A two-thirds majority of Americans say they support giving civilians the power to sue police, a new survey suggests.

The Pew Research Center found overall support for police is steady, but fewer people say officers use appropriate force.

Declines are more pronounced, however, in other categories: using the right amount of force, treating racial and ethnic groups equally, and holding officers accountable for misconduct.

% who say police use appropriate force for each situation

An overwhelming majority of Americans - 92% - say police should be trained in nonviolent alternatives to deadly force, in line with ongoing protests against the use of deadly force by police, especially against African Americans

The survey found that 66% of respondents said civilians should be able to sue police officers for misconduct or excessive force

Police unions argue that officers will not be able to carry out their duties effectively if the threat of a lawsuit hangs over every public interaction