Most respondents to a Bismarck Police Department survey seem satisfied with the city's police force, according to the results of a citizen survey released Tuesday.

Officers and employees from the Bismarck Police Department handed out and collected surveys outside Wal-Mart and Central Market in Bismarck on Sept. 20, 21, 24 and 25. Of 711 people who filled out the 15-question survey, 291 had some kind of contact with the Bismarck Police Department during the previous year.

About 87 percent of the people who had contact with the department reported being "very satisfied" or "satisfied" with the contact they had; about 3 percent reported being "not satisfied," about 3 percent labeled the contact as "poor," and 6.5 percent had no opinion.

"It appears, just by what the citizens are saying, that we're doing a pretty good job out there," Lt. Randy Ziegler said.

People's impressions of the police department also seem to be positive, with 78.9 percent of people surveyed ranking their impressions an eight, nine or 10 on a scale of one to 10. The rankings were slightly higher from people who had contact with the department in the previous year, with 79.4 percent ranking their impressions eight or higher.

More than 90 percent of the people "strongly agree" or "agree" the police officers perform their jobs in a professional manner and know how to perform their jobs. About 90 percent "strongly agree" or "agree" the police provide the right amount of service to the neighborhoods they live in and to the rest of the city. Nearly 95 percent "strongly agree" or "agree" that they feel safe and secure in Bismarck.

The survey asked people to explain what they would change about the Bismarck Police Department. About 45 percent of people responded, with the most frequently listed changes focusing on traffic enforcement. The respondents asked for more enforcement of speeding violations, stop sign and stop light violations and noisy vehicles, and more patrol around school zones.

"The traffic seems to be what people in Bismarck do have the problem with," Ziegler said.

However, at least one person requested more leniency for driving offenses.

Several people said the department should add more officers and pay officers more.

"It's nice to know that people think that," Ziegler said.

Others said the department should hire more minority officers. Ziegler said the hiring of minority officers is an issue the department has been working to improve. The department would like the racial makeup of the police force to be more representative of the Bismarck population, Ziegler said.

"We really don't have a whole lot that apply. That's the big thing," he said, adding that the department attends job fairs in markets with higher numbers of minority law enforcement candidates.

The answers of several respondents contradict each other on how officers treat minorities.

"I greatly appreciate that the officers don't judge based on race," said one respondent, who lives in northeast Bismarck.

"(Police should be) friendly to Natives, not be always on the negative about all Natives," said a respondent in southwest Bismarck.

Another question asked people what kind of programs or functions the police should offer, and 10 percent of respondents answered the question. Most responses focused on youth-related activities and programs and involvement with schools.

Other answers related to education and training for the public, which Ziegler said the department has been working on increasing.

Chief Keith Witt has started having officers put on public forums at the Bismarck Public Library to educate interested people on various topics, including Internet safety and drugs, Ziegler said.

One respondent requested police resume escorting funeral processions to cemeteries - a program discontinued by the police in November 2006 because of manpower and traffic concerns.

The 711 people surveyed represent 1.2 percent of the Bismarck population, which was estimated by the city to be 58,951 on June 1, 2007. The average age of the respondents was 43.4 years, 61.32 percent of respondents were women, and the average length of time respondents had lived in Bismarck was 19.7 years.

The surveys were given out at Wal-Mart and Central Market because they are "high-traffic areas," Ziegler said.

"It's not real scientific," he said, adding that he is in favor of moving around the city more to get the surveys completed. Police will look through the survey results in an effort to meet citizen needs, Ziegler said.

"I do have to commend the citizens. There's some good stuff in here that we do need to look at," he said. "Everything in here we scrutinize."

(Reach reporter Jenny Michael at 250-8225 or jenny.michael@bismarcktribune.com.)