Ep 8. Police on Trial

Police on Trial is the eighth episode of season 41 of the acclaimed documentary series Frontline. The episode delves deep into the issue of police accountability, focusing on four different cases where police officers were put on trial for crimes ranging from manslaughter to murder.

The first case explored in the episode is that of Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager who was shot and killed by police officer Darren Wilson in Ferguson, Missouri in 2014. The incident sparked widespread protests and calls for police reform, and the episode examines the grand jury's decision not to indict Wilson, as well as the Department of Justice's subsequent investigation into the Ferguson Police Department's practices.

The episode also looks at the case of Walter Scott, an unarmed black man who was shot in the back by police officer Michael Slager in North Charleston, South Carolina in 2015. Slager was charged with murder, and the episode follows the trial as well as the impact of Scott's death on his family and the community.

Another case explored in the episode is that of Freddie Gray, a black man who died in police custody in Baltimore, Maryland in 2015. Six police officers were charged in connection with Gray's death, and the episode examines the trials as well as the larger context of police brutality and systemic racism in Baltimore.

Lastly, Police on Trial looks at the case of Laquan McDonald, a black teenager who was shot 16 times by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in 2014. Van Dyke was charged with first-degree murder, and the episode examines the video evidence of the shooting, as well as the larger issues of police culture and accountability in Chicago.

Throughout the episode, Frontline interviews family members of the victims, as well as legal experts, law enforcement officials, and community activists. The episode raises important questions about the role of police in society, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in policing.