Safety is about more than crime rates
In today's environment, public safety is under a microscope. Local leaders face pressure from all directions: calls for reform, concerns over staffing and morale, debates over funding, and growing demands for transparency. But there’s one critical thing often missing from these discussions:
The voice of the community.
- What do residents actually think about policing in your city?
- Do they feel safe?
- Do they trust local law enforcement?
- Do those perceptions differ by race, age, or neighborhood?
You don’t have to guess.
The National Law Enforcement Survey (NLES) from Polco gives communities a clear, data-driven look into public perception of police services—built on years of research, rigorous methodology, and benchmark comparisons.
Because when it comes to trust, the only way to build it is to understand where you stand.
What the NLES reveals (that you can’t learn from crime stats alone)
Crime statistics tell one story. But perception—how safe people feel and how much they trust law enforcement—often tells a different one.
The NLES helps you close that gap by collecting statistically valid insights from your residents across key areas, including:
- Overall satisfaction with local police services
- Perceptions of officer fairness, professionalism, and responsiveness
- Sense of safety during the day and at night, in public spaces and at home
- Trust in law enforcement to treat people equitably across race, income, age, and gender
- Confidence in complaint handling, crisis response, and community engagement
- Support for policing priorities and reform efforts
It’s more than a survey—it’s a community mirror. And it helps leaders turn raw opinion into real understanding.
A national benchmark, a local compass
The NLES doesn’t just collect data—it puts it in context. You’ll see how your community’s perceptions compare to national benchmarks and peer cities. You’ll uncover disparities across demographics. You’ll find out where trust is strong—and where it’s fragile.
That kind of insight helps:
- Guide public safety strategy
- Shape community-police initiatives
- Support grant applications and reporting
- Measure the impact of policy or leadership changes over time
- Open lines of communication between residents and law enforcement
- Identify gaps between community expectations and internal priorities
And most importantly, it demonstrates a commitment to listening.
You can’t build trust in silence
If your community is like most, public safety is a top concern - but also a delicate one. Everyone wants to feel safe, but not everyone experiences safety in the same way.
By asking the right questions, you show that you're not just enforcing the law—you're serving the people.
The NLES helps you bring accountability, transparency, and community insight into every conversation about public safety.
And when residents see their feedback reflected in action, trust follows.
The future of Public Safety starts with listening
There’s no one-size-fits-all approach to policing. But there is a first step every community can take: ask.
The National Law Enforcement Survey (NLES) gives you the data to see clearly, act confidently, and lead with integrity. In a time when public trust is more valuable than ever, don’t wait to find out what your community really thinks.
You can measure trust. You can build it. The NLES shows you how.
Explore the NLES and how it can serve your community’s future >>
