America is losing confidence in its police. According to a recent Gallup poll, public perception of law enforcement is at its lowest point since the organization began tracking that question twenty-seven years ago.
For the first time ever, a majority of Americans do not express confidence in the police, with only 48% of people maintaining faith in the institution.
The results may come as no surprise: horrific incidents of police violence have dominated headlines as protestors campaign to “defund the police.”
It’s a state of affairs that’s become deeply concerning to police themselves. A Pew Research study reveals that 86% of officers believe the tense environment has made their work harder, and nine out of ten report increased concern for their personal safety.
We place confidence in others when they honor their promises, act sincerely, and consistently tell the truth.
But rebuilding public confidence in America’s police won’t be easy, in part because police officers themselves aren’t just sporadically and spontaneously dishonest; in fact, American police are trained to lie, and the law-enforcement community itself has embraced deceit as a legitimate investigative tool.
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