Watch Peace Officer

Peace Officer is a gripping documentary directed by Brad Barber and Scott Christopherson, released in 2015. The movie introduces the audience to the story of William "Dub" Lawrence, who served as the sheriff of Davis County, Utah, but has since become a strong advocate of police reform. He began investigating cases of excessive force by the police after his own son-in-law Brian Wood was killed by SWAT officers in a highly questionable joint SWAT raid.

The movie follows Lawrence as he investigates multiple instances of police-involved shootings, including a 2012 case in which a former Marine Corps veteran and father of three was killed by the police without apparent cause. As he delves into the cases, Lawrence outlines the militarization of police forces across America and how the trend has created a culture in which law enforcement officials see themselves as soldiers at war, instead of protectors of the community they serve.

The documentary provides striking insights into the issue of police brutality in America, a problem that has gained greater attention in recent years due to the widespread availability of social media and smartphone technology. The movie highlights how citizens are now witnessing acts of police brutality firsthand, and how the prevalence of surveillance cameras and camera phones has exposed the reality of police violence.

One of the most compelling aspects of the movie is the depth of emotion shown by Dub Lawrence, who regrettably lost his son-in-law, who was a straight arrow and the love of his daughter's life. The pain of his loss fueled his passion for police reform, and his passion for improving the relationship between law enforcement and the community they serve drives the narrative forward.

Lawrence's personal story is deftly woven throughout the documentary, following his grief as it turns into anger, then to determination, as he investigates these cases of police brutality. The audience empathizes with Lawrence, seeing that he is using his own pain to prevent it from happening to anyone else, which is an admirable quality.

The movie also provides a glimpse into America's complex and controversial gun laws, as it explores how heavily armed police forces confront and deal with citizens with firearms. In one instance, the SWAT team mistakenly assumed that a man's garden hoe, which he held due to his hearing disability, was a rifle, leading to a standoff which only ended when the man was shot and killed.

Throughout the movie, the documentary shows footage of S.W.A.T. teams breaking windows, throwing flash grenades, and firing rounds during standoffs. Moreover, it also exposes how the authorities refuse to comment on certain cases of police brutality, and how they can justify nearly every action, no matter how questionable, as "just following protocols."

Peace Officer tackles the issue of police violence with sensitivity and insight, without demonizing the police force as a whole. Instead, it seeks to provide greater transparency and accountability to law enforcement. The documentary exposes the deep-rooted problems caused by the militarization of police forces and how this has corroded the relationship between law enforcement and the public.

In conclusion, Peace Officer is an engaging documentary that presents an informed narrative of police brutality in America, and how law enforcement authorities in the country need to change their tactics to prevent more unnecessary harm to communities. The film is heart-wrenching and eye-opening, making it a must-watch for anyone interested in social justice, police reform, and the relationship between the police and the public.

Peace Officer is a 2015 documentary with a runtime of 1 hour and 49 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.5 and a MetaScore of 75.