Factors hindering identification of public attitudes toward the police include difficulty in identifying groups that resent or mistrust police, hostility to police inherent in democracy, and disagreement about what police should do. Furthermore, the solidarity and secrecy among police (resulting from finding themselves in a hostile environment) makes them unwilling to listen to public opinion. This only increases public mistrust. Finally, various environmental factors effecting a group such as poverty and its attendant resentments, may cause hostility toward the police. Thus, public attitudes vary among different groups and economic classes; these differences must be considered by policymakers consulting public opinion during planning. Furthermore, although public attitudes toward police are generally favorable, criteria must still be developed to ascertain differences and issues affecting public opinion, if surveys are to be useful in planning. Six recommendations specifically designed to improve the usefulness of public attitude surveys include the following: appropriate theoretical base, a well-defined survey sample, survey questions tailored to police needs, data reporting methods that minimize data misinterpretation, involving police planners in the survey, and continual updating. Good surveys can help police in many ways, including discovering what the citizens think police ought to do. Footnotes and a table are provided.