FUNDAMENTALLY TRANSFORMED: Obama boasts of better race relations, 75 percent of cops disagree.
Concerned about their safety, the overwhelming majority of police are now less likely to do their job because of fatal encounters between law enforcement and the black community.
According to new polling from the Pew Research Center, 93 percent of police officers are concerned about their safety on the job; 72 percent are less willing to stop suspicious characters; and 75 percent report increased tension between cops and the black community.
While the majority of police officers, 67 percent, insist those encounters are isolated, the episodes have made viral news and front page headlines throughout 2016. The shooting of a 32-year-old Minnesota man, for example, was broadcast on Facebook Live, sparking local and national protests. As a result, 60 percent of the public disagrees with police and believe the shootings reflect a broader problem.
Last year, according to the Washington Post, 963 people were shot and killed by police.
Politicians from both parties have suggested solutions to the problem. The majority of police suggest greater accountability and favor tougher tactics. Two in three cops say they’re ready to wear a body camera on the job. At the same time, 45 percent believe that getting physical is the answer for unruly individuals.
The findings provide an interesting footnote to Obama’s farewell address. Though polls suggest that the majority of American believe race relations have worsened in the last eight years, the outgoing executive believes the country’s made progress in this area.
Well, he believes a lot of things. Meanwhile: