Many scholars have analyzed the approval for the police force but few have examined the factors that influence support for the police chief. This is a surprising omission, given the high visibility of most police chiefs places them squarely in the arena of local politics where support constitutes a key strategic asset. Examining two polls of Los Angeles residents conducted in 2002 and 2007 when a different chief of police was nearing the end of his first 5-year term of office—one African American and one White—we find that the police chief receives more support when residents believe that the police force is performing well. We also find that Black residents expressed greater support for police chiefs whose race is the same as their own. Overall, the results provide insight into how and where police chiefs may draw support in an era where police chief turnover is increasing. Moreover, the results indicate that the ascension of an African American to the upper echelons of the police department may be an effective way to improve minority relations with law enforcement.
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