By Jim Skinner, Sheriff, Collin County, TX and Chairman of the National Sheriffs’ Association Government Affairs Committee
A majority of Americans oppose the “Defund the Police” movement, and another 42% say the movement reduced their community safety. Also, most Americans are satisfied with the effectiveness of law enforcement in their communities. Those are the findings of an online TIPP survey of 1,400 Americans nationwide completed in early November for the National Sheriffs Association.
The slogan “defund the police” gained popularity with some politicians during the George Floyd protests in May 2020. The movement aimed to cut funds from policing, leaving our citizens more vulnerable and our communities less safe.
The NSA/TIPP survey asked Americans: Do you support or oppose the movement known as “defund the police?” Six in ten (60%) oppose the movement. An overwhelming 44% “oppose strongly,” and another 16% oppose somewhat. Only about one in four (28%) supports the movement. While 15% said they “support strongly,” another 13% said they “support somewhat.”
The National Sheriffs’ Association has advocated for continued funding for law enforcement to keep our communities safe. We’re aiming on improving training and retention of law enforcement personnel, expanding mental health opportunities for citizens suffering from mental illness and the fighting the surge in fentanyl deaths.
Additionally, we are focused on ensuring the security of the nation’s borders remains one of the NSA’s foremost priorities. Border security issues encompass challenges such as drug smuggling, cartel activities, human trafficking, and illegal immigration, contributing to an unprecedented humanitarian crisis. The Association has diligently engaged with members of Congress and the White House to highlight pressing homeland security concerns. The strain on local resources, particularly for border sheriffs and law enforcement nationwide facing insufficient staffing and funding to address the surge in migrant inflows, is a significant concern. This ongoing impact extends to communities nationwide, grappling with heightened levels of violent criminals, illegal drugs, and an overall surge in criminal activity, thereby stretching public safety resources to their limits.
Lastly, we are expanding programs in our jails. For example, in 2021, NSA partnered with Genesee County Sheriff Chris Swanson to replicate and expand a IGNITE (Inmate Growth Naturally and Intentionally Through Education). This has become a national initiative in 10 states, including Collin County, TX, offering comprehensive education, job training, and post-incarceration work opportunities to inmates in jails throughout the country. In addition, this program is measurably reducing violence in jails. Genesee County has recorded a 97% decrease in inmate-on-inmate assaults, as well as inmate-on-staff assaults.
Region And Area Type
Regional support for the movement varies; nearly three-fourths (72%) of Midwesterners oppose it, while 17% support it. In the Northeast, 61% are against it compared to 24% in support. Meanwhile, in the West, 64% oppose it, while 26% support it, and the South opposes it 52% to 37%.
By area type, urban residents support the movement at 48% to 42%. On the other hand, most suburban residents (71%) and rural residents (67%) oppose the movement.
Party And Ideology
There are stark differences based on party and ideology. Democrats support it 50% to 38%, while liberals support it 50% to 40%. On the other hand, Republicans (76%) and independents (69%) oppose the movement, as do conservatives (67%) and moderates (68%).
Age, Gender, And Race
The age bracket of 25 to 44 is the only group that supports the movement, with a margin of 49% to 41%. All other age groups oppose it, with the 65+ age group showing the highest opposition at 88%. The 45-64 age group opposes it at 68%, while the 18-24 category opposes it by 46% to 34%.
Meanwhile, men (53% to 39%) and women (68% to 18%) oppose the movement. While both Whites (71% to 18%) and Blacks (49% to 37%) oppose the movement, only Hispanics show support at 60% to 30%.
Negative Impact Community Safety
We asked a follow-up question to assess the impact of the “defund the police” movement on community safety. The survey asked Americans: Overall, what impact has the “defund the police” movement had on your community safety?
Nearly one-half (49%) stated “no noticeable impact.” However, for every one person who mentioned positive impact, about five people said negative impact on the community safety. The responses tallied as follows:
- 25% significantly reduced community safety
- 17% slightly reduced community safety
- 49% no noticeable impact
- 4% slightly improved community safety
- 5% significantly improved community safety
Reduced community safety outnumbered improved community safety in all four regions and three area types. Interestingly, 51% of those living in urban communities reported reduced safety compared to 16% reporting improved safety.
All four age groups, genders, and three races reported reduced community safety. Recall that 49% of the 25-44 age group and 60% of Hispanics supported the movement most. Interestingly, they are also most likely to report reduced community safety; 49% of the 25-44 age bracket and 52% of Hispanics reported reduced community safety.
