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-♪ Bad boys, bad boys ♪
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♪ Whatcha gonna do? ♪
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♪ Whatcha gonna do
when they come for you? ♪
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-In the early '90s,
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Americans are introduced
to an arresting new kind of TV.
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-I was thinking, "Man, I don't
want to work on this show
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because you could get shot
doing this thing."
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- Get on the ground.
- Get on the ground.
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{\an8}-It showed the police
as they really are...
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{\an8}-Can somebody take her?
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{\an8}-...to a public
that didn't know.
12
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{\an8}-It was amidst
this War on Drugs.
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People wanted to see these cops
as these superhero individuals.
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-Put your hands up
where I can see them.
15
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Stay in the car.
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-I think '90s was the best
decade for police work.
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-Powder cocaine.
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-The public genuinely loved
police officers.
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- What am I arrested for?
- Get on your stomach.
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-It was white police officers
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taking advantage of
the working class poor.
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-The TV show "Cops"
was part of this selling
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00:01:02,980 --> 00:01:07,627
of an unjust justice system
to the American public.
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{\an8}♪♪
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{\an8}[ Dial-up modems screeching ]
26
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{\an8}♪♪
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{\an8}-From its very first episode,
"Cops" burst onto TV screens
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{\an8}with its brash,
in-your-face realism.
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{\an8}-Take her.
Come here. Take her.
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-And in the '90s,
audiences couldn't get enough.
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-It was a mind-blower.
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In my town, it was what
everybody was talking about.
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-Back room is clear.
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Alright, go.
Check your rounds real quick.
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Double-check them.
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-What caught people's attention
was you can go to
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your 9-to-5 job,
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come home at night,
and have dinner,
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sit down in front of the TV,
40
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and basically be put in
the passenger seat of a...
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00:02:01,079 --> 00:02:03,683
Of a police car.
42
00:02:03,707 --> 00:02:06,436
-With its raw,
fly-on-the-wall style,
43
00:02:06,460 --> 00:02:09,188
"Cops" was an edge-of-your-seat
adrenaline rush.
44
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-You are under arrest.
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00:02:10,797 --> 00:02:12,525
You figured that out
all by yourself, didn't you?
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-They were in that car.
They were in that foot chase.
47
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They were in that fight.
48
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And they were there handcuffing
that guy with you.
49
00:02:18,347 --> 00:02:20,658
[ Indistinct talking ]
50
00:02:20,682 --> 00:02:23,870
-The show was unlike anything
television audiences
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had ever seen.
52
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-I was seeing on primetime TV
the same things I was shooting
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with my camera
in a news setting.
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-Sheriff's department.
Search warrant.
55
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-I mean,
this is how it truly is.
56
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- Sheriff's department.
- Police. Get down. Get down.
57
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-Just really,
really good television.
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[ Indistinct talking ]
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-Real life, raw, uncut.
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This is brand new to television.
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00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:49,604
-But what ends up happening
with a show like "Cops" is
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they can pick and choose
what they portray
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to give us this vision
of policing
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that is not only inaccurate,
but is deeply dangerous.
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-Your boyfriend is letting you
take the fall for the drug?
66
00:03:01,556 --> 00:03:04,118
-The success of
this new kind of television
67
00:03:04,142 --> 00:03:06,311
relied on a very old obsession.
68
00:03:10,691 --> 00:03:13,920
{\an8}-America has always had
a fascination with crime
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00:03:13,944 --> 00:03:15,922
{\an8}and cop shows.
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My name's Adrien Sebro.
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I'm a professor of Media Studies
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00:03:18,698 --> 00:03:20,635
at University of Texas
at Austin.
73
00:03:20,659 --> 00:03:25,139
And I teach History of Media
and Television and Film.
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00:03:25,163 --> 00:03:27,934
Shows like, you know,
"Dragnet," "Kojak,"
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00:03:27,958 --> 00:03:29,936
"Columbo," "Law & Order."
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00:03:29,960 --> 00:03:32,772
There's always been
this love for, you know, crime,
77
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because we always wonder,
like, whodunit.
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00:03:34,715 --> 00:03:38,653
{\an8}♪♪
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-Throughout the '80s,
shows with actors playing cops
80
00:03:41,722 --> 00:03:45,743
were some of the most popular
on television.
81
00:03:45,767 --> 00:03:48,663
-But there was a gap between,
you know,
82
00:03:48,687 --> 00:03:51,666
these very scripted
kind of TV show
83
00:03:51,690 --> 00:03:55,378
and showing what cops really do.
84
00:03:55,402 --> 00:03:58,840
-That vice that Tubbs and
Crockett were fighting in Miami,
85
00:03:58,864 --> 00:04:02,093
it looked nothing like the new
reality police were facing.
86
00:04:02,117 --> 00:04:04,554
-Miami Vice.
87
00:04:04,578 --> 00:04:06,139
-New York.
88
00:04:06,163 --> 00:04:08,641
-It was amidst this late '80s,
89
00:04:08,665 --> 00:04:11,227
early '90s era
of this War on Drugs.
90
00:04:11,251 --> 00:04:14,355
-Narcotics violations,
robberies, and sexual assaults
91
00:04:14,379 --> 00:04:17,024
were up 10.5%.
92
00:04:17,048 --> 00:04:19,402
-Crack cocaine use
leads President Reagan
93
00:04:19,426 --> 00:04:23,531
to double down
on the so-called "War on Drugs."
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00:04:23,555 --> 00:04:25,867
-Drugs are menacing our society.
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00:04:25,891 --> 00:04:27,326
They're threatening our values
96
00:04:27,350 --> 00:04:29,454
and undercutting
our institutions.
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They're killing our children.
98
00:04:31,688 --> 00:04:37,086
-So, why don't you join us in
this great new national crusade?
99
00:04:37,110 --> 00:04:40,131
-And as drug-fueled,
violent crime rises,
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00:04:40,155 --> 00:04:45,011
TV shows glamorizing police work
start to lose their luster.
101
00:04:45,035 --> 00:04:48,264
-So, really,
"Cops" came at the perfect time.
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It was this idea from an
individual named John Langley.
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He had a documentary
called "Cocaine Blues."
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00:04:54,961 --> 00:04:58,608
-Malcolm Barbour
and John Langley got together,
105
00:04:58,632 --> 00:05:01,152
and made this film documentary.
106
00:05:01,176 --> 00:05:05,281
{\an8}♪♪
107
00:05:05,305 --> 00:05:07,533
{\an8}And it was real raw.
108
00:05:07,557 --> 00:05:09,118
{\an8}-In the past,
you might see somebody
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00:05:09,142 --> 00:05:11,746
{\an8}with... at a party,
with a drink in their hand.
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00:05:11,770 --> 00:05:13,998
And now, in feature films,
111
00:05:14,022 --> 00:05:16,459
you see people with coke spoons
in their nose.
112
00:05:16,483 --> 00:05:19,295
-The two young producers
of "Cocaine Blues"
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00:05:19,319 --> 00:05:22,632
soon land a job bringing
its realism to television.
114
00:05:22,656 --> 00:05:24,133
-Why cocaine?
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00:05:24,157 --> 00:05:26,469
{\an8}-When I first really
got involved with them,
116
00:05:26,493 --> 00:05:29,388
{\an8}they were doing
live broadcasting.
117
00:05:29,412 --> 00:05:31,182
I'm Hank Barr.
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00:05:31,206 --> 00:05:35,686
And I spent the decade
of the '90s working on "Cops."
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00:05:35,710 --> 00:05:37,563
-Before working on "Cops"...
120
00:05:37,587 --> 00:05:41,734
-"American Vice: The Real Story
of the Doping of Our Nation."
121
00:05:41,758 --> 00:05:44,195
- Barr teams up with Langley
on a gritty,
122
00:05:44,219 --> 00:05:48,282
unscripted television special
starring Geraldo Rivera.
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00:05:48,306 --> 00:05:50,868
-Sometime during
the course of this live program,
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00:05:50,892 --> 00:05:55,206
you'll be a witness as a pusher
goes down for the count.
125
00:05:55,230 --> 00:05:58,417
After watching dozens of these
raids from very close up...
126
00:05:58,441 --> 00:06:00,795
-And it was a two hour live show
127
00:06:00,819 --> 00:06:05,132
with inserts
of taped drug raids.
128
00:06:05,156 --> 00:06:08,761
-The idea is to hit swiftly,
and with overwhelming force.
129
00:06:08,785 --> 00:06:11,597
Surprise and shock
are the best protection,
130
00:06:11,621 --> 00:06:13,432
not only for the officer...
131
00:06:13,456 --> 00:06:14,767
-I was thinking that, "Man,
132
00:06:14,791 --> 00:06:16,269
I don't want to work
on this show
133
00:06:16,293 --> 00:06:18,813
because you could get shot
doing this thing."
134
00:06:18,837 --> 00:06:21,524
Because we didn't have
any bulletproof vest.
135
00:06:21,548 --> 00:06:23,568
And I could feel this person
pushing me
136
00:06:23,592 --> 00:06:26,237
into this place
that we had fogged.
137
00:06:26,261 --> 00:06:28,406
Couldn't see anything.
138
00:06:28,430 --> 00:06:30,116
And we all could have
been shot there.
139
00:06:30,140 --> 00:06:31,576
But I looked over my shoulder,
140
00:06:31,600 --> 00:06:36,831
and it's Geraldo
pushing me in the door.
141
00:06:36,855 --> 00:06:39,709
So, the excitement
was definitely there.
142
00:06:39,733 --> 00:06:41,043
Oh, my gosh.
143
00:06:41,067 --> 00:06:42,920
[ Indistinct talking ]
144
00:06:42,944 --> 00:06:44,630
-All right.
The deal went down.
145
00:06:44,654 --> 00:06:46,382
It's all on the hidden camera...
146
00:06:46,406 --> 00:06:48,718
-While working on the special,
John Langley's crew
147
00:06:48,742 --> 00:06:51,762
stumbles on something
that will change television.
148
00:06:51,786 --> 00:06:55,725
-Halfway through,
Geraldo had to leave,
149
00:06:55,749 --> 00:07:00,146
and so, I threw a mic
onto the key man
150
00:07:00,170 --> 00:07:04,191
that would actually key the door
of where we were gonna raid.
151
00:07:04,215 --> 00:07:05,943
And I would say, you know,
152
00:07:05,967 --> 00:07:07,820
"We just need to have you
talk us through."
153
00:07:07,844 --> 00:07:09,864
-Somebody's got to put the cuffs
on this guy.
154
00:07:09,888 --> 00:07:13,951
-So, for the next few hours,
we filmed all these drug raids
155
00:07:13,975 --> 00:07:16,621
with just the officers
narrating.
156
00:07:16,645 --> 00:07:19,123
-Fully loaded
Smith & Wesson .357 Magnum.
157
00:07:19,147 --> 00:07:22,251
Oh, excuse me.
.44 special.
158
00:07:22,275 --> 00:07:23,544
Would have ruined our day.
159
00:07:23,568 --> 00:07:25,671
-There's no narrators.
There's no host.
160
00:07:25,695 --> 00:07:27,590
-These are
Teflon-coated bullets.
161
00:07:27,614 --> 00:07:31,177
-You're simply a crew following
along with a police department.
162
00:07:31,201 --> 00:07:34,430
And that's how "Cops" was born.
163
00:07:34,454 --> 00:07:37,224
-John had the concept of "Cops."
164
00:07:37,248 --> 00:07:39,810
{\an8}He tried to sell it
to the networks.
