Most police officers believe their job has become more dangerous in light of recent fatal encounters between cops and black people, a poll reveals.
A Pew Research poll released Wednesday surveyed 8,000 male and female officers across the country to get their opinions on policing, the recent protests against officers and their thoughts on using force against civilians.
Eighty-six percent of officers surveyed said the recent high-profile encounters between police and black people have made their jobs more difficult. Only 12 percent believed the encounters did not make a difference.
In light of these encounters, 93 percent of officers are also more fearful for their safety while on the job.
Seventy-six percent of officers said they were more unwilling to use force when necessary, while 72 percent are less willing to stop and question someone who seems suspicious.
Officers also gave their thoughts on the protests surrounding fatal police shootings. Sixty-eight percent of cops believe the protests are due to an anti-police bias. Only 10 percent think that the protesters really want police to be responsible for their actions.
When it comes to the job, some of the officers expressed frustrations with being a cop. Fifty-one percent said being a cop vexed them, while 56 said they had become more callous because of the job. About 66 percent of officers described being verbally abused while on the job by a citizen.
Seventy-nine percent said they had been thanked for serving as an officer, and 58 percent said they were happy with being a cop.
Attacks on law enforcement officers went up in 2016. Approximately 135 officers died that year, with 64 fatally shot in the line of duty and 21 killed in ambush-style attacks.
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