Poll: Americans’ respect for police increases

About three-quarters of Americans now say they have a great deal of respect for the police, according to a Gallup poll.

{mosads}The percentage of Americans who say they have a great deal of respect for police increased by 12 points since a similar poll from 2015, pollsters found, from 64 percent to 76 percent.

According to the new poll, 17 percent say they have some respect for police, and another 7 percent say they have hardly any respect.

The poll also found that 80 percent of white respondents say they have a great deal of respect for police, up 11 points from the poll taken last year.

Among nonwhite respondents, 67 percent say they have a great deal of respect. In 2015, only 53 percent said they had the same level of respect.

Respect for police has also gone up among Republicans, independents and conservatives. It is highest among Republicans, 86 percent of whom say they have a great deal of respect for police.

Among people ages 18 to 34, respect for police has gone up 19 points sine 2015, to 69 percent.

The poll was conducted from Oct. 5 to 9 among 1,017 adults. The margin of error is 4 percentage points.

The poll comes after a number of high-profile police-involved shootings over the past year, many of which have sparked protests and riots.