165
00:07:39,834 --> 00:07:42,229
{\an8}I'm Randy Sutton,
and I was a cop
166
00:07:42,253 --> 00:07:45,066
for a lot of years,
including in the '90s.
167
00:07:45,090 --> 00:07:47,318
They said it couldn't be done.
168
00:07:47,342 --> 00:07:48,944
"Never work."
169
00:07:48,968 --> 00:07:51,322
And they laughed him
out of their office.
170
00:07:51,346 --> 00:07:54,867
-Langley shops it around to what
are then the only networks...
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00:07:54,891 --> 00:07:58,371
ABC, CBS, and NBC.
172
00:07:58,395 --> 00:08:00,456
But they all turn him down.
173
00:08:00,480 --> 00:08:05,002
Network TV isn't ready to buy
the realism he's trying to sell.
174
00:08:05,026 --> 00:08:07,254
-It doesn't surprise me
that a television executive
175
00:08:07,278 --> 00:08:09,215
{\an8}in that period of time
176
00:08:09,239 --> 00:08:13,511
{\an8}would just have to scratch your
head, and go, "I don't get it."
177
00:08:13,535 --> 00:08:15,513
I'm Mark Whaley.
178
00:08:15,537 --> 00:08:16,847
And for many years in the '90s,
179
00:08:16,871 --> 00:08:18,474
I was a cameraman
on the TV show "Cops."
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00:08:18,498 --> 00:08:20,643
When you present to them
a radical idea,
181
00:08:20,667 --> 00:08:23,187
like, "We're gonna put
a cameraman and a sound man
182
00:08:23,211 --> 00:08:24,522
in a car with a policeman,
183
00:08:24,546 --> 00:08:26,315
and they're just gonna
chase him around,
184
00:08:26,339 --> 00:08:28,109
and whatever he does, we're
going to make that TV a show.
185
00:08:28,133 --> 00:08:29,485
You want that?"
186
00:08:29,509 --> 00:08:32,488
{\an8}♪♪
187
00:08:32,512 --> 00:08:34,824
No narration,
no track, no script.
188
00:08:34,848 --> 00:08:38,435
This preposterous idea,
I'm sure, at that time.
189
00:08:41,688 --> 00:08:44,834
-And he was...
He was struggling.
190
00:08:44,858 --> 00:08:47,610
I think, at one point,
he was living out of his car.
191
00:08:51,239 --> 00:08:54,409
But Langley's luck
is about to change.
192
00:08:57,704 --> 00:09:01,267
-In 1988, there was
a Writers Guild strike.
193
00:09:01,291 --> 00:09:03,018
And the Writers Guild strike
was huge
194
00:09:03,042 --> 00:09:04,937
because it halted
many productions,
195
00:09:04,961 --> 00:09:07,273
especially on sitcoms, dramas,
196
00:09:07,297 --> 00:09:08,941
or other, obviously,
written shows.
197
00:09:08,965 --> 00:09:11,110
-Striking screenwriters
have said no
198
00:09:11,134 --> 00:09:14,029
to another contract
offered by producers.
199
00:09:14,053 --> 00:09:17,283
-Suddenly, a show that doesn't
use script writers
200
00:09:17,307 --> 00:09:20,494
looks attractive
to TV executives.
201
00:09:20,518 --> 00:09:23,247
-On the show "Cops," we didn't
have to have directors.
202
00:09:23,271 --> 00:09:25,332
We didn't have to have writers.
203
00:09:25,356 --> 00:09:27,752
It was unscripted.
204
00:09:27,776 --> 00:09:30,171
-And now,
there's a new network in town.
205
00:09:30,195 --> 00:09:31,839
For the fledgling Fox,
206
00:09:31,863 --> 00:09:35,634
a risky concept with
a low budget is irresistible.
207
00:09:35,658 --> 00:09:37,303
-♪ Yes, it'll have to change ♪
208
00:09:37,327 --> 00:09:40,556
♪ That can be arranged ♪
209
00:09:40,580 --> 00:09:43,476
-♪ It's on Fox ♪
210
00:09:43,500 --> 00:09:47,188
-Fox was hungry for content.
211
00:09:47,212 --> 00:09:50,274
-They were the young network,
so they wanted to embrace
212
00:09:50,298 --> 00:09:54,737
that newness with gritty, urban,
young TV and production
213
00:09:54,761 --> 00:09:56,739
that you can't see
anywhere else.
214
00:09:56,763 --> 00:10:00,868
When "Cops" finally makes it
to air on March 11th, 1989,
215
00:10:00,892 --> 00:10:03,287
it delivers
can't-look-away realism
216
00:10:03,311 --> 00:10:05,623
rarely seen on the small screen.
217
00:10:05,647 --> 00:10:07,541
And she was like, "Oh, man,
this is awes...
218
00:10:07,565 --> 00:10:08,793
This is gonna be good.
Watch this.
219
00:10:08,817 --> 00:10:11,420
This is gonna be great."
220
00:10:11,444 --> 00:10:13,923
-You crawl on your hands
and knees right now.
221
00:10:13,947 --> 00:10:16,091
-The format of "Cops"
is simple...
222
00:10:16,115 --> 00:10:18,052
Each episode tracks
three stories,
223
00:10:18,076 --> 00:10:21,847
with police kicking ass
off the top,
224
00:10:21,871 --> 00:10:24,850
with what producers see as
comic relief in the middle.
225
00:10:24,874 --> 00:10:26,310
-How much have you had to drink?
Tell me that.
226
00:10:26,334 --> 00:10:28,604
-Not nearly enough.
227
00:10:28,628 --> 00:10:30,981
-Come on, Mary.
Get up.
228
00:10:31,005 --> 00:10:32,733
-Come on, Mary.
229
00:10:32,757 --> 00:10:35,402
-And a finale that shows police
serving and protecting.
230
00:10:35,426 --> 00:10:38,405
-How do you... How do you intend
to get some food for them?
231
00:10:38,429 --> 00:10:41,283
-Well, other than
they already had supper tonight,
232
00:10:41,307 --> 00:10:44,120
he'll be here first thing
in the morning.
233
00:10:44,144 --> 00:10:46,872
-Who wants to carry something?
234
00:10:46,896 --> 00:10:48,332
-What it does is perpetuate
235
00:10:48,356 --> 00:10:50,668
this idea that they're
our superheroes.
236
00:10:50,692 --> 00:10:52,503
So, this is a way
in which "Cops"
237
00:10:52,527 --> 00:10:55,130
continues to construct
their idea of criminal
238
00:10:55,154 --> 00:10:58,300
and their idea of those who are
on the right side of the law.
239
00:10:58,324 --> 00:10:59,969
-Because we want to make sure
that the kids...
240
00:10:59,993 --> 00:11:01,887
- I want to be a police.
- You want to be a policeman?
241
00:11:01,911 --> 00:11:04,265
- Yes.
- Good.
242
00:11:04,289 --> 00:11:07,143
{\an8}♪♪
243
00:11:07,167 --> 00:11:13,440
-What "Cops" ended up doing
is creating their own audience.
244
00:11:13,464 --> 00:11:15,109
We were on Saturday nights,
245
00:11:15,133 --> 00:11:18,279
which is actually
the worst night of television,
246
00:11:18,303 --> 00:11:21,490
and yet, our ratings
were going through the ceiling.
247
00:11:21,514 --> 00:11:25,536
Our Q rating was above that of
"The Tonight Show."
248
00:11:25,560 --> 00:11:28,539
It was a cult show.
249
00:11:28,563 --> 00:11:31,500
-I think it was great
because the video cameras
250
00:11:31,524 --> 00:11:33,794
{\an8}really weren't out
in patrol cars
251
00:11:33,818 --> 00:11:36,613
{\an8}or on officers' bodies
back then, like body cameras.
252
00:11:39,782 --> 00:11:42,428
So, to have
those cameras running live
253
00:11:42,452 --> 00:11:44,096
the whole entire time,
254
00:11:44,120 --> 00:11:47,808
I mean, they were getting
exactly what was happening.
255
00:11:47,832 --> 00:11:50,978
We just did what we normally
would do on a nightly basis.
256
00:11:51,002 --> 00:11:52,855
-We don't know where
his clothes are.
257
00:11:52,879 --> 00:11:55,608
The guy that owns his property,
this barber shop,
258
00:11:55,632 --> 00:11:56,942
lives upstairs.
259
00:11:56,966 --> 00:11:58,569
He says he doesn't know him.
260
00:11:58,593 --> 00:12:01,906
-Viewers were getting
the live version of police work.
261
00:12:01,930 --> 00:12:04,617
-I don't think your dad wants to
see you come to Heaven this way.
262
00:12:04,641 --> 00:12:07,536
-Charles, I love you!
263
00:12:07,560 --> 00:12:09,538
-I think what John Langley
wanted to accomplish
264
00:12:09,562 --> 00:12:11,248
with the show "Cops"
265
00:12:11,272 --> 00:12:19,089
was to show the true nature
of what policing is.
266
00:12:19,113 --> 00:12:22,676
-But it turns out, John Langley
didn't control which aspects
267
00:12:22,700 --> 00:12:25,387
{\an8}of policing
the audience got to see.
268
00:12:25,411 --> 00:12:27,097
{\an8}The cops did.
269
00:12:27,121 --> 00:12:30,351
{\an8}-These law enforcement agencies
had editorial control.
270
00:12:30,375 --> 00:12:35,397
-The whole ecosystem of policing
is getting this sort of washed
271
00:12:35,421 --> 00:12:37,900
sort of look,
this fairytale version.
272
00:12:37,924 --> 00:12:38,901
[ Indistinct talking ]
273
00:12:38,925 --> 00:12:40,736
-But as the '90s roll on,
274
00:12:40,760 --> 00:12:42,988
it's painfully clear that,
for many,
275
00:12:43,012 --> 00:12:45,974
it's a fairytale
without a happily ever after.
276
00:12:51,437 --> 00:12:55,960
{\an8}♪♪
277
00:12:55,984 --> 00:12:59,153
{\an8}-In the early '90s,
"Cops" goes international...
278
00:13:02,240 --> 00:13:06,095
{\an8}...with the show's theme song
becoming a worldwide hit.
279
00:13:06,119 --> 00:13:07,763
{\an8}-♪ Bad boys ♪
280
00:13:07,787 --> 00:13:09,556
{\an8}-It's hard for me to imagine
a better piece of music
281
00:13:09,580 --> 00:13:13,894
{\an8}to use to help brand the show,
and what it's about.
282
00:13:13,918 --> 00:13:15,938
{\an8}-But this song in and of itself
is a cultural phenomenon.
283
00:13:15,962 --> 00:13:18,565
{\an8}We see the film "Bad Boys,"
284
00:13:18,589 --> 00:13:21,568
{\an8}this three-part trilogy
is themed off the song.
285
00:13:21,592 --> 00:13:22,903
They characters sing the song.
286
00:13:22,927 --> 00:13:24,863
-♪ Bad boys, bad boys ♪
287
00:13:24,887 --> 00:13:26,281
-♪ Whatcha gonna do? ♪
288
00:13:26,305 --> 00:13:28,242
-The chart-topping,
Grammy-winning tune
289
00:13:28,266 --> 00:13:30,786
is burned into
the popular consciousness.
290
00:13:30,810 --> 00:13:32,871
-Even today,
we think about that show
291
00:13:32,895 --> 00:13:34,290
when you're thinking about
that song.
