POLICING IN A

POST-FERGUSON SOCIETY SURVEY

PoliceOnes Policing in a Post-Ferguson Society survey was conducted between

January 10 and January 22, 2017, receiving 3,346 responses from verified sworn law
enforcement professionals across all ranks and department sizes.

Are you a sworn law enforcement member?

Yes 3346

0 500 1000 1500 2000 2500 3000 3500

Answered Question: 3586

Which best describes the law enforcement agency you work for?

State Police 5%

Local Police 64%

Local Sheri 20%

Campus Police 5%

Federal Law
3%
Enforcement

Other 4%

Answered Question: 3097

 What year did you begin your law enforcement career?

140

130

100

80

60

40

20

0
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9
1 1 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 9 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 8 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7 7
5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1 0

Average Year: 1997 Answered Question: 3586

100%

What is your current age?

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%

10%

0%
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 3 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 4 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 6 7
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0

Average Year: 45 Answered Question: 3077

Which of the following best describes your rank?

Non-supervisor 54%

Supervisor 46%

Answered Question: 3103

Do you belong to a patrol unit or patrol division

within your department?

Yes 68%

No 32%

Answered Question: 3097

When was the last time you worked for a patrol unit or
patrol division, roughly?

0-3 years ago 41%

4-7 years ago 23%

8-11 years ago 15%

12+ years ago 17%

never 4% Answered Question: 963

Are you currently in a traffic unit/division or k-9 unit/division?

Yes 5%

No 95%

Answered Question: 959

Which best describes the region in which your department is located?

New England 3%

Mid-Atlantic 6%

East North
19%
Central

West North
9%
Central

South Atlantic 17%

East South
5%
Central

West South
15%
Central

Mountain 13%

Pacic 13%
Answered Question: 3054

How large is your department?

0-49 sworn
30%
personnel

50-499 sworn
46%
personnel

500-999 sworn
8%
personnel

1000+ sworn
16%
personnel

Answered Question: 3063

Choose the number that best represents your current hourly shift?

8 30%

8.5 9%

9 4%

9.5 1%

10 26%

10.5 2%

11 1%

11.5 2%

12 20%

12.5 2%

Answered Question: 2919

 Which of the following shifts are you assigned?

Day shift only 42%

Day shift only 12%

Night shift only 14%

On a designated
rotating shift 15%

I determine
when I work 11%

Other 6%

Answered Question: 3061

On average how many hours a week do you work including overtime?

40-45 47%

46-50 31%

51-55 11%

56-59 7%

60-65 3%

66-70 1%

71+ 1%

Answered Question: 3040

 Over a two-week work week, how often do you patrol with a partner?

Never 81%

1-2 shifts 8%

3-4 shifts 3%

5+ shifts 8%

Answered Question: 1173

Would you say the communities that comprise your beat are mostly...

Low income
communities 24%

Middle income
communities 30%

High income
communities 4%

Mixed income
communities 43%

Answered Question: 2094

Describe the racial makeup of the communities in your beat the day of the
Dallas shooting incident that took the lives of Dallas law enforcement.

Mostly White 31%

Mostly Latino 2%

Mostly Black 7%

Mostly Other 0%

Mixed White
and Black 13%

Mixed White
and Latino 8%

Mixed Black,
and Latino 2%

Mixed White, Black,

and Latino 30%

Mixed White
and Other 3%

Mixed Other
and Black 0%

Mixed Other
and Latino 0%

Other 2%
Answered Question: 2094
 For the following, tell us your degree of agreement with each statement.

