Watch Navajo Cops
- 2011
- 1 Season
-
8.8 (54)
Navajo Cops is a gripping reality TV show that aired on National Geographic for one season in 2011. It follows the daily lives of law enforcement officials who have taken up the responsibility of protecting the Navajo Nation - the largest Native American territory in the United States.
The show captures the way of life of the people living in the Navajo Nation, their customs, traditions, and everyday struggles. With unprecedented access, Navajo Cops offers an unvarnished and honest look at the unsung heroes who work tirelessly to keep the community safe.
The Navajo Nation has its own police force, which is responsible for enforcing tribal laws, protecting residents, and ensuring the safety of tourists. The police officers face a unique set of challenges, given the vast and rugged terrain they must cover, absence of cell phone signal in certain areas, and a people spread over a wide area. Additionally, they must navigate complicated jurisdictional issues between tribal, state, and federal authorities.
The cast of Navajo Cops features several officers from the Navajo Nation Police Department, including patrolman Hubert Bitsie, Sergeant Harlan Cleveland, Lieutenant Robert Joe, and Chief of Police Jim Benally. Each of them has a unique background and brings his own set of skills and personality to the job.
The show provides a behind-the-scenes look at the work of the law enforcement officials. It features memorable cases ranging from missing person reports, DUI cases, domestic disputes, and drug trafficking. In each episode, the team faces new challenges that test their skill and patience. Episodes range from harrowing emergencies to heartfelt moments of humanity and hope.
The police officers themselves are as much a draw as the cases they work. Life on the Nation is different from life elsewhere in the US, and viewers are offered an intimate window into the Navajo culture. The show follows officers who wear traditional Navajo dress, communicate fluently in Navajo, and, in some cases, face complex tribal politics as they do their jobs.
The officers' personal lives are also explored, such as the stress and worry faced by their families, who inevitably worry about their loved ones' safety when they are out on the job. Additionally, each officer brings his own personal experiences to his work, from living through a brutal native boarding school to facing prejudice from non-Native Americans.
The cinematography on Navajo Cops is stunning, with sweeping shots of the breathtaking desert landscape in which the nation is located. The camera crew followed law enforcement officials everywhere, from responding to emergencies to conducting community outreach programs.
Overall, Navajo Cops offers a fascinating look into a world that few people know: modern Native American lives lived on one of the largest reservations in the US. It offers a window into an often underrepresented community, and the people who choose to serve and protect them. It is a heartfelt, honest portrayal of life lived in service to others.
Sadly, there has been no news of a second season of Navajo Cops, which leaves one to wonder what happened to the engaging officers - have they moved on, or are they still holding down the fort? Regardless, the one season stands as a testament to the bravery and hard work of the Navajo Nation police force.