As seen in the chart below, Americans of political and ideological leanings reported reduced community safety.
Satisfaction With Law Enforcement
To gauge Americans’ satisfaction with law enforcement, we asked the survey respondents: How satisfied are you with the effectiveness of law enforcement in reducing crime in your community?
Six in ten (62%) are satisfied, with 27% very satisfied and another 35% somewhat satisfied. On the other hand, 29% are dissatisfied, with 17% not very satisfied and 12% not at all satisfied.
By party, 70% of Democrats, 66% of Republicans, and 48% of independents are satisfied with law enforcement in their community. Ideologically, 71% of conservatives, 54% of moderates, and 65% of liberals expressed satisfaction.
About The Survey
TechnoMetrica conducted the TIPP survey, an online survey for the National Sheriffs’ Association, from November 1 to November 3. The nationwide study had a sample of 1,400 Americans, 18 or older, and TechnoMetrica’s network of panel partners provided the study sample. Upon the study completion, TechnoMetrica weighted the study dataset by gender, age, race, education, and geographical region to mirror known benchmarks such as the U.S. Census. The survey’s credibility interval (CI) is +/- 2.7 percentage points, meaning the study is accurate to within ± 2.7 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had all Americans been surveyed. Due to smaller sample sizes, subgroups based on gender, age, ethnicity, and region have higher credibility intervals.
About The National Sheriffs’ Association
The National Sheriffs’ Association is one of the largest non-profit associations of law enforcement professionals in the United States, representing more than 3,000 elected sheriffs across the nation, and with a total membership of approximately 14,000 individuals. NSA is dedicated to raising the level of professionalism among sheriffs, their deputies, and others in the field of law enforcement, public safety, and criminal justice. Throughout its eighty-three-year history, NSA has also served as an information resource for all law enforcement, as well as local, state, and federal government agencies.
TIPP Takes
Geopolitics, Geoeconomics, And More
1. 12 More Gaza Hostages And 30 More Palestinian Prisoners Released Under Truce – BBC
Tuesday was the fifth day of the temporary truce between Israel and Hamas after a 48-hour extension was agreed. There is a good chance we will see another 48-hour extension agreed by the two parties.
Efforts to keep this truce going will be intense. But don’t forget that when this process is over, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says his troops are planning to continue their operations in Gaza with what he calls “full force,” Diplomatic correspondent, Paul Adams said.
2. CIA And Mossad Chiefs Meet Qatari Prime Minister, Hold Discussions Over ‘Building On’ Gaza Truce: Report – WION
The meeting was “to build on the progress of the extended humanitarian pause agreement and to initiate further discussions about the next phase of a potential deal.”
Qatar, with the support of Egypt and the United States, had been engaged in intense negotiations to establish and prolong the truce in Gaza for days.
3. Disease Could Be Bigger Killer Than Bombs In Gaza, WHO Warns – AFP
More people could die from disease than from bombings in the Gaza Strip if its health system is not repaired, a World Health Organization (WHO) spokesperson said.
Citing a UN report on the living conditions of displaced residents in northern Gaza, WHO’s Margaret Harris, at a UN briefing, said: “[There are] no medicines, no vaccination activities, no access to safe water and hygiene, and no food. We saw a very high number of cases of diarrhea among infants.”
4. Surge Of Russian Asylum Seekers Forces Finland To Close Border Temporarily – UPI
Finland’s government announced that it will completely close its border with Russia temporarily after it blamed Moscow for a surge in asylum seekers.
The Finnish government said that, since August, nearly 1,000 third-country nationals have arrived in Finland from Russia without visas and asking for asylum. The influx of immigrants comes just months after Finland joined the NATO military alliance against Russia’s objections.
5. NATO: ‘No Alternative’ To Helping Kyiv Stop Putin – AFP
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the West had “no alternative” but to keep backing Ukraine’s fight against Russia in the face of doubts over American support for Kyiv.
The United States has provided over $40 billion in security aid to Ukraine since Russia’s invasion and pledged to back Kyiv for as long as it takes.
6. Kremlin: No Plan For Putin Call With Saudi Crown Prince Before OPEC+ Meeting – Al Arabiya
The Kremlin said there were no plans for contacts between President Vladimir Putin and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman before this week’s meeting of the OPEC+ group of leading oil producers.
The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and allies led by Russia, collectively known as OPEC+, will hold an online meeting on Thursday to decide oil output levels.
7. Russia To Lift Remaining Export Curbs On Diesel Fuel Soon: Novak – Al Arabiya
Russia will soon lift remaining restrictions on diesel fuel exports, Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said, speaking in the upper house of the parliament.
