Survey finds higher approval for Seattle police; a few ‘troubling’ points

While trust for law enforcement has taken a hit around the country, an independent survey filed in U.S. District Court found that approval for Seattle police is increasing.

The research, which was commissioned by a federal monitoring team, looked at similar surveys conducted in 2013 and 2015, and found that the percentage of people who said they approve of the Seattle Police Department has risen from 60 percent to 64 percent to 72 percent in 2016. The survey was filed the same day KIRO Radio’s Mike Lewis reported on a public survey that is being used to take the pulse of Seattle residents’ views on crime and police.

The polling firm said much of the improvement is among black residents — with 49 percent approval in 2013 to 62 percent now — and Latinos, with 54 percent approval in 2013 to 74 percent now.

In addition, fewer residents are saying they disapprove of the SPD. The survey found the department’s disapproval rating has decreased from 34 percent in 2013 to 20 percent in 2016, and fewer people are reporting troubling interactions between officers and Seattle residents.

The survey points to perception as being at least one factor in why approval is increasing.

“Word of mouth is still a serious factor in SPD opinions …” the survey states.

That’s a similar sentiment to what Assist. Chief Carmen Best told Lewis.

“Perception is reality,” Best said. “So if people are perceiving there to be an issue, obviously, whether it exists in the data or not, we need to recognize that.”

Mayor Ed Murray says the city is continuing to work to repair the public’s trust of the police department.

A few troubling points

There are a few of what the survey calls “troubling data points” found in the survey.

The number of Asian Americans who know someone who’s been a victim of racial profiling is at an all-time high, according to the survey.

“The number who say SPD engages in racial profiling very often is also tied for an all-time high,” the survey states.

It is noted that the sample of Asian-Americans in the poll was small.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

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