PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Fifty-six percent of Providence residents think the Providence Police Department is doing an excellent or good job overall, according to a new public opinion survey by researchers at Brown University. However, they are divided on whether people are treated the same regardless of race.

The survey was conducted October 20-21, 2001 at Brown University by Darrell M. West, director of the Taubman Center for Public Policy and the John Hazen White, Sr. Public Opinion Laboratory, and Marion Orr, associate professor of political science, urban studies, and public policy. It is based on a citywide random sample of 509 residents of Providence. Overall, the poll had a margin of error of about plus or minus four and one-half percentage points.

The survey was done in conjunction with the Taubman Center's Thomas J. Anton/Frederick Lippitt conference "Assessing the Police" that will be held October 25-26. Mayor Marc Morial of New Orleans will speak on "Cleaning Up the New Orleans Police" at 7:30 p.m., Thursday, October 25 in Sayles Hall on the Campus Green.

When asked to rate the service provided by the Providence police over the past year, 56 percent rate it excellent or good, 19 percent say it has been only fair, 4 percent rate it poor, and 21 percent say they are unsure. Thirty percent believe the police department has gotten better over the last year, 46 percent think it has stayed about the same, 3 percent feel it has gotten worse, and 21 percent do not know.

Minorities were more likely than whites to give the police good overall ratings. Sixty-two percent of minorities rated the police good or excellent, compared to 52 percent of whites. They also were more likely (33 percent) than whites (19 percent) to say the police has gotten better over the past year. Minorities (25 percent) were more likely than whites (21 percent) to report that they had made direct contact with the police department to report a crime or ask for assistance.

Fifty-four percent say Providence police generally are courteous in their dealings with people, 54 percent believe the police are fair in their handling of people, but only 38 percent think the Providence police generally treat people the same regardless of race. Minorities (59 percent) were more likely than whites (52 percent) to think the police are courteous, and to believe the police treat people the same regardless of race (41 percent for minorities versus 29 percent of whites).

To see how city residents feel about a variety of suggested changes, we asked them whether they support or oppose several ideas that have been publicly discussed. Sixty-six percent feel the department should devote more extensive training to police officers on race relations, 62 percent believe Rhode Island should have a single training center for all local and state police officers, 58 percent support the adoption of a civilian review process that allows citizens to review complaints against police officers and suggest punishment, and 48 percent believe the department should make special efforts to recruit minority police officers.

Minorities were more likely (66 percent) than whites (53 percent) to support the creation of a civilian review process and to think there should be more police training in race relations (74 percent for minorities compared to 64 percent for whites).

Seventy-one percent of city residents say they feel very or somewhat safe when walking around their particular neighborhood, but 42 percent indicate there are some parts of Providence where they would like to go at night but do not because they would not feel safe. Thirty-five percent think crime in Providence is a very serious problem. Minorities (19 percent) were more likely than whites (7 percent) to say they do not feel safe walking around their neighborhood at night.

When asked about their personal crime experience over the past year, 4 percent of city residents say their car has been stolen, 9 percent report their car has been broken into or vandalized, 3 percent indicate their house or apartment has been broken into, 2 percent say someone took something from them by force or threat of force, and 3 percent indicate they were personally assaulted or attacked. Twenty-three percent say they have made direct contact with the Providence Police Department in order to report a crime or ask for assistance, while 76 percent say they have had no contact. Fifty-five percent believe the amount of police patrolling in their neighborhood is about right.

For more information, contact Darrell M. West at (401) 863-1163 or see the website: www.InsidePolitics.org.