The shrinking of the approval gap is a far cry from the 1990s, when anger over the Rodney King beating and later the Rampart corruption scandal did serious damage to the LAPD's reputation, especially among minorities. In 1991, shortly after the King beating, for example, only 40% of Angelenos polled said they approved of police performance.
Bratton has remained in the good graces of Angelenos, with two-thirds of those polled saying they either "strongly" or "somewhat" approve of how the chief is handling his post. Although that overall figure was nearly unchanged from four years ago, the makeup of Bratton's base of support shifted. The robust backing he once enjoyed from whites eroded 17%, while his support from black Angelenos surged an equal amount.
"I like that Bratton takes a no-tolerance approach on gangs and other crime issues," said Tommie Gray, an African American truck driver who participated in the poll and agreed to a follow-up interview.
Gray, who is 45 and has lived in and around L.A. for two decades, said his feelings about Bratton and the LAPD had improved with time. "There are always going to be knuckleheads in the bunch, but overall, I think the police have become much more responsive and more professional," he said.
Ronald Hardcastle, who is white, said that although he still supports Bratton, some of the enthusiasm he felt for the chief when he took over in late 2002 had waned.
"When he came I thought he was the greatest thing since mashed potatoes," the 66-year-old county employee said. "It's not anything specific that he's done, but I feel less strongly about him now."
The figures seem to reflect Bratton's focus on forging ties between the Police Department and minority communities. Bratton, his senior staff and commanders in the field meet regularly with community leaders. Recruiting efforts have changed the face of the department as well to one in which Latinos are the majority and blacks are actively sought. And training today at the department's academy includes an increased focus on issues of race and bias.
Meantime, in some Westside and Valley neighborhoods, homeowners groups have begun voicing complaints that Bratton has shifted too many officers to high-crime areas in South L.A. and the Eastside.
The poll also spoke to persistent complexities in people's attitudes toward the police. Despite his support for police, for example, Gray said he believes Los Angeles cops do not treat all races equally and remain tougher on blacks.
