WASHINGTON (CNN) -- Despite high-profile allegations of police misconduct, 85 percent of those surveyed by the federal government said they are satisfied with their police departments.

Satisfaction varied by race.

Ninety percent of whites, but only 76 percent of blacks, approve of the performance of their police departments, according to the survey.

The survey results were compiled in a report entitled "Criminal Victimization and Perceptions of Community Safety in 12 Cities, 1998." The study was conducted in 1998 by the Bureau of Justice Statistics and the results were released Thursday.

Officials said the study provides much-needed data, but comparisons are impossible because the survey is the first of its kind. A follow-up study is being considered for next year to examine trends.

"The high degree of citizen support for America's neighborhood police officers is a testament to the dedicated men and women who work day in and day out to establish relationships with residents in their communities," said Deputy Attorney General Eric Holder.

He said the fact that 24 percent of blacks were dissatisfied with police was "both good news and bad news."

Holder, who is black, said he was encouraged that a solid majority in the black community back police performance in their neighborhoods. But he added that the disparity with police support among whites shows the need for addressing the issue.

Police integrity conference set for next week

Holder acknowledged that top law enforcement officials remain concerned about the perception of police in some minority communities. He said a top-level conference on police integrity will be held in Washington next Wednesday to examine racial profiling, police brutality and other practices that have angered minorities.

The survey was conducted at the request of the FBI's advisory board of state and local police officials, which asked the Bureau of Justice Statistics to study public perceptions of the nation's police departments.

Bureau Director Jan Chaiken said funding allowed for a survey of only 12 carefully selected cities intended to provide a cross-section of the nation's police departments.

"It must be emphasized that these interviews were not conducted by the police departments. They were conducted by our census takers," Chaiken said.

The cities surveyed included: New York; Chicago; Los Angeles; Washington; San Diego; Kansas City, Missouri; Spokane, Washington; Tucson, Arizona; Savannah, Georgia; Knoxville, Tennessee; Madison, Wisconsin and Springfield, Massachusetts.

Overall, satisfaction with police ranged from 97 percent in Madison to 78 percent in Washington in the survey.

Fewer than half of the survey respondents in each of the cities said they were fearful of crime in their neighborhood.

Fewer than one in 10 in each of the cities said they were "very fearful."

In six of the cities, at least 20 per cent of those surveyed who said they were afraid of becoming a victim of street crime said they carried a weapon for self defense.

RELATED SITES:

Bureau of Justice Statistics
FBI Homepage

Note: Pages will open in a new browser window
External sites are not endorsed by CNN Interactive.

LATEST HEADLINES:

Back to the top