Despite a number of recent high-profile officer-involved shootings and mass protests across the country, a new Gallup poll shows that the majority of people hold a favorable view of their local police department. In fact, the survey found three in four Americans (76 percent) revere the police in their area. That finding represents a 12 point increase from last year and is the second highest recorded by Gallup since its peak in 1967.
As expected, people who identified as Republicans held a more favorable view of police overall. But among both parties, a solid majority reported a high level of respect. Admiration for law enforcement jumped 21 percentage points among self-identified liberals over the past year—a significant increase.
Respect among minority individuals is also up, even more than among whites:
Four in five whites (80%) say they have a great deal of respect for police in their area, up 11 points from last year. Meanwhile, two in three nonwhites (67%) report having the same level of respect, an increase of 14 points from last year.
What accounts for this newfound respect? Gallup thinks a recent spate of police shootings in places like Dallas and Baton Rouge may hold the key. In California as well, communities have rallied behind their local police departments following a number of officer deaths in the line of duty.