292
00:13:34,314 --> 00:13:36,625
-♪ Nobody not give me
no break ♪
293
00:13:36,649 --> 00:13:38,627
♪ Police not give me
no break ♪
294
00:13:38,651 --> 00:13:41,630
-But the song also hints at
the manipulation tactics
295
00:13:41,654 --> 00:13:44,633
of the show it introduces.
296
00:13:44,657 --> 00:13:47,678
-Reggae music, in all
its anti-Establishment ethics
297
00:13:47,702 --> 00:13:50,681
at its core,
is now promoting a show
298
00:13:50,705 --> 00:13:53,308
about one of
the longest industries
299
00:13:53,332 --> 00:13:55,686
that was against
people of color,
300
00:13:55,710 --> 00:13:57,646
against working-class people,
301
00:13:57,670 --> 00:13:59,857
{\an8}and is about keeping people
in line.
302
00:13:59,881 --> 00:14:03,652
{\an8}-The song also helps "Cops"
become a pop culture phenomenon.
303
00:14:03,676 --> 00:14:05,487
{\an8}-We got a message
that there's a witch out here,
304
00:14:05,511 --> 00:14:06,739
{\an8}so we're gonna check it out.
305
00:14:06,763 --> 00:14:07,990
{\an8}- You got a kid?
- Yes, sir.
306
00:14:08,014 --> 00:14:09,283
{\an8}-So, what's gonna happen
to the kid?
307
00:14:09,307 --> 00:14:10,659
{\an8}You get burned
at the stake, right?
308
00:14:10,683 --> 00:14:12,453
{\an8}Right?
Who takes care of the kid, huh?
309
00:14:12,477 --> 00:14:14,580
-I swear, sir, I am not...
I am not a witch.
310
00:14:14,604 --> 00:14:16,915
- "Cops" in Springfield.
311
00:14:16,939 --> 00:14:18,542
{\an8}-♪ Bad cops, bad cops ♪
312
00:14:18,566 --> 00:14:19,918
{\an8}-[ Yells ]
313
00:14:19,942 --> 00:14:22,212
{\an8}-♪ Bad cops, bad cops ♪
314
00:14:22,236 --> 00:14:24,923
{\an8}-♪ Springfield cops
are on the case ♪
315
00:14:24,947 --> 00:14:28,010
♪ But what do you expect
for the money we make? ♪
316
00:14:28,034 --> 00:14:30,387
-But "Cops" ' winning formula
couldn't work
317
00:14:30,411 --> 00:14:32,097
without the active participation
318
00:14:32,121 --> 00:14:35,434
of the people
with the most to lose.
319
00:14:35,458 --> 00:14:38,312
-Every person whose face
you saw on the show,
320
00:14:38,336 --> 00:14:39,813
that person signed a release.
321
00:14:39,837 --> 00:14:43,609
[ Woman speaking indistinctly ]
322
00:14:43,633 --> 00:14:45,486
-And I just found it shocking
323
00:14:45,510 --> 00:14:47,071
that they actually signed
the waivers,
324
00:14:47,095 --> 00:14:48,906
like, "Hey, I'm going
to be on 'Cops.'
325
00:14:48,930 --> 00:14:50,491
This is great."
326
00:14:50,515 --> 00:14:52,100
Have you seen what you've done?
327
00:14:54,310 --> 00:14:57,039
{\an8}My name is Keith Burns,
and, in the '90s,
328
00:14:57,063 --> 00:15:00,209
{\an8}I was a cop on "Cops."
329
00:15:00,233 --> 00:15:01,585
So, after the dust settled,
330
00:15:01,609 --> 00:15:03,379
then the people
that were arrested
331
00:15:03,403 --> 00:15:04,838
were in the back of the car,
332
00:15:04,862 --> 00:15:06,340
and the "Cops" crew
would then approach them,
333
00:15:06,364 --> 00:15:08,592
and identify themselves.
334
00:15:08,616 --> 00:15:10,385
-It was the cameraman's
responsibility
335
00:15:10,409 --> 00:15:12,679
to release the people involved.
336
00:15:12,703 --> 00:15:14,348
I'd barely get the word
337
00:15:14,372 --> 00:15:16,058
"Cameraman for
the TV show 'C... '"
338
00:15:16,082 --> 00:15:17,851
and they're like, "'Cops.'
I was hoping you'd say that.
339
00:15:17,875 --> 00:15:19,603
Give me that. You got a pen?
Give me the pen.
340
00:15:19,627 --> 00:15:21,563
Man, I can't wait
to tell my mama."
341
00:15:21,587 --> 00:15:24,566
-Everybody just dumped
all the empties into your car?
342
00:15:24,590 --> 00:15:26,485
-Obviously,
an intoxicated person
343
00:15:26,509 --> 00:15:29,029
can't release themselves
in that state or condition,
344
00:15:29,053 --> 00:15:30,781
so we'd have to get
their phone number,
345
00:15:30,805 --> 00:15:34,201
and we'd follow up with them
when they were less intoxicated.
346
00:15:34,225 --> 00:15:35,577
-Touch the tip of your nose.
347
00:15:35,601 --> 00:15:36,912
-You know, we'd ask nice.
348
00:15:36,936 --> 00:15:38,372
Now, and I'll tell you this...
349
00:15:38,396 --> 00:15:39,915
I got at least
a couple of releases
350
00:15:39,939 --> 00:15:42,000
with a kind word and a cold can
of Coca-Cola.
351
00:15:42,024 --> 00:15:43,836
[ Indistinct talking ]
352
00:15:43,860 --> 00:15:46,296
You would be surprised how a
little bit of good salesmanship
353
00:15:46,320 --> 00:15:47,822
can get a good release.
354
00:15:49,448 --> 00:15:50,884
{\an8}-I can tell you right now
355
00:15:50,908 --> 00:15:52,803
{\an8}the reason that people
signed the release.
356
00:15:52,827 --> 00:15:56,098
{\an8}It's because, for 5 minutes
of fame, they'll do anything.
357
00:15:56,122 --> 00:15:58,183
-There,
in that open apartment window.
358
00:15:58,207 --> 00:16:00,477
-One of the funniest incidents
I was involved in...
359
00:16:00,501 --> 00:16:02,563
-Stands in his window
with his curtains up.
360
00:16:02,587 --> 00:16:05,107
-This woman, every time
she would do the dishes,
361
00:16:05,131 --> 00:16:10,529
her neighbor would climb up
onto his kitchen sink, and...
362
00:16:10,553 --> 00:16:13,240
-You know [bleep]
363
00:16:13,264 --> 00:16:14,658
- What?
- And it's embarrassing.
364
00:16:14,682 --> 00:16:16,326
He plays with himself.
365
00:16:16,350 --> 00:16:17,953
-So, I get there.
366
00:16:17,977 --> 00:16:19,788
Now, there's a film crew
with me.
367
00:16:19,812 --> 00:16:21,790
Do you mind if I come in
and talk to you?
368
00:16:21,814 --> 00:16:23,167
Thank you.
369
00:16:23,191 --> 00:16:25,377
And he was wearing
nothing but a towel.
370
00:16:25,401 --> 00:16:27,713
And, in front of
60 million people,
371
00:16:27,737 --> 00:16:30,716
he confessed to
exactly what he did.
372
00:16:30,740 --> 00:16:32,134
-Well, let's put it this way...
373
00:16:32,158 --> 00:16:34,386
I knew what I was doing
was wrong.
374
00:16:34,410 --> 00:16:38,307
I just find her
sexually attractive, I guess.
375
00:16:38,331 --> 00:16:40,309
-It was... So, it's bizarre.
376
00:16:40,333 --> 00:16:42,561
-I mean, is it necessary
for me to be arrested?
377
00:16:42,585 --> 00:16:46,940
-Well, see, we consider it
illegal to masturbate
378
00:16:46,964 --> 00:16:49,693
in front of women in this state.
379
00:16:49,717 --> 00:16:51,236
-I guess so.
380
00:16:51,260 --> 00:16:53,655
-Now, remember,
this was before social media.
381
00:16:53,679 --> 00:16:55,741
This was giving them
the opportunity,
382
00:16:55,765 --> 00:16:57,618
"Geez, I'm gonna be
on national television."
383
00:16:57,642 --> 00:16:59,411
-Am I gonna be
on "Cops" one day?
384
00:16:59,435 --> 00:17:01,997
-One day,
you're gonna be on "Cops."
385
00:17:02,021 --> 00:17:04,541
-But was this just people
looking for their chance
386
00:17:04,565 --> 00:17:06,960
to get on television,
no matter the cost?
387
00:17:06,984 --> 00:17:08,504
Or was there more to it?
388
00:17:08,528 --> 00:17:10,756
-You see those clips
that they want you to see.
389
00:17:10,780 --> 00:17:12,966
You don't see the reality
of the situation.
390
00:17:12,990 --> 00:17:15,427
And you don't see the idea of,
like, this larger structure
391
00:17:15,451 --> 00:17:17,221
of law enforcement.
392
00:17:17,245 --> 00:17:18,931
-Put your hands on the car!
393
00:17:18,955 --> 00:17:21,642
If you move,
I'll break your head open.
394
00:17:21,666 --> 00:17:23,518
-It didn't happen every time.
395
00:17:23,542 --> 00:17:26,897
There were plenty of people who
had enough sense to say "no."
396
00:17:26,921 --> 00:17:28,607
- Fuck you and them cameras.
- All right.
397
00:17:28,631 --> 00:17:30,108
-Cracker-ass bastards.
398
00:17:30,132 --> 00:17:31,860
-If the person
refused to sign...
399
00:17:31,884 --> 00:17:33,278
-You're the one
running around with...
400
00:17:33,302 --> 00:17:34,696
- they would just
blur their face out.
401
00:17:34,720 --> 00:17:36,198
So, if you ever see
the "Cops" episodes
402
00:17:36,222 --> 00:17:37,199
where their faces
are blurred out,
403
00:17:37,223 --> 00:17:39,409
they refused to sign the waiver.
404
00:17:39,433 --> 00:17:44,498
-The show's groundbreaking style
also wins over the TV industry.
405
00:17:44,522 --> 00:17:45,958
In the early '90s,
406
00:17:45,982 --> 00:17:48,460
"Cops" is nominated four times
for an Emmy,
407
00:17:48,484 --> 00:17:51,046
and wins
Best Reality Based Program
408
00:17:51,070 --> 00:17:55,425
at the 1993
American Television Awards.
409
00:17:55,449 --> 00:17:58,345
-Over the years, I've had a lot
of people ask me, you know,
410
00:17:58,369 --> 00:17:59,805
"It wasn't all really real,
was it?
411
00:17:59,829 --> 00:18:02,975
I mean, some of that was staged,
right?"
412
00:18:02,999 --> 00:18:04,559
No.
413
00:18:04,583 --> 00:18:06,144
Everything that you saw
on the "Cops" TV show
414
00:18:06,168 --> 00:18:07,729
was true reality television.
415
00:18:07,753 --> 00:18:08,981
There was no staging.
416
00:18:09,005 --> 00:18:10,983
There was no coaching,
or acting.
417
00:18:11,007 --> 00:18:12,818
-We were warned by the FCC,
418
00:18:12,842 --> 00:18:15,779
{\an8}"Don't say this is real
if it's not.
419
00:18:15,803 --> 00:18:19,533
{\an8}You could get into
a lot of trouble that way."
420
00:18:19,557 --> 00:18:21,326
-If it happened
in front of my lens...
421
00:18:21,350 --> 00:18:22,953
-Drop the bag.
