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Despite ongoing civil unrest and talk of anti-police sentiment across the nation, a recent Gallup poll found that Americans’ respect for law enforcement has surged to its highest level in nearly five decades.
Three in four Americans (76 percent) reported that they have “a great deal” of respect for police in their area, an increase of 12 percentage points from 2015.
This is the highest recorded percentage since 1967 when 77 percent of Americans polled expressed the same level of respect.
The poll data shows that respect for police increased among both “whites” and “nonwhites.”
Four in five whites (80 percent) and two in three nonwhites (67 percent) told Gallup they have a great deal of respect for their local law enforcement, up 11 and 14 percentage points from last year.
While respect for police remains highest among whites (80 percent), conservatives (85 percent), Republicans (86 percent), and adults over 55 (81 percent), the sharpest increases were seen among liberals and young adults, leaping 19 and 21 points respectively from 2015 to 2016.