It is dicult to be 16.65% Strongly Disagree

motivated at work 39.69% Disagree
Answered Question: 2696 32.72%
10.94% Agree
Strongly Agree
I stop (trac or pedestrian) 17.86%
as few people as possible 41.99%
while on duty 27.35%
Answered Question: 1086 12.80%

I am apprehensive about 17.42%

using force even though 29.68%
it may be necessary 37.24%
Answered Question: 1085 15.67%

I do not enjoy my career 38.70%

in law enforcement 39.89%
Answered Question: 2695 15.10%
6.31%

I do not currently feel safe 11.55%

while conducting my duties 45.34%
Answered Question: 2693 35.43%
7.69%

I am willing to work with 2.79%

minority communities to build 5.77%
trust in law enforcement 51.15%
Answered Question: 2688 40.29%

I am apprehensive about 20.19%

stopping minorities to 38.33%
investigate crimes 30.37%
Answered Question: 1080 11.11%
 For the following, tell us your degree of agreement with each statement.

I want to quit this job 41.48% Strongly Disagree

and nd another 39.12%
Disagree
Answered Question: 2683 15.99%
6.41% Agree
Strongly Agree

I feel like most people do not 7.12%

respect law enforcement 47.61%
Answered Question: 2695 31.22%
14.05%

I feel like the relationship 4.34%

between law enforcement and 38.14%
the public is not very good 44.16%
Answered Question: 2695 13.36%

I feel like citizens will never trust 14.12%

law enforcement enough to 60.30%
work together eectively 20.24%
Answered Question: 2698 5.34%

I am fearful of losing my job 9.77%

in times I have to use force 34.19%
Answered Question: 1085 35.48%
20.55%

I feel like the public is more apt 6.38%

to obstruct law enforcement 45.34%
than to cooperate 34.95%
Answered Question: 2696 13.32%
 Post Ferguson Period (August 2014 - June 2016). Tell us if your feelings on
the topic decreased, increased, or stayed the same.

Decreased during this period

My motivation to work 45.32%
50.08% Stayed the same
Answered Question: 2606
4.60% Increased during this period

Amount of stops (trac 47.29%

or pedestrian) I made 50.30%
Answered Question: 996 2.41%

My apprehensiveness 13.30%
about using force 46.90%
Answered Question: 1000 39.80%

My enjoyment at work 51.06%

Answered Question: 2599
47.02%
1.92%

My willingness to work with 23.18%

minority communities 69.73%
Answered Question: 2593 7.10%

My apprehensiveness about 10.72%

stopping minorities 53.51%
Answered Question: 998 35.77%

Waiting to quit and nd 12.69%

another job 60.90%
Answered Question: 2568 26.40%
 Post Ferguson Period (August 2014 - June 2016). Tell us if your feelings on
the topic decreased, increased, or stayed the same.

Decreased during this period

Feeling of safety while 59.05%
conducting your duties 36.84% Stayed the same
Answered Question: 2576 4.11% Increased during this period

Feeling most people do 10.39%

not respect the police 34.99%
Answered Question: 2598 54.62%

Feeling police-public relationship 9.83%

is not very good 33.74%
Answered Question: 2593 56.42%

Feeling citizens will not trust 7.73%

police enough to work 46.73%
together eectively 45.54%
Answered Question: 2587

Fear of job loss when 4.21%

having to use force 43.59%
Answered Question: 998 52.20%

Feeling citizens are more apt to 5.63%

obstruct than to cooperate 40.24%
Answered Question: 2592 54.13%
Post Dallas Period (July 2016 present). Tell us if your feelings on the topic
decreased, increased, or stayed the same.

My motivation to work 36.84% Decreased during this period

Answered Question: 2413 51.31% Stayed the same
11.85%
Increased during this period

Amount of stops (trac or 40.31%

pedestrian) I made 55.62%
Answered Question: 908 4.07%

My apprehensiveness 12.44%
about using force 60.46%
Answered Question: 908 27.09%

My enjoyment at work 44.42%

Answered Question: 2402 52.46%
3.12%

My willingness to work with 19.06%

minority communities 74.12%
Answered Question: 2403 6.82%

My apprehensiveness about 8.24%

stopping minorities 64.62%
Answered Question: 910 27.14%

Wanting to quit and 14.14%

nd another job 59.72%
Answered Question: 2376 26.14%
 Post Dallas Period (July 2016 present). Tell us if your feelings on the topic
decreased, increased, or stayed the same.