422
00:18:22,977 --> 00:18:25,372
- you saw it on TV.
423
00:18:25,396 --> 00:18:28,542
-Well, you saw it
if the local police department
424
00:18:28,566 --> 00:18:29,918
gave their okay.
425
00:18:29,942 --> 00:18:31,586
To help make sure they did,
426
00:18:31,610 --> 00:18:34,172
the show's producers,
Barbour and Langley,
427
00:18:34,196 --> 00:18:35,966
were willing to filter reality
428
00:18:35,990 --> 00:18:38,468
to help their subjects
look their best.
429
00:18:38,492 --> 00:18:41,054
-That's one of the key things
I don't think
430
00:18:41,078 --> 00:18:42,889
the public ever understood
about the show,
431
00:18:42,913 --> 00:18:46,560
was it was truly a partnership
between the production company
432
00:18:46,584 --> 00:18:48,353
and these
law enforcement agencies.
433
00:18:48,377 --> 00:18:49,604
-Police department!
434
00:18:49,628 --> 00:18:51,189
The house is on fire!
Come out!
435
00:18:51,213 --> 00:18:53,817
-The agencies
had editorial control.
436
00:18:53,841 --> 00:18:55,986
-If they see something
that they think would be
437
00:18:56,010 --> 00:18:57,696
an embarrassment to the agency,
438
00:18:57,720 --> 00:19:00,324
they can always say, "You know
what, we don't want that.
439
00:19:00,348 --> 00:19:01,783
Don't put that on there."
440
00:19:01,807 --> 00:19:04,328
-He kicked the door in
on the wrong house.
441
00:19:04,352 --> 00:19:06,121
-How do we write this one up?
442
00:19:06,145 --> 00:19:08,707
-You're the supervisor.
You tell me.
443
00:19:08,731 --> 00:19:11,793
-And Barbour-Langley, of course,
has to go along with that
444
00:19:11,817 --> 00:19:17,049
in order to have the access
to these police agencies.
445
00:19:17,073 --> 00:19:18,592
-I mean, we were pro-police.
446
00:19:18,616 --> 00:19:21,845
I mean, that's why
we were called "Cops."
447
00:19:21,869 --> 00:19:24,556
Otherwise,
they'd call us "Robbers."
448
00:19:24,580 --> 00:19:26,975
-And working alongside police
all day
449
00:19:26,999 --> 00:19:29,853
can blur the line
between crew and cop.
450
00:19:29,877 --> 00:19:35,150
-Once, we had cornered
this hot car up in Ohio,
451
00:19:35,174 --> 00:19:40,989
and the kid did a leg bale
into an apartment complex.
452
00:19:41,013 --> 00:19:43,241
When I saw Richie,
the cameraman,
453
00:19:43,265 --> 00:19:47,829
and our officer go one way,
I came back the other way.
454
00:19:47,853 --> 00:19:52,542
I was on some steps, and he was
running right toward me.
455
00:19:52,566 --> 00:19:57,047
And I realized, "You're tired.
You want to end this thing."
456
00:19:57,071 --> 00:20:00,926
So, as he ran by, I jumped off
the steps, just like Batman.
457
00:20:00,950 --> 00:20:02,844
And I took him to the ground.
458
00:20:02,868 --> 00:20:07,039
And to my horror, I see Richie,
with the camera, filming me.
459
00:20:10,126 --> 00:20:11,395
And I said, "Oh, no."
460
00:20:11,419 --> 00:20:13,814
So, I got off him,
like, real quick,
461
00:20:13,838 --> 00:20:16,006
because I could have
lost my job.
462
00:20:19,802 --> 00:20:21,822
But I didn't.
They left it in there.
463
00:20:21,846 --> 00:20:24,032
But you have to really
look for it,
464
00:20:24,056 --> 00:20:25,701
because it's so quick.
465
00:20:25,725 --> 00:20:27,119
And you say, "Wait a minute?
Did that really happen?
466
00:20:27,143 --> 00:20:30,288
Who was that?"
467
00:20:30,312 --> 00:20:35,252
Actually, that's happened
quite a few times.
468
00:20:35,276 --> 00:20:36,545
-Don't worry about
your head, son.
469
00:20:36,569 --> 00:20:38,130
You're under arrest.
470
00:20:38,154 --> 00:20:40,674
-This version of reality
seen on "Cops" turns Barbour
471
00:20:40,698 --> 00:20:44,845
and Langley's low-budget series
into a lucrative global brand.
472
00:20:44,869 --> 00:20:47,973
-Now, here's your chance
to own official "Cops" gear.
473
00:20:47,997 --> 00:20:49,307
"Cops" gear is available
474
00:20:49,331 --> 00:20:51,059
from your favorite retailers,
Cop Shop.
475
00:20:51,083 --> 00:20:54,312
-This show is now
making a ton of money.
476
00:20:54,336 --> 00:20:56,314
{\an8}-Or directly from Cops,
The Store.
477
00:20:56,338 --> 00:20:59,234
{\an8}-What's essentially happening
is that you get
478
00:20:59,258 --> 00:21:06,575
{\an8}this sort of glossy Hollywood
advertisement for policing.
479
00:21:06,599 --> 00:21:08,452
-But while
the "Cops" camera crews
480
00:21:08,476 --> 00:21:11,788
capture their law enforcement-
approved version of policing,
481
00:21:11,812 --> 00:21:14,207
a much uglier glimpse
of police at work
482
00:21:14,231 --> 00:21:19,695
is caught on a camera
the cops don't control.
483
00:21:28,245 --> 00:21:31,391
{\an8}-Unlike a lot of other cops,
Broward County Deputy Sheriff
484
00:21:31,415 --> 00:21:34,311
Linda Canada has done her job
on national television.
485
00:21:34,335 --> 00:21:37,439
-Portraying patrol officers
as heroes makes "Cops"
486
00:21:37,463 --> 00:21:39,024
a ratings hit in the early '90s.
487
00:21:39,048 --> 00:21:40,567
- and comfort a little girl
who was frightened
488
00:21:40,591 --> 00:21:42,611
of her mother's boyfriend.
489
00:21:42,635 --> 00:21:44,279
-How about if I drive
by and shine my light
through the window
490
00:21:44,303 --> 00:21:46,990
so you know that I was here?
I'll just come by...
491
00:21:47,014 --> 00:21:50,994
-Linda Canada may be the face
of pro-cop propaganda,
492
00:21:51,018 --> 00:21:53,955
but not everyone is buying
the feel-good story
493
00:21:53,979 --> 00:21:55,832
that "Cops" is selling.
494
00:21:55,856 --> 00:21:58,460
{\an8}-Absolutely, there were people
who saw this show
495
00:21:58,484 --> 00:22:00,504
{\an8}as problematic, and challenging,
496
00:22:00,528 --> 00:22:03,632
{\an8}because it was part of
the selling
497
00:22:03,656 --> 00:22:08,345
of an unjust justice system
to the American public.
498
00:22:08,369 --> 00:22:09,888
I'm Rashad Robinson.
499
00:22:09,912 --> 00:22:11,807
I'm the president
of Color of Change.
500
00:22:11,831 --> 00:22:14,017
-Yeah, you're looking sharp.
501
00:22:14,041 --> 00:22:17,145
-Doing my best.
Doing my best.
502
00:22:17,169 --> 00:22:19,981
In the '90s,
I was leading youth protests
503
00:22:20,005 --> 00:22:21,757
out in my community
on Long Island.
504
00:22:27,012 --> 00:22:29,825
Black and brown communities
have always been treated
505
00:22:29,849 --> 00:22:33,537
like enemy combatants
from police officers,
506
00:22:33,561 --> 00:22:37,249
whether it was from the very
first police departments,
507
00:22:37,273 --> 00:22:40,794
which were slave patrols,
508
00:22:40,818 --> 00:22:46,925
to the batons and the hoses that
were sprayed upon our people
509
00:22:46,949 --> 00:22:49,302
when we were marching
to be able to express
510
00:22:49,326 --> 00:22:54,057
our will for a better future
through the vote,
511
00:22:54,081 --> 00:22:55,892
to all of the police officers
512
00:22:55,916 --> 00:22:58,770
that constantly get off
for violence.
513
00:22:58,794 --> 00:23:00,772
Time and time again,
514
00:23:00,796 --> 00:23:04,401
police officers' lives
have been put far above
515
00:23:04,425 --> 00:23:08,655
the lives of everyday people
in ways that no other profession
516
00:23:08,679 --> 00:23:13,702
in our society gets treated.
517
00:23:13,726 --> 00:23:16,621
-But in the early '90s...
518
00:23:16,645 --> 00:23:17,998
-Wow.
519
00:23:18,022 --> 00:23:20,375
-Omnimovie uses
full-sized VHS tapes.
520
00:23:20,399 --> 00:23:23,295
- advances in personal video
cameras will open the door
521
00:23:23,319 --> 00:23:26,673
for citizens to expose
hidden societal injustices.
522
00:23:26,697 --> 00:23:29,926
{\an8}-We saw a huge rise in people
being able to film things
523
00:23:29,950 --> 00:23:32,971
{\an8}for themselves,
and tell their own stories.
524
00:23:32,995 --> 00:23:35,473
-And one of the biggest stories
of the decade
525
00:23:35,497 --> 00:23:37,934
is captured
on this home recording.
526
00:23:37,958 --> 00:23:41,229
-The three police officers
facing felony criminal charges
527
00:23:41,253 --> 00:23:44,524
were among a group of 15
who stopped a 25-year-old.
528
00:23:44,548 --> 00:23:46,359
-In this pre-Internet era,
529
00:23:46,383 --> 00:23:49,654
the footage of LAPD officers
beating Rodney King
530
00:23:49,678 --> 00:23:53,408
becomes the TV news equivalent
of a viral video sensation.
531
00:23:53,432 --> 00:23:55,076
-Now the story
that might never have surfaced
532
00:23:55,100 --> 00:23:57,370
if someone hadn't picked up
his home video camera.
533
00:23:57,394 --> 00:24:00,123
We've all seen the pictures
of Los Angeles police officers
534
00:24:00,147 --> 00:24:01,124
beating a man...
535
00:24:01,148 --> 00:24:02,959
-We see this on screen,
536
00:24:02,983 --> 00:24:04,836
all across the news, everywhere.
537
00:24:04,860 --> 00:24:06,212
-Civil rights organizations say
538
00:24:06,236 --> 00:24:07,881
the Los Angeles
Police Department
539
00:24:07,905 --> 00:24:10,008
has a history of brutality
and misconduct.
540
00:24:10,032 --> 00:24:13,345
-Law enforcement agencies
denounce the officers' actions
541
00:24:13,369 --> 00:24:16,181
as an anomaly
and a stain on the profession.
542
00:24:16,205 --> 00:24:19,476
-Chief Gates today called
the LAPD a "model department,"
543
00:24:19,500 --> 00:24:21,311
and said he has no plans
to resign.
544
00:24:21,335 --> 00:24:23,813
-We, the jury,
in the above entitled action,
545
00:24:23,837 --> 00:24:27,400
find the defendant,
Stacey C. Koon, not guilty.
546
00:24:27,424 --> 00:24:29,694
-On April 29, 1992,
547
00:24:29,718 --> 00:24:32,614
the four officers charged
in Rodney King's beating
548
00:24:32,638 --> 00:24:34,139
are found not guilty.
549
00:24:37,226 --> 00:24:39,829
LA explodes in the aftermath.
