A path analytic model was postulated to provide an examination of the direct and indirect effects of these variables upon perceived police performance. The questionnaires used in the survey were almost identical to those used in previous National Crime Panel surveys. The 481 respondents reported 148 victimizations -- 73 personal victimizations, 45 household victimizations, and 30 acts of vandalism. Results indicated that sex exerted the strongest direct effect on perception of crime, with females far more likely than males to perceive that crime in their community was increasing. Age emerged as the best predictor of evaluations of police performance. Detailed findings, previous research on rural crime, and a comparison of this study's results with past studies are included. Tabular data, 2 footnotes, and about 60 references are supplied.