In the wake of the George Floyd killing,
most Americans have now come to realize
that the police need sweeping changes.
But the question is...
why has it taken so long?
Why did so many people, particularly white people,
think until now that police are just fine the way they are?
Well, one reason is that most Americans
don't actually have much actual experience with police.
In fact, in a typical year, only 21% of U.S. adults
have any type of contact with police at all.
So, I mean, most Americans
see the cops less than Trump sees Eric.
So, if people don't see cops in real life,
how are they forming their opinions about the police?
Well, a lot of it comes from the same way
I form all my opinions about Klingons:
television, baby.
NEWSMAN: Police dramas are iconic, hugely popular,
and now under intense fire
from activists who say these shows
far too readily portray cops as good and trustworthy...
I never put a hand on him.
...while undermining real-life claims
of systemic racism and abuse.
NEWSWOMAN: Police not only consult on these shows
but they're also very aware that their portrayals
impact public perception, and they have a vested interest
in making sure that portrayal is positive.
NEWSMAN: A 2015 study found viewers of crime dramas
are more likely to believe
the police are successful at lowering crime,
use force only when necessary
and that misconduct does not typically lead
to false confessions.
Yes. Believe it or not, watching cop shows
makes a lot of people see the police as infallible.
And honestly, I don't blame any of these people.
I mean, I'll admit a lot of my perceptions about reality
have been shaped by TV, as well.
I believe sponges wear pants.
I believe white people have no black friends.
And, most importantly,
I believe that every kiss begins with Kay.
Now, part of the reason it's easy
for TV shows to convince people
that cops are always right and always good at their jobs
is because that's what we want to believe.
Right? I think we can all agree that we want people
who are gonna enforce laws fairly and effectively
so that we don't have to do it ourselves.
I know I don't want to do it. Like, I don't...
I don't want to have to find the person who stole my car.
I've got other things to do, you know?
I want to go look for a new car.
I don't want the stress of having to find the thief.
Because, I mean, like, what happens when I find them?
Do I arrest them? Huh?
Do I throw them in prison in my apartment? Huh?
Then have I to give them a job in my library,
and then they educate themselves and get a degree,
and then they turn their life around,
and now I'm stuck with an inspirational story on my hands?
I don't need that stress.
And when you watch these shows,
you understand how they can shape public perception.
Because according to cop shows,
whenever cops are breaking the law,
it's only because they have to.
We can't just broke protocol
because we think it's right at the time
and expect to get away with it.
Normally, I'd agree with you.
But in this case, I'd rather ask for forgiveness than permission.
As you well know, we will need a warrant to search the house.
Agent Callen, these are exigent circumstances.
You let me worry about the legal ramifications.
If I got to bend the rules a little bit
to get a bad guy off the street, I'm gonna do it.
And you would, too.
Forget warrants. Forget the rules.
It's on us to catch him.
(laughs) That was cool.
Although what that guy was actually saying is,
"The Constitution is for pussies."
It's amazing how cops on TV shows are always saying
that the only way to catch a criminal
is by breaking the law themselves.
Technically, that cop is now a criminal, too,
which means another cop should kick his ass.
But then that new cop is also a criminal
'cause he's breaking the law,
which means another cop should then beat up cop number two.
So a third cop beats him up. Then a fourth cop
has to come in to beat... Then a fifth...
Basically, every cop show should end
with the entire precinct in a brawl
while the suspect just sneaks out of the door.
And, you see, that-that's what cop shows
are really good at doing.
They make us believe
that the only way the police can truly be effective
is if they break the rules that society created
to protect us from police.
And, by the way, when TV cops break the rules,
it's not usually by filling form 27G instead of 27B.
No, they often do it
by beating the shit out of a suspect.
-But I told you everything. -No, you haven't.
But you will, or I'm gonna beat the balls off you.
-Please, don't let him hit me! -Kyle,
the only thing on this earth that's gonna stop him
from hitting you is you telling the truth.
-(grunts) -You're gonna tell us what happened,
or I'm gonna do something I won't regret,
not for one second.
We can do this the fast way, the slow way,
then there's my favorite way!
Ow!
Geez, you can't... Did you see that?
(grunts) Geez.
Good shot, Bones.
-(grunts) -Son of a bitch.
I'm gonna fix you right now so you can't love any more kids.
-You raped her, right? -(grunting)
Just admit it.
You sure you didn't give him brain damage
when you slammed his head against the steering wheel?
Oh, Captain Grover, I think brain damage
was a preexisting condition. Don't you think, George?
I need to see a doctor.
Whoa! All at once.
Yeah! That guy doesn't deserve to see a doctor.
He maybe committed a crime.
And even if he didn't commit the crime,
well, then this will be a lesson to stop him
from committing one in the future.
It's the same reason I plan to prebeat all my children.
You might not have done anything yet,
but I know you will.
It's actually crazy how every cop show
has police just regularly using violence
to help them do their job.
TV doesn't do that with any other profession.
There aren't medical dramas where they're like,
"Doctor, this doesn't make any sense.
"The patient's lab work is normal,
but his heart is failing."
"Well, maybe we need to smack him around a little bit
and see what he knows."
"What?" "I used to be on a cop show."
Every cop show makes it seem like
the reason cops have to beat suspects
is just because without the beatdown,
they won't tell the truth,
and so those beatings protect the rest of society
from these lying criminals.
But in real life, beating a suspect
is a great way to get them to confess
to something they didn't do,
which means you've locked up an innocent person
and you let the real criminal walk free.
Oh, and by the way, even if the person did do the crime,
their lawyer can get them off
because their confession wasn't legitimate
because they were beaten.
So beating a suspect to solve your case
is like washing your computer with water.
Yeah, the virus is gone, but so is your laptop.
So, whether we like it or not,
TV is a powerful tool
that shapes how the public sees the police.
Shapes how the public sees the police's role in society
and how accountable they should be.
Because in real life,
when rogue cops throw away the rule book
and take matters into their own hands,
it doesn't look cool like in one of the TV shows.
It looks a lot more like this.
The Valdosta Police Department facing a lawsuit this morning
for unnecessary and illegal force
after arresting the wrong suspect
and reportedly breaking his arm in the process.
NEWSWOMAN: That's painful body cam video
showing the officers handcuffing
and slamming that man to the ground.
That was back in February.
Antonio Smith stopped for suspicious activity
and accused of panhandling,
but officials had the wrong man.
Smith was released at the scene.
Now he's filing a $700,000 lawsuit.
You see?
Unfortunately, every day in America, there are people
who have encounters just like that with the police.
And, so, to all those show creators,
directors and writers in Hollywood
who make these cop shows and have been tweeting
that something needs to be done about the police,
well, one way you can help make a difference
is if you do something
about the police on-screen.