Police, public divided by race stover whether attaining equality requires more changes % saying that
The views of police and the public also differ sharply on whether the country has made the changes needed to give blacks equal rights with whites. A lopsided majority of officers (80%) say the country has made the necessary changes. But the public is more divided: 48% say the needed changes have been made while 50% believe that more changes are needed to assure equal rights for black Americans.
Underlying the police views on this question is a substantial difference between black and white police officers – a difference that is, in fact, larger than the gap between the public and police. About nine-in-ten white officers (92%) but only 29% of black officers say the needed changes have already been made (though black officers are about twice as likely as blacks overall to hold this view).
Police, public divided by race stover whether attaining  | equality requires more changes  | % saying that  | Our country has made the Our country needs to continue  | Ima equal king country rights changes with to give blacks  | changes needed to give  | blacks equal rights with whites  | equal rights with whites  | White officers 92%  | 6%  | Black officers  | 29  | 69  | All whites  | 57  | 41  | All blacks  | 12  | 84  | Note: No answer category notshown Whitesand blacksare May 19-Aug non-Hispanic.  | Source Survey oflaw Aug enforcementofficers 16-Sept conducted May 19-Aug 14. 2016; survey ofus  | adults conducted Aug 16-Sept 12, 2016  | "Behind the Badge Aug  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 