550
00:24:39,853 --> 00:24:42,582
-Within an hour of the verdict,
roving, angry gangs
551
00:24:42,606 --> 00:24:44,000
were taking to the mean streets
552
00:24:44,024 --> 00:24:46,503
of South Central Los Angeles.
553
00:24:46,527 --> 00:24:49,506
-As crowds build on a corner
in downtown LA,
554
00:24:49,530 --> 00:24:52,550
police gather nearby,
but refuse to engage.
555
00:24:52,574 --> 00:24:54,302
-Within minutes,
unchecked by police,
556
00:24:54,326 --> 00:24:57,180
who were nowhere in sight,
the mob began looting stores.
557
00:24:57,204 --> 00:24:58,807
-When they finally move in,
558
00:24:58,831 --> 00:25:00,975
it's too late
to stop the rioting.
559
00:25:00,999 --> 00:25:04,896
-The police are powerless,
left to form skirmish lines.
560
00:25:04,920 --> 00:25:07,691
-They don't represent
the people no more.
561
00:25:07,715 --> 00:25:08,983
-Anything that the protesters
562
00:25:09,007 --> 00:25:10,235
could actually get
their hands on.
563
00:25:10,259 --> 00:25:11,903
-Los Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley
564
00:25:11,927 --> 00:25:13,530
{\an8}urged citizens
to show their outrage
565
00:25:13,554 --> 00:25:15,115
{\an8}in a constructive manner.
566
00:25:15,139 --> 00:25:17,617
-We don't want you
to resort to violence.
567
00:25:17,641 --> 00:25:20,787
That would only destroy
every positive thing
568
00:25:20,811 --> 00:25:22,497
that we have been doing.
569
00:25:22,521 --> 00:25:25,041
-The mayor didn't know it,
but it was already too late.
570
00:25:25,065 --> 00:25:28,753
-37 people dead,
more than 1,300 injured,
571
00:25:28,777 --> 00:25:30,880
more than 4,000 arrested.
572
00:25:30,904 --> 00:25:36,094
Damage estimate...
$200 million and rising.
573
00:25:36,118 --> 00:25:39,806
A few hours ago, the man who had
become the unwilling symbol
574
00:25:39,830 --> 00:25:41,224
of this outbreak of violence
575
00:25:41,248 --> 00:25:43,601
decided it was time
to speak out.
576
00:25:43,625 --> 00:25:47,147
Rodney King appealed for peace.
577
00:25:47,171 --> 00:25:51,484
-I just want to say, you know,
can we can we all get along?
578
00:25:51,508 --> 00:25:53,260
Can we... Can we get along?
579
00:25:56,096 --> 00:25:58,867
-The White House takes a
hard line against the violence,
580
00:25:58,891 --> 00:26:02,871
but is indifferent to the
police action that provoked it.
581
00:26:02,895 --> 00:26:05,331
-What we saw last night
and the night before
582
00:26:05,355 --> 00:26:09,377
in Los Angeles
is not about civil rights.
583
00:26:09,401 --> 00:26:14,215
It's been the brutality of
a mob, pure and simple.
584
00:26:14,239 --> 00:26:17,677
-Out on the streets,
the anger only intensifies.
585
00:26:17,701 --> 00:26:19,345
{\an8}♪♪
586
00:26:19,369 --> 00:26:22,432
-Performer Ice-T
is hot this summer.
587
00:26:22,456 --> 00:26:25,310
His album "Body Count"
and the song "Cop Killer"
588
00:26:25,334 --> 00:26:27,896
are moving up the music charts
with a bullet.
589
00:26:27,920 --> 00:26:30,982
But cops and others are angered
by these lyrics.
590
00:26:31,006 --> 00:26:33,067
-♪ I'm 'bout to
kill me something ♪
591
00:26:33,091 --> 00:26:36,029
♪ A pig stopped me
for nothing ♪
592
00:26:36,053 --> 00:26:37,405
{\an8}♪ Cop killer ♪
593
00:26:37,429 --> 00:26:39,073
{\an8}♪ Better you than me ♪
594
00:26:39,097 --> 00:26:40,533
They've still got to deal
with the question,
595
00:26:40,557 --> 00:26:42,410
why did I write this record?
596
00:26:42,434 --> 00:26:44,370
Cops have beaten on my friends.
597
00:26:44,394 --> 00:26:46,664
They deal with us
like we're savages.
598
00:26:46,688 --> 00:26:48,291
They call us "savages."
599
00:26:48,315 --> 00:26:50,210
They pull you out the car.
They call you "..."
600
00:26:50,234 --> 00:26:51,669
You don't know.
601
00:26:51,693 --> 00:26:53,713
Unless you are in the car
with me, you don't know.
602
00:26:53,737 --> 00:26:55,924
But Black people know.
603
00:26:55,948 --> 00:26:59,260
-And in major cities, voices
begin calling for diversity,
604
00:26:59,284 --> 00:27:02,180
demanding police departments
hire more men and women
605
00:27:02,204 --> 00:27:06,768
who actually know what it's like
to be Black in America.
606
00:27:06,792 --> 00:27:09,395
Nowhere is the need for change
more keenly felt
607
00:27:09,419 --> 00:27:12,232
than in Los Angeles.
608
00:27:12,256 --> 00:27:15,068
The new regime recognizes
that the show "Cops,"
609
00:27:15,092 --> 00:27:17,779
with its positive portrayal
of police officers,
610
00:27:17,803 --> 00:27:19,239
could play an important role
611
00:27:19,263 --> 00:27:22,325
in changing the reputation
of the LAPD.
612
00:27:22,349 --> 00:27:23,952
At first, the police chief said,
613
00:27:23,976 --> 00:27:25,370
"No. We don't want
'Cops' here."
614
00:27:25,394 --> 00:27:26,913
The very next police chief said,
615
00:27:26,937 --> 00:27:29,916
"Yes. Bring them here.
We need to fix our PR."
616
00:27:29,940 --> 00:27:31,501
-Come here.
617
00:27:31,525 --> 00:27:35,088
Get on the ground.
Get on the ground!
618
00:27:35,112 --> 00:27:37,006
-Well, it's not just the LAPD.
619
00:27:37,030 --> 00:27:40,760
It's other police departments
that actually sought out "Cops"
620
00:27:40,784 --> 00:27:44,264
to help them build a new image.
621
00:27:44,288 --> 00:27:47,600
If that doesn't tell you
everything you need to know.
622
00:27:47,624 --> 00:27:50,770
Instead of actually doing
the deeper examination,
623
00:27:50,794 --> 00:27:53,523
instead of actually
digging into accountability,
624
00:27:53,547 --> 00:27:57,861
the police departments
lean into public relations.
625
00:27:57,885 --> 00:28:01,114
-And for the police officers,
appearing on "Cops"
626
00:28:01,138 --> 00:28:04,117
is an opportunity
that's too good to pass up.
627
00:28:04,141 --> 00:28:07,537
{\an8}-I absolutely believe that being
on "Cops" is great PR for cops.
628
00:28:07,561 --> 00:28:09,080
{\an8}Absolutely.
629
00:28:09,104 --> 00:28:10,498
{\an8}That was one of the reasons
I agreed to do it.
630
00:28:10,522 --> 00:28:12,316
- Get on the ground.
- Get on the ground.
631
00:28:14,818 --> 00:28:17,964
{\an8}-The overwhelming majority of
police officers
632
00:28:17,988 --> 00:28:20,300
{\an8}are out there to do
the right thing the right way,
633
00:28:20,324 --> 00:28:22,176
help their community,
make it a safer place.
634
00:28:22,200 --> 00:28:23,636
Sheriff's office.
635
00:28:23,660 --> 00:28:25,305
Put your hands up
where I can see them.
636
00:28:25,329 --> 00:28:26,806
Stay in the car. Stay in
the car. Put your hands up.
637
00:28:26,830 --> 00:28:28,433
We live there, too,
638
00:28:28,457 --> 00:28:30,935
so we'd like to make
a difference in the community.
639
00:28:30,959 --> 00:28:32,604
Do you have anything in your
pockets I should know about?
640
00:28:32,628 --> 00:28:34,772
Any needles?
Anything that can hurt me?
641
00:28:34,796 --> 00:28:36,524
And do it the right way...
Be a part of the community,
642
00:28:36,548 --> 00:28:38,985
and be accepted by the community
for what we do.
643
00:28:39,009 --> 00:28:40,403
Powder cocaine.
644
00:28:40,427 --> 00:28:43,573
-You are presenting
and representing
645
00:28:43,597 --> 00:28:47,744
the entire police profession
when you are on that show.
646
00:28:47,768 --> 00:28:49,746
So, you're high
and you're watching the kids.
647
00:28:49,770 --> 00:28:50,747
-I know.
648
00:28:50,771 --> 00:28:52,582
-That's important.
649
00:28:52,606 --> 00:28:54,334
As far as I'm concerned,
I think you should go to jail.
650
00:28:54,358 --> 00:28:56,669
That's...
That's an opportunity...
651
00:28:56,693 --> 00:28:59,672
An opportunity to touch
the lives of others,
652
00:28:59,696 --> 00:29:02,216
and let them see what
it's really like to be a cop.
653
00:29:02,240 --> 00:29:03,551
We don't want to ruin...
654
00:29:03,575 --> 00:29:04,761
We don't want to ruin
your kids' lives.
655
00:29:04,785 --> 00:29:05,803
-I don't want to
ruin them, either,
656
00:29:05,827 --> 00:29:07,472
'cause they're just kids.
657
00:29:07,496 --> 00:29:08,765
-I think you need more help
than you going to jail.
658
00:29:08,789 --> 00:29:09,974
The problem is,
I'm very concerned
659
00:29:09,998 --> 00:29:11,434
about those littler kids.
660
00:29:11,458 --> 00:29:13,144
-They call drugs
a "victimless crime."
661
00:29:13,168 --> 00:29:15,688
-Yeah, I got three
little victims in there.
662
00:29:15,712 --> 00:29:17,815
-Many people became cops
because of "Cops."
663
00:29:17,839 --> 00:29:21,069
You know,
this idea of seeing people
664
00:29:21,093 --> 00:29:23,154
make a difference...
On screen, at least...
665
00:29:23,178 --> 00:29:24,405
And you're seeing a difference.
666
00:29:24,429 --> 00:29:26,074
You want to be a part of it.
667
00:29:26,098 --> 00:29:29,035
-But being a part of the team
actually making the show,
668
00:29:29,059 --> 00:29:31,371
that was a mixed bag.
669
00:29:31,395 --> 00:29:34,123
-It was... It was
a dangerous gig, for sure.
670
00:29:34,147 --> 00:29:37,126
No doubt about it.
671
00:29:37,150 --> 00:29:41,881
-And for Mark, that danger comes
from a place he least expects.
672
00:29:41,905 --> 00:29:44,509
-I was accidentally shot
by a policeman
673
00:29:44,533 --> 00:29:46,660
I was working with
in Chesapeake, Virginia.
674
00:29:52,833 --> 00:29:53,935
- Turn around.
- Hey! Hey, stop!
675
00:29:53,959 --> 00:29:55,436
Hey, stop! Stop!
- In the '90s,
676
00:29:55,460 --> 00:29:58,380
being a cop on "Cops"
can be risky business.
677
00:30:02,926 --> 00:30:05,863
But it can be just as dangerous
behind the camera.
678
00:30:05,887 --> 00:30:08,324
-We had close calls
all the time.
679
00:30:08,348 --> 00:30:11,119
Guns that were discovered
after the fact.
