The findings support previous research that has shown race, experience with the police, and feeling safe to be key factors in determining people's attitudes toward police. A separate analysis of each of these factors determined that experience with police had the strongest influence on attitudes toward police; i.e., those who perceived their interactions with the police as positive reported the most favorable attitudes toward the police. Those who had negative encounters with the police, on the other hand, gave police the lowest ratings. Assessments of interactions with police were influenced more by perceptions of police demeanor (being polite, fair, helpful, and concerned) than by police performance (crime prevention, crime fighting, professional knowledge, etc.). A comparison of the experiences and perceptions of Black and White respondents found a relatively small variation in negative and positive experiences with police and perceived neighborhood safety; however, Blacks were more likely than Whites to disapprove of police performance. All of the respondents had experienced contacts with the police either through a traffic accident or one of seven types of incident reports (theft, burglary, auto theft, domestic violence, simple and aggravated battery, strong-arm and armed robbery, and aggravated assault). Surveys were mailed to 125 citizens every Friday, beginning in April 2004 and continuing through September 2004. 5 tables and 21 references