Democrats, independents roughly twice as likely as Republicans to stee police as enforcers % saying they see police in this country more as Source Survey ofu.s category adults conducted Aug 16-Sept 12 2016.
Partisans also differ in the role they see police performing. For example, about a third of Democrats (31%) and independents (33%) say they see police in this country more as enforcers than protectors, roughly double the share of Republicans who say this (17%). Republicans, for their part, are more likely to say police in this country fill both of these roles equally (67%) compared with Democrats (52%) and independents (53%).
Democrats, independents roughly twice  | as likely as Republicans to stee police  | as enforcers  | % saying they see police in this country more as  | Enforce rs  | Protectors  | Both equally  | Republicans  | 17  | 16  | 67  | Democrats  | 31  | 52  | 14  | Independents  | 33  | 14  | 53  | Note: No answer ofu.s category notshown.  | Source Survey ofu.s category adults conducted Aug 16-Sept 12 2016.  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 