Documentary filmmaker Scott Christopherson and his directorial partner Brad Barber have been invited to premier their film at the SXSW Film Festival. The riveting film, Peace Officer, was inspired by the case of a former County Sheriff whose son-in-law was killed by the SWAT team he formed decades earlier.[Note, Christopherson is my wife's niece's husband.]

Christopherson shared an early version of the completed film with me to review. It is an extraordinary documentary, as compelling as any feature film I’ve seen, outshining masters of the genre like Morgan Spurlock and Michael Moore. The film is aided by a dynamic true-life character, former Sheriff William Lawrence.

Commenting on the film’s controversial topic, Christopherson said, “The militarization of police is very complex and challenging. The culture of many police forces in the U.S. plays a role in how police act. There is a difference and a connection between the militarization of police and the culture of police. In many ways, those two ideas are connected. The increase in the number of SWAT raids in America since the 1970s is astonishing.”