Watch Betraying the Badge

Betraying the Badge is a hard-hitting and emotionally charged documentary series that delves deep into cases of police corruption, abuse of power, and misconduct. Produced by Vice TV, the show takes us behind the headlines and exposes the culture of silence and cover-up that pervades many police departments across the United States. Throughout the six episodes of the first season, viewers get to hear from police whistleblowers, victims of police brutality, and experts in law enforcement reform, all of whom shed light on the dark side of policing.

The show is anchored by Delbert Hunt, a former cop turned private investigator who has dedicated his life to exposing bad cops and fighting for justice. His personal story adds a powerful layer of empathy and authenticity to the series, as he recounts his own experiences of witnessing and reporting police misconduct and the toll it took on his career and mental health. As a seasoned investigator, Hunt brings a wealth of knowledge and contacts to the show, helping to uncover new evidence and pursue leads that many others would overlook.

Alongside Hunt, the show features interviews with a range of people whose lives have been impacted by police abuses of power. These include victims of police shootings, family members of those who died in police custody, and citizens who have been wrongly arrested or beaten by cops. Through their firsthand accounts, Betraying the Badge paints a vivid picture of the fear, trauma, and anger that many people feel towards the police, and how the failure of the justice system to hold bad cops accountable only deepens that divide.

The show also explores the systemic issues that enable police corruption and brutality. Interviewees include lawyers, academics, and former police officers themselves, who provide insight into the structural flaws in police departments, such as lack of accountability, inadequate training, and the code of silence among cops. These experts offer solutions for how to address these problems, ranging from community policing programs to statewide reforms of police unions and arbitration systems.

One notable guest on the show is Ice-T, the rapper and actor who also famously starred in the TV series Law & Order: SVU. As a former gang member and now a vocal critic of police brutality, Ice-T brings a unique perspective to the show. In one episode, he visits a prison to meet with a man who was wrongfully convicted of murder, and who claims that the police planted evidence to frame him. Ice-T listens intently to the man's story and expresses his anger and frustration at the injustice he has suffered. His presence on the show helps to bridge the gap between celebrity activism and grassroots movements for police reform.

Overall, Betraying the Badge is a powerful and necessary addition to the growing canon of documentaries about police misconduct. It seeks to humanize both the victims of police brutality and the whistleblowers who risk their careers and lives to speak out against it. It also provides a platform for debates about how to transform law enforcement to better serve the communities they are supposed to protect. While the stories it tells are often heartbreaking and infuriating, the show ultimately ends on a hopeful note, with examples of progress being made in places like New Orleans, where a consent decree has led to significant changes in police behavior. For anyone who cares about justice, accountability, and human rights, Betraying the Badge is a must-watch.

Betraying the Badge is a series that ran for 2 seasons (15 episodes) between July 19, 2021 and on Vice TV