of adults not affiliated with either major party,” the Rasmussen survey reported. “But then while 56% of Republicans are Very Concerned that the growing criticism of the police will reduce public safety where they live, only 31% of Democrats and 34% of unaffiliateds agree.”
