Prof. Michael Sierra-Arevalo of the University of Texas discusses the “danger imperative” that frames the daily activities of police officers throughout the U.S. Learn about a deeply-embedded fear of violence that shapes numerous decisions police officers make – whether to confront a group of idle teenagers, whether to engage in a high-speed car chase, whether to wear a seat belt. The author of a new book on this subject discusses the culture of policing, why it matters, and how it might be changed.

Interview was conducted on February 6, 2024