Independent Lens

Peace Officer

Meet Dub Lawrence, a crusading former sheriff whose investigations highlight increasingly militarized state of American police. Dub established Utah’s first SWAT team, only to see that same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff.

Peace Officer - Trailer

30s

In Peace Officer, the increasingly tense relationship between law enforcement and the public is seen through the eyes of someone who's been on both sides: “Dub” Lawrence, a former sheriff who established Utah's first SWAT team, only to see the same unit kill his son-in-law in a controversial standoff 30 years later.

Previews + Extras

  • Peace Officer: The Militarization of Police: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Peace Officer: The Militarization of Police

    S17 E16 - 2m 51s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Peace Officer, the militarization of police is revealed to accelerate alongside the escalation of the War on Drugs, especially after the implementation of the "1033 program" following the passage of the National Defense Authorization Act in 1990 that authorized the U.S. military to donate equipment to police departments.

  • Peace Officer: Friendly Fire: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Peace Officer: Friendly Fire

    S17 E16 - 2m 5s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Peace Officer, "Dub" Lawrence, a former Sheriff in Utah and now a private investigator, uncovers evidence indicating that a police officer wounded in a 2012 shootout was hit by friendly fire. Police maintain the officer was shot by a suspect who opened fired while being served a drug search warrant.

  • Peace Officer: Mistaken ID Leads Police to the Wrong House: asset-mezzanine-16x9

    Peace Officer: Mistaken ID Leads Police to the Wrong House

    S17 E16 - 2m 55s

    In this excerpt from the Independent Lens documentary Peace Officer, the Hill family of Ogden, Utah recalls their harrowing encounter with officers after a case of mistaken identity led law enforcement to bang on their door in the middle of the night to serve a warrant.

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