Police Commissioner Bill Bratton says he's "gratified" by a recent poll that found 56 percent of New York City residents support the crackdown on low-level offenses in an effort to prevent more violent crimes.
Thirty-five percent of respondents in the Quinnipiac poll also said the so-called "Broken Windows" tactic contributes to neighborhood tensions.
Bratton says the key is to "do it in a way that is both lawful and respectful."
Seventy-four percent say police brutality is a "very serious" or "somewhat serious" problem. That's the highest number since May 2001.
Sixty-eight percent say there is "no excuse" for police actions during the custody death of Eric Garner, the 43-year-old Staten Island father who died after being put in a police chokehold last month.
Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,021 voters by phone last week.
The margin of error is plus or minus 3.1 percentage points.