Polls & Surveys

Law Officer Reader Polls

Favorite Law Enforcement Firearm

Almost every law enforcement officer in this country carries a gun when they go to work. Many carry a gun when they aren’t working, and most own more than one weapon. So, when it comes to guns, most cops know what they like and don’t like. For our Jan. 2008 issue, we asked some of the best and brightest minds around—our contributors—about their favorite law enforcement firearm. You can see what each of them had to say in a one-of-a-kind article, “My Favorite Gun,” on p. 34. What do you think of their choices? What weapon is your favorite for police work?

Traffic Stop Safety

The article “Snagged & Dragged” (p. 26) prompted our staff to wonder how our readers believe traffic stops should be handled and what their experiences have been. Take our survey and tell us what you think. If you’re not currently in a position to make traffic stops, give us your thoughts based on your experience and observations.

Illegal Immigration

Communities around the country have seen their ability to provide basic services and crime levels impacted by illegal immigration. We want to know how this has impacted you and what your thoughts are regarding this highly controversial matter. Do you think the federal government should do more? Do you think that non-federal law officers should be involved in enforcing immigration laws?

Filling the Ranks

Best Practices in Recruiting Peace Officers
Thank you for reading Fillin' The Ranks. We want to hear your perspectives about peace officer recruitment. Please take a few minutes to complete the following survey.

Crime Trends

We want to know how you feel about the way crime is going and whether your agency is winning or losing ground. We also want to know what strategies you would suggest to stop problems before they get out of control. Let us know what you’re seeing in the field and your opinions on how best to deal with the challenges that lie ahead.

Evidence Gathering & Handling

We want to know what you think and what you do when it comes to gathering evidence. What is the “norm” in your agency? Do you have the time and resources to gather evidence? Does it get processed and is it effectively being used?

Communications

This month’s issue focuses on communication. We want to know how you feel about the way communication happens in your agency, and we’re not talking about radio or high-tech gadgetry—we’re talking about basic human-to-human communications.

Training

This month’s issue focuses on training, and we want to know how you feel about the subject. Is your training meaningful? Does it help you do your job? Or is it burdensome and out of date? Tell us what you think, and we’ll share the results with you.

Will the right to own a handgun affect crime?

The United States Supreme Court recently ruled that Americans have a constitutional right to own a handgun. Will this produce more crime, less, or no effect?