680
00:30:11,143 --> 00:30:13,955
- Gun case in here?
- Yeah. Underneath the bed.
681
00:30:13,979 --> 00:30:15,957
{\an8}-Man, I can't tell you
how many crazy car chases
682
00:30:15,981 --> 00:30:17,709
{\an8}I've been in.
683
00:30:17,733 --> 00:30:19,669
{\an8}All of us who worked on the show
frequently asked ourselves,
684
00:30:19,693 --> 00:30:20,962
"Which one of us
is gonna be the first
685
00:30:20,986 --> 00:30:22,404
to be hurt
in a car crash?"
686
00:30:22,779 --> 00:30:24,090
-Oh [bleep]
687
00:30:24,114 --> 00:30:25,991
[ Crashing ]
688
00:30:27,075 --> 00:30:30,722
[ Indistinct talking ]
689
00:30:30,746 --> 00:30:33,391
{\an8}-The interesting thing
about Mark is that
690
00:30:33,415 --> 00:30:37,770
{\an8}he's the first crew member
that had gotten shot.
691
00:30:37,794 --> 00:30:40,273
-We got a radio call
about gunfire
692
00:30:40,297 --> 00:30:43,568
in the neighborhood,
in Chesapeake, Virginia.
693
00:30:43,592 --> 00:30:45,236
Coming into the neighborhood,
and the headlights
694
00:30:45,260 --> 00:30:47,405
swing across this group
of young men.
695
00:30:47,429 --> 00:30:49,115
And they're just walking down
the sidewalk.
696
00:30:49,139 --> 00:30:51,743
And they're kind of looking
over their shoulder at us.
697
00:30:51,767 --> 00:30:54,495
An officer approaches
the guy who called.
698
00:30:54,519 --> 00:30:55,955
"Hey, what's going on tonight?"
699
00:30:55,979 --> 00:30:57,665
"Well, I was out here,
and I heard gunfire,
700
00:30:57,689 --> 00:30:59,375
and I saw those guys.
They had a gun.
701
00:30:59,399 --> 00:31:01,919
And they put it right there
in the trunk of that car."
702
00:31:01,943 --> 00:31:04,047
And an officer I'm with
opens up the trunk.
703
00:31:04,071 --> 00:31:06,132
And sure enough,
there's a shotgun
704
00:31:06,156 --> 00:31:07,925
laying right there
in the trunk of the car.
705
00:31:07,949 --> 00:31:09,844
And I'm standing
right in front of it.
706
00:31:09,868 --> 00:31:11,387
And at some point,
he starts to lift
707
00:31:11,411 --> 00:31:12,764
the gun up,
like he's gonna look at it.
708
00:31:12,788 --> 00:31:14,140
And I'm watching him
in the viewfinder.
709
00:31:14,164 --> 00:31:16,059
And the words were forming
on my lips,
710
00:31:16,083 --> 00:31:17,435
"Hey, don't you want to
check that firearm,
711
00:31:17,459 --> 00:31:18,686
make sure it's safe?"
712
00:31:18,710 --> 00:31:20,271
And just through
simple geometry,
713
00:31:20,295 --> 00:31:22,023
lifts the gun up,
and his finger rolls back
714
00:31:22,047 --> 00:31:23,649
on the trigger guard,
presses the trigger,
715
00:31:23,673 --> 00:31:26,194
and the gun goes off.
716
00:31:26,218 --> 00:31:29,363
Fortunately for me,
it is not a direct hit.
717
00:31:29,387 --> 00:31:32,241
But I get the shockwave
and the fire,
718
00:31:32,265 --> 00:31:35,703
and man, it literally
took me off my feet.
719
00:31:35,727 --> 00:31:38,748
And the sound man
completely loses his mind.
720
00:31:38,772 --> 00:31:40,249
He thinks I'm dead.
721
00:31:40,273 --> 00:31:42,710
He's walking around in a circle
over here,
722
00:31:42,734 --> 00:31:45,570
just screaming at the top of
his lungs at the policeman.
723
00:31:47,781 --> 00:31:50,343
And when this happens,
I did not hit the button
724
00:31:50,367 --> 00:31:52,595
to stop it, and the camera
rolled until it ran out of tape.
725
00:31:52,619 --> 00:31:56,265
So, it's laying on its side,
documenting the whole scene.
726
00:31:56,289 --> 00:31:58,226
Marie Jordan was the producer
at the time.
727
00:31:58,250 --> 00:31:59,894
Comes to me in the hospital.
728
00:31:59,918 --> 00:32:01,729
And he's like, "Mark,
that was the greatest thing
729
00:32:01,753 --> 00:32:03,147
I've ever seen.
You know, you're there,
730
00:32:03,171 --> 00:32:04,732
and you got the thing,
the gun goes off.
731
00:32:04,756 --> 00:32:06,984
Pan back.
You got the whole thing.
732
00:32:07,008 --> 00:32:08,152
It's unbelievable.
733
00:32:08,176 --> 00:32:09,570
I'll make sure you get a dub
734
00:32:09,594 --> 00:32:11,030
so you can show
your grandkids someday.
735
00:32:11,054 --> 00:32:12,281
You're gonna love it.
It's unbelievable."
736
00:32:12,305 --> 00:32:13,699
To this day, I've never seen it,
737
00:32:13,723 --> 00:32:16,202
I never got a dub.
738
00:32:16,226 --> 00:32:18,121
-Mark's never-shared,
never-aired
739
00:32:18,145 --> 00:32:19,705
friendly fire shooting
740
00:32:19,729 --> 00:32:22,542
is an example of how "Cops"
only presents police
741
00:32:22,566 --> 00:32:25,586
in a positive light.
742
00:32:25,610 --> 00:32:28,548
And in the '90s,
police are increasingly seen
743
00:32:28,572 --> 00:32:32,260
as the solution
to every problem.
744
00:32:32,284 --> 00:32:35,513
-We incarcerate more people
in this country
745
00:32:35,537 --> 00:32:38,266
than anywhere else in the world.
746
00:32:38,290 --> 00:32:42,103
{\an8}"Cops" in the '90s was happening
at the same exact time
747
00:32:42,127 --> 00:32:45,857
{\an8}where so many of these laws were
being passed around the country
748
00:32:45,881 --> 00:32:49,402
that put us in this
mass incarceration crisis.
749
00:32:49,426 --> 00:32:52,280
-If people cannot stop
doing things
750
00:32:52,304 --> 00:32:53,781
that threaten
other people's lives,
751
00:32:53,805 --> 00:32:56,701
they simply shouldn't be
eligible for parole.
752
00:32:56,725 --> 00:33:00,580
-Like the crime bill in '94
that President Clinton pushed.
753
00:33:00,604 --> 00:33:02,123
-And that is the genesis of
754
00:33:02,147 --> 00:33:03,749
the three strikes,
and you're out.
755
00:33:03,773 --> 00:33:06,335
-More officers on the street
is one anti-crime measure
756
00:33:06,359 --> 00:33:08,212
that experts agree works.
757
00:33:08,236 --> 00:33:10,339
Several of the president's
other initiatives
758
00:33:10,363 --> 00:33:11,924
are far more controversial...
759
00:33:11,948 --> 00:33:13,551
Among them, the so-called
760
00:33:13,575 --> 00:33:15,303
"three strikes" and you're out"
amendment
761
00:33:15,327 --> 00:33:17,054
mandating life without parole
762
00:33:17,078 --> 00:33:19,515
for those who commit
a third violent felony.
763
00:33:19,539 --> 00:33:23,519
-The TV show "Cops," right
alongside the press releases
764
00:33:23,543 --> 00:33:27,732
from police departments
and the policies being passed
765
00:33:27,756 --> 00:33:30,693
by both Democrats
and Republicans,
766
00:33:30,717 --> 00:33:33,321
really led to us being a country
767
00:33:33,345 --> 00:33:37,992
that treats every single sort of
challenge we have in our society
768
00:33:38,016 --> 00:33:41,621
as something
to incarcerate someone for,
769
00:33:41,645 --> 00:33:44,332
especially if that person
is Black or brown.
770
00:33:44,356 --> 00:33:51,255
-[ Speaking indistinctly ]
771
00:33:51,279 --> 00:33:53,716
-These shows, like "Cops,"
what they do is
772
00:33:53,740 --> 00:33:57,511
they give us a hero
law enforcement figure.
773
00:33:57,535 --> 00:34:01,474
They give us a criminal person
that has no backstory...
774
00:34:01,498 --> 00:34:06,979
Oftentimes someone who's Black
or brown, or poor and white.
775
00:34:07,003 --> 00:34:09,523
-But when it comes to the white
suspects that are apprehended...
776
00:34:09,547 --> 00:34:11,317
[ Indistinct talking ]
777
00:34:11,341 --> 00:34:12,985
{\an8}...it seemed like
they talk to them more,
778
00:34:13,009 --> 00:34:14,737
{\an8}it's more conversational.
It's like a laughing matter.
779
00:34:14,761 --> 00:34:16,072
{\an8}-How come you did that?
780
00:34:16,096 --> 00:34:17,782
-'Cause I'm stupid!
781
00:34:17,806 --> 00:34:19,575
-But when it comes to
a drug perpetrator,
782
00:34:19,599 --> 00:34:22,411
a drug pusher, who was usually
Black or brown, on the show,
783
00:34:22,435 --> 00:34:24,080
they're seen more
like as savages.
784
00:34:24,104 --> 00:34:26,082
You know, they're tackled,
wrangled to the ground,
785
00:34:26,106 --> 00:34:29,001
houses broken into.
786
00:34:29,025 --> 00:34:32,380
-Put your hands up.
Put your hands up!
787
00:34:32,404 --> 00:34:34,590
-Scientific studies
of the show "Cops"
788
00:34:34,614 --> 00:34:38,094
would later prove
this inherent racism.
789
00:34:38,118 --> 00:34:40,429
-Those who were actually
perpetrating the crimes,
790
00:34:40,453 --> 00:34:41,847
that's race-based, as well.
791
00:34:41,871 --> 00:34:45,142
Crack was seen as a destructive,
cheap drug
792
00:34:45,166 --> 00:34:47,228
for poor communities of color.
793
00:34:47,252 --> 00:34:49,897
And we see that in this show.
794
00:34:49,921 --> 00:34:51,732
{\an8}-Let me tell you,
there's plenty of white people
795
00:34:51,756 --> 00:34:54,235
{\an8}selling drugs in their,
you know, posh neighborhoods,
796
00:34:54,259 --> 00:34:55,945
{\an8}behind the gated communities.
797
00:34:55,969 --> 00:34:58,489
But they're not doing that
overtly in the street,
798
00:34:58,513 --> 00:35:01,826
like a prostitute or a crack
dealer on the street corner.
799
00:35:01,850 --> 00:35:04,662
-We don't see the Wall Street
individuals getting handcuffed
800
00:35:04,686 --> 00:35:08,040
for their cocaine habits.
801
00:35:08,064 --> 00:35:11,002
And what this does is
continuously put in our minds
802
00:35:11,026 --> 00:35:13,587
this idea that these Black
and brown individuals
803
00:35:13,611 --> 00:35:16,132
are the ones who are committing
these crimes, solely.
804
00:35:16,156 --> 00:35:20,094
And that simply doesn't work
with the math of individuals
805
00:35:20,118 --> 00:35:21,679
who are actually committing
these crimes
806
00:35:21,703 --> 00:35:25,182
on a larger scale,
outside of the media.
