Last week, Safer Cities described new polling results which showed that 75% of voters would support the creation of an Albuquerque-style community safety department where they live. Today, we detail results that help unpack what motivates that overwhelming support:
- Voters overwhelmingly prefer a singular department that houses and coordinates a range of unarmed first responder services. We asked voters to tell us which of the “following statements comes closest to your own view, even if neither is exactly correct?”
- 62% of voters said that “programs like mobile crisis response, which address mental health and substance use related 911 calls; and security ambassadors, which provide a uniformed presence on major streets and in shopping districts, should be part of one city department, which could be called a Community Safety Department.”
- 25% of voters said that “programs like mobile crisis response and security ambassadors serve different functions and should be run as independent agencies as opposed to being centralized in one city Community Safety Department.”
- Voters support a constellation of unarmed first responder units, each with specialized training and discrete roles, within a community safety department. We asked: “Please indicate if you support or oppose a unit within the community safety departments playing each of the following roles.” Here’s what voters reported:
- Responding to mental health crises. (89% support)
- Engaging in proactive outreach to people who are homeless. (89% support)
- After a drug overdose, going to a person’s home within 72 hours to help with treatment programs, medical insurance issues, and transportation. (85% support)
- Picking up needles and other drug paraphernalia to ensure public spaces are safe and clean. (84% support)
- Providing a highly visible uniformed presence at the street level to deter low level crime. (83% support)
