nothin Poll Reveals Racial Divide On Cops | New Haven Independent

Poll Reveals Racial Divide On Cops

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Protesters storm Hamden PD.

Most people in Hamden disapprove of an officer’s April 16 shooting of an unarmed woman but do approve of how the police do their jobs.

Except when it comes to black people in Hamden, who express more concern about the cops.

Those conclusions are drawn from a Quinnipiac University poll released Wednesday.

The poll was taken following the high-profile April 16 shooting, in which Hamden Officer Devin Eaton crossed into New Haven’s Newhallville neighborhood and fired shots at an unarmed couple inside a car, striking passenger Stephanie Washington in the pelvis and sending her to the hospital.

In the poll, 66 percent of Hamdenites surveyed called the shooting unjustified; 11 perdent did not.

Overall, 62 percent said they approve of how the cops do their job in the town, compared to 11 percent disapprove. Among black respondents, however, the results narrowed to 50 – 43. (Hispanic approval rates matched those of white approval rates.)

The poll probed deeply into residents’ attitudes; the ful results can be viewed at the bottom of this story.

The Findings

Following is the full text of a Q Poll release detailing the survey results:

Hamden residents say 66 — 11 percent that the April 16 shooting incident involving a Hamden police officer was not justified, but residents approve 62 — 29 percent of the job Hamden police are doing, according to a Quinnipiac University Poll released today.

This survey suggests that Hamdenites regard the incident as an aberration, rather than indicative of how the Hamden Police Department operates,” said Quinnipiac University School of Law Professor William Dunlap.

There are pronounced racial differences in attitudes about police, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack) University Poll finds:

The April 16 shooting was not justified, according to 88 percent of black residents, 60 percent of white residents and 68 percent of Hispanic residents;
Overall approval of Hamden police is 50 — 43 percent among black residents, 67 — 26 percent among white residents and 66 — 24 percent among Hispanic residents.

The strongest support for police is that Hamden residents say 79 — 15 percent they can trust local police to do what is right. That includes 85 — 11 percent among white residents, 67 — 24 percent among black residents and 78 — 14 percent among Hispanic residents.

Hamden residents say 85 — 8 percent that local police should make greater efforts to build relationships with communities of color. That includes 82 percent of white residents, 94 percent of black residents and 85 percent of Hispanic residents.

Residents also say 52 — 43 percent they would like to see more walking or biking police patrols in their neighborhood. White residents are divided 49 — 47 percent. Support for more walking or biking police patrols is 63 — 35 percent among black residents and 63 — 33 percent among Hispanic residents.

These differences among racial groups seem to be typical of attitudes reported in other cities in the wake of police shootings around the country,” Dunlap said.

There is a striking racial division as 66 percent of black Hamden residents say they personally worry about being the victim of police violence, compared to 12 percent of white residents and 39 percent of Hispanic residents.

Police mistreatment of people of color is a serious problem in Hamden, 31 percent of residents say. In contrast, 72 percent of Hamden residents say police mistreatment of people of color is a serious problem in the U.S.

This is reminiscent of many political polls,” Dunlap said, that show very high disapproval rates for Congress generally, but high approval ratings for the respondents’ own senators or representative.”

Hamden residents say 47 — 38 percent that local police do not have enough training to know when they need to fire their weapon.

And residents support 93 — 4 percent the use of body cameras activated automatically by a specific action such as when an officer opens a police car door or by the sound of gunfire.

The overwhelming public support for body cams that activate automatically will probably not be lost on the Police Department and the Legislative Council,” Dunlap added. And there seems to be some public concern about levels of firearms training, as well.”

April 16 Police Shooting

Seventy percent of Hamden residents say the officers involved in the April 16 shooting should be disciplined, including 64 percent of white residents, 91 percent of black residents and 74 percent of Hispanic residents.

But only 38 percent of Hamden residents say the officers should be fired, including 30 percent of white residents, 66 percent of black residents and 44 percent of Hispanic residents. There are similar results on whether the officers should face criminal charges: 36 percent of all residents, including 28 percent of white residents, 64 percent of black residents and 38 percent of Hispanic residents say they should face charges.

From May 2 — 6, Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,699 Hamden adults with a margin of error of +/- 3.1 percentage points, including the design effect.

This survey was conducted as a community service, prompted by a request from the Town of Hamden. As in all other polls, the Quinnipiac University Poll maintained total independence in developing the questions, conducting the survey and reporting the results.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts gold standard surveys using random digit dialing with live interviewers calling landlines and cell phones. The Quinnipiac University Poll conducts nationwide surveys and polls in more than a dozen states on national and statewide elections, as well as public policy issues.

Visit poll.qu.edu or www.facebook.com/quinnipiacpoll

Call (203) 582‑5201, or follow us on Twitter @QuinnipiacPoll.










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