Feeling of safety while 67.74% Decreased during this period

conducting your duties 26.59% Stayed the same
Answered Question: 2381 5.67%
Increased during this period

Feeling most people do 14.01%

not respect the police 44.47%
Answered Question: 2406 41.52%

Feeling police-public 14.64%

relationship is not very good 43.95%
Answered Question: 2398 41.41%

Feeling citizens will not trust police 11.33%

enough to work together eectively 56.79%
Answered Question: 2400 31.87%

Fear of jo loss when 6.15%

having to use force 58.13%
Answered Question: 910 35.71%

Feeling citizens are more apt to 9.88%

obstruct than to cooperate 53.75%
Answered Question: 2398 36.36%
 Please read each item below and indicate, by using the following rating
scale, to what extent you used it to deal specifically with the Dallas and
Baton Rouge incidents anytime from their occurrence up to the present.

I moved on as if these 45.33% Not Used

events didnt happen 34.37% Used Somewhat
Answered Question: 2665 14.71%
5.59% Used Quite a Bit
Used a Great Deal

I got professional help 96.12%

2.80%
Answered Question: 2683
0.63%
0.45%

I talked to a fellow ocer 29.20%

about how I was feeling 38.69%
Answered Question: 2678 23.08%
9.04%

I tried to keep my feelings 18.51%

from interfering with 32.50%
other things too much 33.51%
Answered Question: 2680 15.49%

I talked to a family member or 27.10%

friend about how I was feeling 36.21%
Answered Question: 2679 24.93%
11.76%

I asked a fellow ocer 56.82%

I respected for advice 31.37%
Answered Question: 2684 9.20%
2.61%

I asked a relative of friend 70.56%

I respected for advice 21.43%
Answered Question: 2683 5.96%
2.05%
Please read each item below and indicate, by using the following rating
scale, to what extent you used it to deal specifically with the Dallas and
Baton Rouge incidents anytime from their occurrence up to the present.

I tried not to let these 11.46% Not Used

events get to me 33.01% Used Somewhat
Answered Question: 2678 33.16%
22.37% Used Quite a Bit
Used a Great Deal
I tried to make myself 34.93%
feel better by exercising 32.76%
Answered Question: 2677 20.32%
11.99%

I tried to make myself 79.78%

feel better by drinking 15.03%
Answered Question: 2681 3.77%
1.42%

I tried to make myself 98.96%

feel betterby using 0.90%
drugs or medication 0.04%
Answered Question: 2680 0.11%

I tried to make myself 95.07%

feel better by smoking 3.14%
Answered Question: 2677 1.01%
0.78%

I tried to keep my 26.78%

feelings to myself 42.92%
Answered Question: 2670 19.10%
11.20%

I tried to make myself 75.88%

feel better by eating 18.71%
Answered Question: 2678 4.22%
1.19%

I prayed 33.57%
Answered Question: 2681 27.42%
18.95%
20.07%
 The following questions relate to your confidence in your ability to
use force in a use-of-force situation

I am condent in my ability 2% Strongly Disagree

to determine the appropriate 3%
amount of force necessary Disagree
27%
in a use of force situation 68% Agree
Answered Question: 2686 Strongly Agree

I am condent I have received 4%

the training necessary to 7%
determine the appropriate
34%
amount of force necessary
55%
in a use of force situation
Answered Question: 2688

I am condent in my ability 2%
to determine the appropriate 2%
decision in a shoot/don't 30%
shoot situation
65%
Answered Question: 1085

I am condent I have received 3%

the training necessary to 7%
determine the appropriate 34%
decision in a shoot/don't
56%
shoot situation
Answered Question: 2695
On your next shift you confront a hostile citizen that needs to be taken into
custody. This person is a male, who is 6 ft., weighs 200 lbs, and shows no
signs of having a weapon. How confident are you in your ability to use only
your hands to physically get them into custody by yourself without the use
of oc/pepper spray, baton, or taser?