807
00:35:25,206 --> 00:35:27,393
-You know,
TV has a tremendous impact
808
00:35:27,417 --> 00:35:30,855
on what we do and what we think.
809
00:35:30,879 --> 00:35:33,899
The information that comes into
our homes through TV
810
00:35:33,923 --> 00:35:36,736
educates us about
so many different things
811
00:35:36,760 --> 00:35:40,615
that we may not be able to touch
or understand.
812
00:35:40,639 --> 00:35:43,951
And then, on Saturday nights,
people are turning on this show
813
00:35:43,975 --> 00:35:45,911
that is telling them
these horrible things
814
00:35:45,935 --> 00:35:47,538
are happening
in these communities
815
00:35:47,562 --> 00:35:49,373
where they don't live.
816
00:35:49,397 --> 00:35:52,960
And the thing that is keeping
these people
817
00:35:52,984 --> 00:35:54,629
from coming
into their communities
818
00:35:54,653 --> 00:35:57,298
and harming them
are these police officers.
819
00:35:57,322 --> 00:36:00,176
{\an8}-Remember what this is.
This is entertainment.
820
00:36:00,200 --> 00:36:03,471
{\an8}This is a... This is
a commercial enterprise that,
821
00:36:03,495 --> 00:36:06,265
we're both getting something
out of this, right?
822
00:36:06,289 --> 00:36:10,227
Barbour/Langley is getting paid
handsomely to produce this show.
823
00:36:10,251 --> 00:36:12,146
-On the ground.
On the ground.
824
00:36:12,170 --> 00:36:15,107
-The police are not
getting paid anything.
825
00:36:15,131 --> 00:36:17,443
[ Police radio chatter ]
826
00:36:17,467 --> 00:36:18,986
-Sheriff's department.
827
00:36:19,010 --> 00:36:21,155
-But what it does,
it gives us the opportunity
828
00:36:21,179 --> 00:36:25,618
to show the public who we are,
who we really are.
829
00:36:25,642 --> 00:36:27,119
-What are you doing?
830
00:36:27,143 --> 00:36:29,121
-Chasing bad guys, ma'am.
831
00:36:29,145 --> 00:36:30,414
-In a sense.
832
00:36:30,438 --> 00:36:31,665
-Stay out of my yard.
833
00:36:31,689 --> 00:36:33,167
-Oh, I'm sorry, ma'am.
834
00:36:33,191 --> 00:36:34,794
Sometimes you got to do
what you got to do.
835
00:36:34,818 --> 00:36:37,963
-You can't package something
that says it's reality
836
00:36:37,987 --> 00:36:40,466
about policing,
then let police officers
837
00:36:40,490 --> 00:36:42,510
and police departments,
at the end,
838
00:36:42,534 --> 00:36:45,203
decide what you actually
get to see.
839
00:36:46,329 --> 00:36:48,599
[ sirens wailing ]
840
00:36:48,623 --> 00:36:49,975
-We're talking about the reality
841
00:36:49,999 --> 00:36:51,977
of this gritty,
raw police department.
842
00:36:52,001 --> 00:36:54,397
What actually is real is
whatever the police department
843
00:36:54,421 --> 00:36:55,713
wants you to see as real.
844
00:36:58,174 --> 00:37:01,487
-By the end of the decade,
the filtered reality of "Cops"
845
00:37:01,511 --> 00:37:03,364
becomes even more detached
846
00:37:03,388 --> 00:37:05,658
from what's really happening
in the country.
847
00:37:05,682 --> 00:37:08,285
-You know, starting in the '90s,
848
00:37:08,309 --> 00:37:10,311
violent crime starts to go down.
849
00:37:12,564 --> 00:37:15,167
-It was called
"Operation Hammer."
850
00:37:15,191 --> 00:37:17,336
-The violence of
the War on Drugs era
851
00:37:17,360 --> 00:37:19,839
reaches its peak in 1991.
852
00:37:19,863 --> 00:37:23,092
And by '99, rates of violent
crime across the country
853
00:37:23,116 --> 00:37:26,095
drop almost 50%,
and keep dropping.
854
00:37:26,119 --> 00:37:27,638
- the streets of LA.
855
00:37:27,662 --> 00:37:30,891
-But every year that
Pew Research tracks it,
856
00:37:30,915 --> 00:37:33,227
they show that Americans
believe violent crime
857
00:37:33,251 --> 00:37:34,770
is just steadily going up.
858
00:37:34,794 --> 00:37:37,273
And so, there's a gap
that ends up happening
859
00:37:37,297 --> 00:37:40,151
between perception and reality.
860
00:37:40,175 --> 00:37:41,986
-And the climate
of outsized fear
861
00:37:42,010 --> 00:37:43,571
that "Cops" has helped create
862
00:37:43,595 --> 00:37:45,930
is about to get much,
much worse.
863
00:37:59,569 --> 00:38:05,384
-Three, two, one!
Happy 2000!
864
00:38:05,408 --> 00:38:09,013
-By the end of the '90s,
"Cops" is showing its age.
865
00:38:09,037 --> 00:38:12,183
Ratings are a quarter
of what they once were.
866
00:38:12,207 --> 00:38:14,018
But the way we look at
law enforcement
867
00:38:14,042 --> 00:38:16,020
is about to change dramatically.
868
00:38:16,044 --> 00:38:19,190
[ Siren wailing ]
869
00:38:19,214 --> 00:38:24,320
[ Indistinct shouting ]
870
00:38:24,344 --> 00:38:29,098
After 9/11, the War on Drugs
gives way to the War on Terror.
871
00:38:32,143 --> 00:38:36,957
-This crusade,
this war on terrorism,
872
00:38:36,981 --> 00:38:38,959
is going to take a while.
873
00:38:38,983 --> 00:38:42,296
And the American people
must be patient.
874
00:38:42,320 --> 00:38:45,007
-Police forces become
increasingly militarized
875
00:38:45,031 --> 00:38:47,116
in the name of
keeping America safe.
876
00:38:49,744 --> 00:38:51,430
{\an8}And, more than ever,
877
00:38:51,454 --> 00:38:55,100
cops are universally being
held up as national heroes.
878
00:38:55,124 --> 00:38:58,687
-That is not only inaccurate,
but is deeply dangerous,
879
00:38:58,711 --> 00:39:00,981
because what it does is
it prevents us
880
00:39:01,005 --> 00:39:02,942
from actually doing
the real work
881
00:39:02,966 --> 00:39:06,028
to solve both the challenges
that we have in policing
882
00:39:06,052 --> 00:39:07,571
and the challenges that we have
883
00:39:07,595 --> 00:39:09,931
with safety and justice
in our communities.
884
00:39:12,267 --> 00:39:14,286
-For a growing number
of Americans,
885
00:39:14,310 --> 00:39:16,789
it seems obvious
that keeping America safe
886
00:39:16,813 --> 00:39:19,065
really means
keeping white people safe.
887
00:39:21,484 --> 00:39:24,213
The killing of Trayvon Martin
and the acquittal of the man
888
00:39:24,237 --> 00:39:27,049
who pulled the trigger
just confirms these beliefs.
889
00:39:27,073 --> 00:39:30,135
{\an8}-...story causing heartache
and anguish in southern Florida.
890
00:39:30,159 --> 00:39:31,845
{\an8}Now, the Feds are saying
that they're in contact
891
00:39:31,869 --> 00:39:33,305
{\an8}with local police,
892
00:39:33,329 --> 00:39:35,266
{\an8}investigating the killing
of a teenager
893
00:39:35,290 --> 00:39:37,476
{\an8}by a neighborhood watch
volunteer.
894
00:39:37,500 --> 00:39:40,563
That's an incident raising alarm
among civil rights leaders.
895
00:39:40,587 --> 00:39:42,106
- was not committing any crime.
896
00:39:42,130 --> 00:39:44,858
- No.
- Our son is your son.
897
00:39:44,882 --> 00:39:46,443
[ Cheering ]
898
00:39:46,467 --> 00:39:49,405
-To think of this system
as inherently good is wrong,
899
00:39:49,429 --> 00:39:51,824
because this system,
in and of itself,
900
00:39:51,848 --> 00:39:56,203
was created without Black people
in mind.
901
00:39:56,227 --> 00:39:59,063
It was created to help increase
white power.
902
00:40:00,982 --> 00:40:02,835
-Activists reach out
to the company
903
00:40:02,859 --> 00:40:06,046
that helped define America's
understanding of policing,
904
00:40:06,070 --> 00:40:08,340
to see if they might want
to cancel the show
905
00:40:08,364 --> 00:40:10,301
in light of this new reality.
906
00:40:10,325 --> 00:40:12,553
-During this moment where
people are in the streets,
907
00:40:12,577 --> 00:40:15,389
where people are protesting,
we reached out to Fox.
908
00:40:15,413 --> 00:40:20,519
And the folks at Fox
were not interested.
909
00:40:20,543 --> 00:40:21,770
[ Crowd chanting
"No justice, no peace!" ]
910
00:40:21,794 --> 00:40:25,441
-But with more pressure,
Fox reconsiders.
911
00:40:25,465 --> 00:40:28,235
-The day before,
I was actually heading off
912
00:40:28,259 --> 00:40:30,738
for the protest in front of
their studios,
913
00:40:30,762 --> 00:40:34,325
Fox reached out and said they
wouldn't be renewing the show.
914
00:40:34,349 --> 00:40:38,120
-Fox cancels its
longest-running series in 2013,
915
00:40:38,144 --> 00:40:41,206
after 25 seasons on air.
916
00:40:41,230 --> 00:40:44,043
But "Cops" gets a second life
on another network.
917
00:40:44,067 --> 00:40:46,920
-That's when "Cops"
moved to Spike TV.
918
00:40:46,944 --> 00:40:50,215
{\an8}-New episodes of "Cops,"
Saturdays at 8:00, on Spike.
919
00:40:50,239 --> 00:40:51,634
- "Cops" did what
it did with Fox.
920
00:40:51,658 --> 00:40:53,886
It brought new eyes
to the network,
921
00:40:53,910 --> 00:40:56,055
and it increased its viewership.
922
00:40:56,079 --> 00:40:59,933
{\an8}-The show's successful run on
cable proves there's an audience
923
00:40:59,957 --> 00:41:02,645
{\an8}that thinks cops still have
stories worth telling.
924
00:41:02,669 --> 00:41:05,397
{\an8}-...are innocent until
proven guilty in a court of law.
925
00:41:05,421 --> 00:41:08,817
{\an8}-A show that reveals
what police do,
926
00:41:08,841 --> 00:41:10,736
there is not only a place,
927
00:41:10,760 --> 00:41:14,198
it's essential
that people see it.
928
00:41:14,222 --> 00:41:16,241
-But today,
the Internet delivers
929
00:41:16,265 --> 00:41:17,910
its own version of this show...
930
00:41:17,934 --> 00:41:20,371
Without police censoring
what they don't like.
931
00:41:20,395 --> 00:41:23,374
[ Gunshots ]
932
00:41:23,398 --> 00:41:26,001
And 25 years after Rodney King,
933
00:41:26,025 --> 00:41:29,171
shocking video evidence
of police killing Black men
934
00:41:29,195 --> 00:41:31,507
is piling up.
935
00:41:31,531 --> 00:41:34,218
-16-19. Both officers okay.
Suspect down.
936
00:41:34,242 --> 00:41:36,845
[Indistinct]. Code 3.
937
00:41:36,869 --> 00:41:41,558
- "Cops" was an expression
that didn't have a retort.
