The sample consisted of 317 citizens from two Canadian localities: a large metropolitan area (several million population) and a small city (100 thousand population). Individuals were randomly approached in shopping centers and asked to participate in the survey. After a brief set of demographic and biographical questions, respondents were queiried on their attitudes toward police functioning and police powers using questions selected from the work of Brillon et al. (1984). There was no difference between attitudes toward the police in general and toward the local police. Small-city residents had significantly more favorable attitudes toward police than large-city resident, although there were no differences in attitudes toward police powers. Conservatism was an important predictor of attitudes toward police and police powers, with conservative persons more favorably disposed toward the police. Demographic and experiential factors had an insignificant influence on respondents' attitudes toward police. Questions remaining to be answered pertain to how the public's attitudes toward the police are determined and additional factors operative in the process. 2 tables, and 21 references.