From strained to supportive: Why public sentiment toward police has changed

LONGWORTH: JUST TWO YEARS AGO THE STREETS OF NEW YORK HOSTED PROTESTS AGAINST THE POLICE.

NOW WE’RE SEEING THIS. DEEP PUBLIC SUPPORT OF LAW ENFORCEMENT.

SO WHAT HAPPENED HERE?

HOW HAS PUBLIC SENTIMENT TOWARD POLICE SEEMINGLY CHANGED SO DRASTICALLY?

I SPOKE WITH DR. FRANK STRAUB–AN EXPERT IN PSYCHOLOGY AND LAW ENFORCEMENT–TO FIND OUT WHAT’S HAPPENED IN THE U.S. SINCE THE MURDER OF GEORGE FLOYD.

FRANK STRAUB: THE PENDULUM SHIFTED VERY QUICKLY TO POLICE REFORM, AND ELIMINATION OF THE POLICE AND DEFUNDING OVER THE POLICE.

LONGWORTH: SOME ON THE LEFT WERE ASSOCIATED WITH THE DEFUND MOVEMENT WHILE THE RIGHT BACKED POLICE.

THINK BACK TO THE MAYORS WHO DEFUNDED THEIR POLICE DEPARTMENTS: NEW YORK’S BILL DEBLASIO AND SAN FRANCISCO’S LONDON BREED, FOR EXAMPLE, BOTH DEMOCRATS.

WHILE THAT REACTION TO FLOYD’S DEATH SPREAD, SO DID COVID, BRINGING ILLNESS, DEATH, AND A NEWLY RESTRICTED WAY OF LIFE.

STRAUB: WE KNOW THAT COVID HAS CERTAINLY IMPACTED MENTAL HEALTH IN OUR YOUNG PEOPLE, AS WELL AS IN ALL OF US. AND WE KNOW THAT IT’S HAD A PROFOUND EFFECT ON POLICING, IT’S CLAIMED LIVES OF 300 POLICE OFFICERS IN 2021.

LONGWORTH: SO, TAKE COMMUNAL TRAUMA, DETERIORATING MENTAL HEALTH AND ADD ANOTHER FACTOR:

GUNS.

STRAUB: THERE’S TREMENDOUS AVAILABILITY OF FIREARMS, AND MAYBE NOT ENOUGH EDUCATION, IN TERMS OF HOW TO SAFEGUARD THOSE FIREARMS AND HOW FIREARMS SHOULD BE USED PROPERLY.

LONGWORTH: THIS MIX OF EMOTION AND DEADLY WEAPONS LED TO A RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME ACROSS THE COUNTRY.

STRAUB: AND I THINK WE RECOGNIZE THAT THE POLICE HAVE TO BE THE PRIMARY RESPONSE AGENCIES ARE THE EXPERTS.

LONGWORTH: MIGHT BE WHY THREE OUT OF FOUR AMERICANS ATTRIBUTE THE RISE IN VIOLENT CRIME TO THE DEFUND MOVEMENT, ACCORDING TO A POLITICO/MORNING CONSULT POLL.

SO NOW, THE PENDULUM SWINGS BACK, AS PEOPLE LOOK TO LAW ENFORCEMENT–WITH SUPPORT FOR IMPROVEMENT.

THAT’S WHY OUR PRESIDENT–AND OTHER DEMOCRATS–ARE MAKING A SERIOUS EFFORT TO SUPPORT POLICE.

JOE BIDEN: WE SHOULDN’T BE CUTTING FUNDING FOR POLICE DEPARTMENTS. I PROPOSED INCREASING FUNDING. LOOK, YOU KNOW, WE ASK COPS TO DO EVERYTHING INCLUDING BE PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS. GUESS WHAT? THEY NEED PSYCHOLOGISTS AND SOCIAL WORKERS.

LONGWORTH: HOWEVER, OTHER DEMS ARE STICKING WITH THE DEFUND MOVEMENT.

CORI BUSH: DEFUNDING THE POLICE HAS TO HAPPEN, AND PUT THAT MONEY INTO SOCIAL SAFETY NETS BECAUSE WE’RE TRYING TO SAVE LIVES.

LONGWORTH: BUT ISN’T EVERYONE REALLY SAYING THE SAME THING? THAT MONEY NEEDS TO GO TOWARD HIRING EXPERTS IN MENTAL HEALTH TO SERVE COMMUNITIES? IT’S REALLY JUST A MATTER OF HIRING THESE SOCIAL WORKERS AND PSYCHIATRISTS WITHIN POLICE DEPARTMENTS, OR REDIRECTING FUNDING SO OTHER AGENCIES CAN.

I WANT TO KNOW WHAT YOU THINK.

LET ME KNOW IN THE COMMENTS AND MAKE SURE YOU HIT THE STRAIGHT ARROW BIAS METER.