938
00:41:41,582 --> 00:41:45,104
There are so many retorts now,
through the phones
939
00:41:45,128 --> 00:41:46,897
that people carry in their hands
940
00:41:46,921 --> 00:41:50,192
and the videos that get posted
on social media.
941
00:41:50,216 --> 00:41:52,635
[ All shouting ]
942
00:41:55,096 --> 00:42:00,202
The gatekeepers
have been removed.
943
00:42:00,226 --> 00:42:04,230
-Demands for justice and police
accountability get louder...
944
00:42:06,691 --> 00:42:09,044
{\an8}...until the widening gap
between the police you see
945
00:42:09,068 --> 00:42:10,295
{\an8}on "Cops"...
946
00:42:10,319 --> 00:42:12,256
{\an8}- Bye-bye.
- Bye-bye.
947
00:42:12,280 --> 00:42:14,925
{\an8}-...and the police
you see on YouTube...
948
00:42:14,949 --> 00:42:16,093
{\an8}-I can't breathe.
949
00:42:16,117 --> 00:42:17,803
{\an8}-...triggers global outrage.
950
00:42:17,827 --> 00:42:20,413
{\an8}[ Crowd chanting
"Black lives matter!" ]
951
00:42:23,041 --> 00:42:26,794
{\an8}[ Crowd chanting
"No justice, no peace!" ]
952
00:42:27,670 --> 00:42:31,066
{\an8}At the height of the protests,
"Cops" is canceled again.
953
00:42:31,090 --> 00:42:33,110
{\an8}- "Cops," one of the
longest-running TV shows,
954
00:42:33,134 --> 00:42:36,488
{\an8}has been canceled in the wake
of George Floyd's death.
955
00:42:36,512 --> 00:42:39,700
{\an8}-In the social-political
environment of the year 2020,
956
00:42:39,724 --> 00:42:40,951
{\an8}it doesn't surprise me at all.
957
00:42:40,975 --> 00:42:42,286
{\an8}-Give me your ID.
958
00:42:42,310 --> 00:42:44,413
{\an8}I got plenty of chances
to taze you.
959
00:42:44,437 --> 00:42:47,040
{\an8}-Its 33rd was set
to premiere next Monday,
960
00:42:47,064 --> 00:42:51,253
{\an8}but the Paramount Network now
tells ET that's not happening,
961
00:42:51,277 --> 00:42:54,214
{\an8}and, "We don't have any current
or future plans
962
00:42:54,238 --> 00:42:55,656
{\an8}for it to return."
963
00:42:59,368 --> 00:43:01,346
-One year later,
the show's creator,
964
00:43:01,370 --> 00:43:03,724
John Langley,
dies of a heart attack
965
00:43:03,748 --> 00:43:07,352
during a cross-country
off-road race in Mexico.
966
00:43:07,376 --> 00:43:10,773
[ Crowd chanting
"Black lives matter!" ]
967
00:43:10,797 --> 00:43:14,735
But despite Langley's death,
"Cops," much like the debate
968
00:43:14,759 --> 00:43:18,906
{\an8}over policing in America,
lives on.
969
00:43:18,930 --> 00:43:22,493
{\an8}- "Cops" is a cultural mainstay,
whether you like it or not,
970
00:43:22,517 --> 00:43:25,662
unfortunately, as many people
still believe in this ideal
971
00:43:25,686 --> 00:43:27,331
of how the police look.
972
00:43:27,355 --> 00:43:30,209
And I think that "Cops"
will find a home somewhere.
973
00:43:30,233 --> 00:43:32,169
-As of October, 2021,
974
00:43:32,193 --> 00:43:35,506
new episodes of "Cops,"
produced by Langley's son,
975
00:43:35,530 --> 00:43:37,883
are once again airing
in the U.S.,
976
00:43:37,907 --> 00:43:41,470
{\an8}on a streaming service
owned by Fox News.
977
00:43:41,494 --> 00:43:44,014
{\an8}-There are real stories
to actually tell
978
00:43:44,038 --> 00:43:47,434
{\an8}when it comes to policing
in this country.
979
00:43:47,458 --> 00:43:49,728
{\an8}And it is the responsibility
of all of us
980
00:43:49,752 --> 00:43:53,857
{\an8}to hold the media accountable
when they create these deep,
981
00:43:53,881 --> 00:43:57,861
{\an8}deep divides between perception
and reality.
982
00:43:57,885 --> 00:44:05,885
{\an8}♪♪
983
00:44:36,007 --> 00:44:37,818
-Most of our shifts were like
10 hours... at least 10 hours.
984
00:44:37,842 --> 00:44:41,822
So, that's a long time in a car.
985
00:44:41,846 --> 00:44:44,867
-They were with us for,
I'd say, two weeks.
986
00:44:44,891 --> 00:44:46,577
And they rode with us nightly.
987
00:44:46,601 --> 00:44:47,911
And we had a lot of fun.
988
00:44:47,935 --> 00:44:50,205
We got to know them.
989
00:44:50,229 --> 00:44:53,792
-And the officers
were always concerned
990
00:44:53,816 --> 00:44:55,794
that we would be bored.
991
00:44:55,818 --> 00:44:59,756
I say I've never been bored
while on a shoot with cops,
992
00:44:59,780 --> 00:45:02,801
because I enjoy it so much.
993
00:45:02,825 --> 00:45:04,177
-I loved working on the show.
994
00:45:04,201 --> 00:45:06,138
I love the guys.
I got to know them.
995
00:45:06,162 --> 00:45:07,848
We're friends.
996
00:45:07,872 --> 00:45:11,685
Made friends with some
wonderful, wonderful policemen.
997
00:45:11,709 --> 00:45:14,855
I literally feel like
I got years
998
00:45:14,879 --> 00:45:16,607
of law enforcement training
999
00:45:16,631 --> 00:45:20,235
at the knee of some of
the best policemen in America.
1000
00:45:20,259 --> 00:45:22,237
-Come on out.
1001
00:45:22,261 --> 00:45:23,947
-In the car with them,
1002
00:45:23,971 --> 00:45:25,657
watching them work,
seeing how they talk to people,
1003
00:45:25,681 --> 00:45:28,160
seeing how they interact,
seeing how they de-escalate,
1004
00:45:28,184 --> 00:45:29,828
seeing how they handle
different problems,
1005
00:45:29,852 --> 00:45:31,413
it was fantastic.
1006
00:45:31,437 --> 00:45:33,373
It was so much fun.
I loved every minute of it.
1007
00:45:33,397 --> 00:45:34,708
-Police officer.
1008
00:45:34,732 --> 00:45:36,251
Don't move!
1009
00:45:36,275 --> 00:45:39,087
-They saved my bacon
on more than one occasion.
1010
00:45:39,111 --> 00:45:40,839
-Yeah, there were...
1011
00:45:40,863 --> 00:45:43,717
There were a few times when
we all kind of crossed the line.
1012
00:45:43,741 --> 00:45:46,553
I mean, we're there
with a camera,
1013
00:45:46,577 --> 00:45:48,931
and we're there
as documentarians,
1014
00:45:48,955 --> 00:45:51,350
to document what's happening.
1015
00:45:51,374 --> 00:45:55,562
But the same time, we are also
not going to watch the officer
1016
00:45:55,586 --> 00:45:58,023
with whom we're working
get his ass kicked
1017
00:45:58,047 --> 00:46:02,402
if simple intervention is gonna
keep that from happening.
1018
00:46:02,426 --> 00:46:04,321
-They were told,
"You're not involved.
1019
00:46:04,345 --> 00:46:06,490
You're not a cop.
Don't get involved."
1020
00:46:06,514 --> 00:46:08,533
But there was times
when I was in a fight,
1021
00:46:08,557 --> 00:46:11,620
and I needed some help,
and they helped.
1022
00:46:11,644 --> 00:46:14,373
-It could be something
as benign or simple as
1023
00:46:14,397 --> 00:46:18,710
handing a policeman a flashlight
or some extra handcuffs.
1024
00:46:18,734 --> 00:46:21,088
But there were a few times when,
you know,
1025
00:46:21,112 --> 00:46:23,215
crew intervention was...
1026
00:46:23,239 --> 00:46:25,050
was needed, and appreciated.
1027
00:46:25,074 --> 00:46:28,327
-Some of these guys got into
more action than most cops did.
1028
00:46:57,690 --> 00:46:59,793
-But it's really disappointing
that the police departments
1029
00:46:59,817 --> 00:47:01,670
haven't seen reform
and accountability
1030
00:47:01,694 --> 00:47:05,382
as in their own self-interest,
in their own self-preservation,
1031
00:47:05,406 --> 00:47:07,592
that they haven't seen the need
1032
00:47:07,616 --> 00:47:11,263
to actually rid themselves
of the problems
1033
00:47:11,287 --> 00:47:16,810
inside their departments, which
is why this is such a challenge.
1034
00:47:16,834 --> 00:47:19,646
-I know that
police corruption exists.
1035
00:47:19,670 --> 00:47:22,983
I know that police
misconduct exists.
1036
00:47:23,007 --> 00:47:25,360
I know that it has
to be dealt with.
1037
00:47:25,384 --> 00:47:28,780
It has to be dealt with firmly.
1038
00:47:28,804 --> 00:47:33,702
But I also know that there has
been a portrayal of misconduct
1039
00:47:33,726 --> 00:47:36,228
on a scale that doesn't exist.
1040
00:47:40,483 --> 00:47:42,502
-If folks think
that police officers
1041
00:47:42,526 --> 00:47:44,713
are somehow under attack
1042
00:47:44,737 --> 00:47:48,967
because there is a movement
for accountability,
1043
00:47:48,991 --> 00:47:52,554
then they actually don't care
about good police officers.
1044
00:47:52,578 --> 00:47:55,265
Because, at the end of the day,
what we have here
1045
00:47:55,289 --> 00:47:58,894
is a systemic
and structural challenge
1046
00:47:58,918 --> 00:48:02,147
that makes it hard for anyone
who does want to go into
1047
00:48:02,171 --> 00:48:08,111
policing for reasons that are
connected to safety and justice.
1048
00:48:08,135 --> 00:48:11,907
-The media
and so many of the politicians
1049
00:48:11,931 --> 00:48:13,742
have torn apart our profession.
1050
00:48:13,766 --> 00:48:19,122
So, you now have
a crisis taking place
1051
00:48:19,146 --> 00:48:22,542
across this country
in hiring and retaining
1052
00:48:22,566 --> 00:48:24,878
police officers of good quality.
1053
00:48:24,902 --> 00:48:28,215
And this is something
that we have to combat,
1054
00:48:28,239 --> 00:48:30,801
because we want the right people
to have the job.
1055
00:48:30,825 --> 00:48:32,886
We want people
that have the skills,
1056
00:48:32,910 --> 00:48:34,262
that can de-escalate.
1057
00:48:34,286 --> 00:48:36,640
We want people that have empathy
1058
00:48:36,664 --> 00:48:38,874
and have compassion for people.
1059
00:48:41,127 --> 00:48:42,979
-But there's
a systemic challenge.
1060
00:48:43,003 --> 00:48:45,649
It's not a challenge
of the bad apples.
1061
00:48:45,673 --> 00:48:48,026
It is a challenge of
a rotten barrel...
1062
00:48:48,050 --> 00:48:50,445
A rotten barrel
and a rotten structure.
1063
00:48:50,469 --> 00:48:53,764
[ Crowd chanting ]
84829
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