How do different racial groups view the police?

Only one-third of African Americans think the police are doing an excellent job, compared to roughly three quarters of white people, according to a new report from the Pew Research Center.

But Newark, New Jersey Mayor Ras Baraka has worked to change those numbers. Baraka says it is important to help improve racial relations in his community, including changing the culture of the police department while also giving law enforcement the support they need.

“I think [what] we want is community policing and police officers who care about the community that they live in, who think that they’re part of a community, and not an occupying force in a community,” Baraka said.

Since Baraka took office two years ago, the city of Newark has made it easier to access the internal affairs division so that residents feel more comfortable making complaints about police conduct. The city has also instituted sensitivity training for new recruits and encourages police officers to live in the communities they are policing longer than they normally do.

Another key part of Baraka’s plan for Newark includes improving the economy. The city has set up cooperatives, which give residents partial ownership of their own businesses.

“We’re experimenting and trying to do the best that we can with the ideas that we have,” Baraka said.