Not condent at all 12.54%

Somewhat condent 52.05%

Very condent 35.41%

Answered Question: 2680

 Patrol officers

should make frequent informal 2% Strongly Disagree

contacts with the people in their beat 5% Somewhat Disagree
Answered Question: 2683 41%
51% Agree
Strongly Agree

should try to solve non-crime 6%

problems in their beat 23%
Answered Question: 2686 49%
21%

on foot can learn more about 4%

neighborhood problems 20%
than an ocer in a patrol car 46%
Answered Question: 2679 29%

should perform duties that builds 2%

trust between police and 7%
communities they serve 54%
Answered Question: 2681 37%

should be aggressively enforcing 4%

the law for misdemeanor oenses 31%
Answered Question: 2683 49%
17%
Stop-and-frisk

Strongly Disagree
Somewhat Disagree
8%
Agree
Strongly Agree

41%

Stop-and-frisk strategies are the best

way for patrol ocers to ght crime

37%

13%

Answered Question: 2672

Have you received any self-defense/defensive-tactics training emphasizing

any of the following: jiu-jitsu, muay thai, boxing, karate, judo, kick-boxing,
or other martial art (check all that apply)

Yes, outside of my department 32%

Yes, as part of my department

35%
training in the academy

Yes, as part of my department

38%
in-service training (i.e. re-training)

No 30%

Not sure 1%

Answered Question: 1468

On average how many high priority calls do you handle per work week?
High priority calls involve serious crimes in-progress that require you to
respond lights and sirens

0 6%

1 16%

2-5 38%

5-9 22%

10-15 12%

16+ 6%

Answered Question: 1040

Which best describes your department

Adopts a community 40%

policing philosophy

Has community police

ocers assigned to 4%
specic communities

Both 39%

None of the above 16%

Answered Question: 2688

How often do you talk to someone about the stress you experience on the job?

Never 26%

Daily 7%

Few times a week 18%

Few times a month 24%

Few times a year 24%

Answered Question: 2684

How often do you talk to someone about the stress you experience on the job?

Never 31%

Once a year or less 12%

A few times a year 21%

A few times a month 14%

Once a week 17%

More than once/week 5%

Answered Question: 2686

How often do you drink alcohol?

Once a week 39%

2-3 days a week 21%

4-5 days a week 7%

6-7 days a week 4%

Never 30%

Answered Question: 2684

On average, how many drinks of alcohol do you consume in these situations?

With one drink described as 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine or a shot
glass of spirits

1 drink 32%

2 drink 34%

3 drink 18%

4 drink 8%

5+ drink 8%

Answered Question: 2095

On average, how many hours of sleep do you get when you are working?

4 or less 4%

5 17%

6 36%

7 30%

8 11%

9+ 1%

Answered Question: 2679

What is your education level?

Less than high school degree 0%

High school degree 5%

Some college 27%

Associates degree 18%

Bachelors degree 31%

Some graduate school 7%

Masters degree or more 12%

Answered Question: 2685

Do you have military experience?

Yes 31%

No 69%

Answered Question: 2684

What is your marital status?

Single 9%

Married 81%

Widowed 1%

Divorced 9%

Separated 1%

Answered Question: 2679

Do you have children?

Yes 83%

No 17%

Answered Question: 2679

What is your height?

100%

90%

80%

70%

60%

50%

40%

30%

20%
14% 15%
11% 12%
10% 8% 9% 8%
4% 5% 4%
2% 3%
1% 1%
0%
53 54 55 56 57 58 59 510 511 60 61 62 63 64

Average Height: 511 Answered Question: 2668

What is your weight?

6%

5%

4%

3%

2%

1%

0%
1 1 2 2 3 3 4
0 5 0 5 0 5 0
0 0 0 0 0 0 0
lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs. lbs.

Average Weight: 211 lbs. Answered Question: 2655