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Deep Dive: Peace Officer (2015)

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Peace Officer
Peace Officer is a documentary that examines police militarization in the United States, focusing on the personal story of William 'Dub' Lawrence, a retired police officer who founded Utah's first SWAT team in the 1970s. The film was inspired by Lawrence's investigation into the death of his son-in-law, Brian Wood, who was killed by the SWAT team he established during a standoff in 2008. Through Lawrence's perspective, the film critiques the evolution of SWAT teams and their impact on communities. The documentary traces the history of SWAT teams, which emerged after the 1965 Watts riots in Los Angeles, and discusses their portrayal in popular culture, particularly through shows like S.W.A.T. Lawrence's personal investigation into police killings serves as a central narrative, revealing the complexities and consequences of militarized policing in America. The film won the 2015 Documentary Feature Competition Grand Jury award at the South by Southwest Film Festival.

Why Watch

  • •Meet William 'Dub' Lawrence, a former police officer turned investigator.
  • •Follow the story of a SWAT team that killed a family member.
  • •See the origins of SWAT teams after the 1965 Watts riots.

Did You Know

•William 'Dub' Lawrence founded Utah's first SWAT team in the 1970s.
•Lawrence began investigating police killings after his son-in-law was killed in 2008.
•The film won the 2015 AML Award for film.
•The documentary has a runtime of 109 minutes.

Perfect For

Police militarizationSWAT team historyTrue crime investigations