USA: Fear the Police

Every year, American police officers kill around 1000 people. 20 times more per head of population than in France and 60 times more than the UK. Today more than ever, the American police force is feared by those it is supposed to protect.

Films of police shootings, whether from people’s phones or bodycams, have caused outrage. A driver was hit in the back by several bullets just for a broken brake light. Another was killed in front of his girlfriend during a routine roadside check. There was even a yoga teacher who was shot by the policeman she had called for help… These are just a few of the tragedies that have shocked America.

Since the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, anti-police sentiment across America has grown. The police position has hardened, as they employ more and more drastic techniques – riot gear, assault rifles, armored vehicles.

This over-militarization is no accident. For years, US police stations have been accumulating military equipment from the « 1033 program », created by the Pentagon to transfer excess military equipment to civil law enforcement agencies.

From California to Florida, passing through Missouri, we have studied this police force which is, more than ever, under fire.