TV has taught me to be very accepting of police brutality. In a fictional world, there’s a clear delineation between right and wrong. The storylines create admiration for cops who are rule-breakers, and show their violence as a form of justice.
But instead, I’ll pick a positive example of fictional law enforcement: Hank Schrader of the DEA in Breaking Bad. Hank is introduced as an unfunny, annoying blowhard who casually makes racist jokes. But we’ll start to look at him differently as the series goes on, eventually rooting for him.
Hank commits two violent acts in the series. First, he kills Tuco Salamanca, a violent and insane drug dealer. The scene is set up as a clear case of self-defense. Hank is calm and tries to de-escalate the situation, but when Tuco starts shooting, Hank takes the opportunity to kill him.
Despite the fact that Hank made the right choice, the incident haunts him. As it should. He ended a human life- even though we viewers knew that this human was truly terrible.
Hank’s coworkers applause mean nothing to him. Their insensitive gift of Tuco’s teeth grill isn’t funny. Hank doesn’t want a trophy. He did what he had to do, but he still takes the correct stance: mourning.
The second incident: Hank beats up Jesse Pinkman, a young drug dealer.
Hank’s temper and unaddressed mental health issues get him in to trouble. He is understandably furious when Jesse’s partner pulled a ruse making him fear that his wife was severely injured in a car accident. When Hank realized that he’d been tricked, he drove to Jesse’s house and beat the defenseless young man until he was unconscious.
Hank was immediately remorseful and called 911. (We do not see if Hank tries to render aid himself.)
As Hank is going though the agency’s internal assessment process, and preparing to deal with Jesse pressing charges against him, he sits on the bed and talks with his wife. She tries to help him make a plan. “Say that he attacked you! You had to defend yourself. Muscle memory kicked in.”
Hank says, “I’m not going to lie.”
His wife pleads with him. Please don’t destroy your career over this. You’re a good man. Jesse is a nobody. Don’t let him destroy you. But Hank is ready for the consequences. He did wrong. He knows it.
When I talk about police brutality and Black Lives Matter with people who disagree with me, I’m trying to picture you as Hank’s wife. I know you have good intentions. I know you are fighting for police officers you love and an institution you respect.
But here’s the thing. If Hank went along with his wife’s pleas, her words would no longer be true. He would not be a good man.
I have very high expectations of police officers, and it confuses me when others have low expectations.