Russia, the world’s top seaborne exporter of diesel, introduced a ban on fuel exports on September 21 to tackle high domestic prices and shortages. Only four ex-Soviet states – Belarus, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan –were exempt. Last Friday, it lifted restrictions on gasoline exports unconditionally.
8. COVID-19 May Be ‘Man-Made,’ Says UK’s Michael Gove In Inquiry – WION
In the ongoing U.K’s COVID-19 inquiry, cabinet minister Michael Gove said that COVID-19 may have been “man-made” and further admitted the country was not prepared to deal with the pandemic.
While appearing at the COVID-19 inquiry, Michael Gove claimed that there was a “significant body of judgment that believes that the virus itself was man-made.” The UK’s Downing Street has stated that the World Health Organization (WHO) must investigate all possible origins of coronavirus.
9. Japanese Space Agency JAXA Hit By Cyberattack Amid Hacking Spree By China – WION
“There was a possibility of unauthorized access by exploiting the vulnerability of network equipment,” the spokesperson at Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) said.
According to Japanese media, the attack took place in the summer. They were informed about the same by the police during autumn. Earlier in September, Japan and the U.S. had jointly warned global corporations against the China-linked hacker group BlackTech in a cybersecurity advisory.
10. China Official Warns Australia: Act Prudently In South China Sea – A.P.
Visiting Chinese official Liu Jianchao – the CCP’s international minister – warned Australia about deploying warships in the South China Sea after a recent confrontation between the two navies.
Bilateral relations between the two countries have been improving recently. Still, they took a downturn when Australia accused the Chinese destroyer CNS Ningbo of injuring Australian navy divers with sonar pulses in Japanese waters on November 14.
11. China Athletes As Young As Seven In Military Training To ‘Create Iron Army’ – AFP
Hundreds of athletes as young as seven are undergoing military training in Shanghai designed to instill discipline and “good fighting ability,” the Chinese city said.
Chinese football teams have previously undergone similar training, largely performative and part of a wider campaign to promote Communist Party values. President Xi Jinping said this year that China must enhance its readiness for “actual combat.”
12. North Korea: Kim Reviewing Spy Photos Of White House – Media – AFP
The totalitarian state has said its new eye in the sky has already provided images of major United States and South Korean military sites, as well as photos of the Italian capital, Rome.
On Monday, it took “in detail” images of the White House and the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., state-run Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) reported, adding that Kim was reviewing the photos.
13. Thalidomide: Australia Gives National Apology To Survivors And Families – BBC
Australia’s prime minister has given a national apology to survivors of the thalidomide scandal and their families.
It comes over 60 years after the morning sickness drug started causing birth defects in babies globally.
Developed in Germany in the 1950s, thalidomide was originally used as a sedative or tranquilizer but soon became widely promoted around the world as a morning sickness drug.
14. Myanmar’s Shadow Government Says ‘Military Is Ready To Collapse’ – Nikkei Asia
An unprecedented armed resistance has left Myanmar’s military regime on the brink of collapse, and another wave of attacks will come “in the next few weeks,” the foreign minister of the country’s shadow civilian leadership told Nikkei Asia.
The sudden escalation of the civil war triggered by what opposition forces term “Operation 1027,” named for the date it began in late October, has the regime reeling, Zin Mar Aung of the National Unity Government (NUG) said in an interview in Tokyo.
15. New COVID-19 Variant Is Spreading, Poses ‘Low’ Public Health Risk – UPI Health
The prevalence of a highly mutated COVID-19 variant has tripled in the past two weeks, new government data shows. Now, nearly 1 in 10 new COVID cases are fueled by the BA.2.86 variant, the U.S. CDC said.
The variant is spreading the fastest in the Northeast: Just over 13% of cases in the New York and New Jersey region are blamed on BA.2.86.
16. Personal Coaching May Ward Off Alzheimer’s – UPI
A new study suggests that personalized health and lifestyle changes can delay or even prevent memory loss for older adults at high risk of Alzheimer’s or dementia.
People who received personal coaching experienced a 74% boost in their thinking and memory tests compared with those who didn’t receive much attention.
17. Having A Bad Boss Makes You A Worse Employee – Stevens Institute
The research underscores the hidden cost of abusive leadership, revealing that employees prioritizing career advancement suffer more than employees prioritizing job security.
If your boss stomps and yells, criticizes you and then proceeds to take the credit for your work – even an isolated incident – it can profoundly affect employee well-being and performance.
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Republished with permission from TIPP Insights
