Ep. 21 What it means to be an "Officer Involved." Interview with Filmmaker and former officer Patrick Shaver

On Being a Police Officer

Ep. 21 What is it like to be an officer involved in a deadly force incident? This is the subject of a powerful documentary, “Officer Involved” by filmmaker and former police officer Patrick Shaver. Over several years, Patrick interviewed officers from around the country about their incident and the emotional toll it took on them. He also interviews experts on the subject. We are painfully aware of the tragedy surrounding deadly use of force on those lost and their loved ones. This film and my conversation with Patrick shed light on the part of the story that is rarely discussed: what happens after the trigger is pulled – to the officer. As always, my goal is to tell the stories of law enforcement that don’t get told, to help us all better understand what the job really is, that there are human beings behind that badge, and to show the complexity of what it means to be a police officer.

We also touch on Patrick's second film "Dinkheller" about Deputy Kyle Dinkheller who paid with his life during a traffic stop, the dash cam video of which has been used in academy training for law enforcement officers. Patrick's film gives us a more complete picture of who this young man was.

You can learn more about Patrick's work on his website: http://www.officerinvolvedproject.com. You also can purchase DVD copies of his films, the proceeds of which help fund his work.