The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Behind the blue wall

Feb 9, 2023

Rosa Brooks, a law professor at Georgetown University and former reserve police officer, shares her unique insights on American policing. She discusses the culture of silence within the force and contrasts the idealistic motivations of officers with the challenges they face. Topics include the need for a shift from a 'warrior' to a 'guardian' mindset, the complexities of police training, and the controversial issue of qualified immunity. Brooks advocates for systemic reforms and highlights innovative programs aimed at fostering community-centric policing.

01:02:13

Episode guests

Rosa Brooks

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Episode notes

Intro

2min

Behind the Badge: Understanding Police Motivations

20min

Preparing Officers for Complex Realities

5min

Understanding Policing and Accountability in America

2min

The Complexities of Qualified Immunity and Police Training

12min

Exploring Nuances in Police Reform Discussions

3min

Rethinking Public Safety: Reforms and New Approaches

17min

Sean Illing speaks with Rosa Brooks, a former reserve police officer and current law professor at Georgetown University. Brooks wrote Tangled Up in Blue: Policing the American City about her experience going through the police academy and becoming a cop on the streets of Washington, DC. They discuss what she saw during her time on the force, some of the differences between how cops see their jobs and how things are, and what could be done differently to fix American policing.

Host: Sean Illing (@seanilling), host, The Gray Area

Guest: Rosa Brooks (@brooks_rosa), author; professor of law and policy, Georgetown University

References:

Tangled Up in Blue: Policing the American City by Rosa Brooks (Penguin; 2021)
“Any situation can turn lethal in an instant, and other lessons I learned at the police academy” by Rosa Brooks (Los Angeles Times; Feb. 21, 2021)
"New Perspectives in Policing: From Warriors to Guardians" by: Sue Rahr and Stephen K. Rice (PDF; NIJ and The Harvard Kennedy School)

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This episode was made by:

Producer: Erikk Geannikis
Engineer: Patrick Boyd
Editorial Director, Vox Talk: A.M. Hall

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