The topic of George Floyd’s death has sparked significant political and social discussions, particularly among Black and White communities on their perceptions of local police and the reforms being implemented to improve their standards. While much of the focus has been on the immediate Cousins decision and the desires of individuals killed by police, it also highlights deeper shifts in societal attitudes toward cops and their work. A recent and detailed analysis of news coverage and polling data reveals how opinions have not only changed but also deepened over time, drawing fresh attention to this complex issue.
The demographic differences in public attitudes towards law enforcement remain a central concern, with Black and White communities showing distinct responses to the killing of George Floyd. After his death, polls in their wake revealed that Black residents generally held higher confidence in their local police force, with their confidence standing at 64% in 2024, up from the previous year. This contrast between Black and White confidence underscores the persistent lack of equity within police organizations and their deployment. Additionally, black individuals reported having experienced more negative interactions with officers, compared to White personnel. However, Among black respondents, 41% reported that a police officer safely kept them safe in a potentially dangerous situation, which was notably higher than 33% among White respondents.
Polling organizations continue to track perceptions of cops after the death of individuals killed by them, finding that a large majority support immediate reforms in police misconduct. These reforms are often supported by many individuals, suggesting a broader desire for better enforcement of stricter policies. However, a pivot to defunding the police has remained the polar opposite of those reforms, with 66% of registered voters, more than double the following year, expressing a positive opinion of the police. Such support has overshadowed the collective effort of the community and institutions against a more direct approach to crime prevention, with few White respondents supporting this reform.
The rise in support for local police reform has noticeable and strengthening patterns displayed in Polling organizations’ data. Between 2016 and 2020, support for police performance was low, often in line with the perception of effective police work, but by 2023, there was a sharp shift. This trend aligns with previous studies, which have demonstrated that support for police performance is influenced by inexperience thresholds. Similarly, Black Lives Matter movements have faced parallel challenges, with polls showing a decline in their positive views of police, even as the overall support for the police entity continues to rise.
The parallels between Black community experiences and previous decades highlight the persistent gaps in racial attitudes toward violence and justice. Polling organizations have long noted a regressive pattern in responses prior to the kill of Floyd, noting that most respondents had negative views of his treatment of Black individuals. This pattern has returned in the current context, even as evaluators have consistently argued that the effect of the killing on Black communities has been limited. The former, however, now points to longer-term trends in attitudes, which continue to evolve with the constant delinking of data from real-time moments.
While many Black and White communities demand better police force, the current tally of positive responses toward Black Lives Matter remains close to 25%. The growing buzz around this movement reflects the deep-seated values of racial unity and the need for change. Yet, many remain concerned about how to bridge this gap to what they need within their communities. As the fight against should despair continues, the shifts in public opinion highlight the enduring challenges of improving police reform and addressing systemic issues within communities. The summary underscores the role of polling data and evaluations in shaping public discourse, while also emphasizing the complexities of addressing racial inequities. The 2020 data, in particular, serves as a misleading marker for progress, as it continues to show the construction of new regressions of perceptions amidst ongoingentelescentiUncパ崭ences against Black people.
