BLEEDING BLUE

BLEEDING BLUE, a documentary by Writer/Director Kenny Latimer, explores potential bias against police in American politics, news media, entertainment, and culture. As retired police chief Mike Dugan says, police officers “intervene in the most complicated, imperfect and sometimes violent situations, and it’s unfair to expect that [they] would have a perfect result every time.” Police officers put their lives on the line every day for the public, so that we can live happy, safe lives. Their sacrifice is rarely celebrated by a culture which often seems very ungrateful.

BLEEDING BLUE is a moving tribute to the sacrifice police officers make on our behalves. It explores potential bias against police in American politics, news media, entertainment, and culture. Latimer uses stories and viewpoints of real police officers to combat the negative portrayal of police in popular culture. Audiences should expect to hear firsthand accounts of the hardest parts of policing, including violent altercations with suspects and a few gruesome crime scenes. Experts in various fields also weigh in on the media bias, the opportunism of politicians with an axe to grind, and the dense and dangerous work of policing.

BLEEDING BLUE is an amazing documentary. At its best, the documentary aims to make the point previously mentioned by Chief Dugan, namely that the world of police officers is unbelievably complex and to ask officers to be perfect is to ask the impossible. Latimer effectively makes this point by letting real officers tell stories of real situations they’ve encountered on the job. The real incidents not only include confrontations with angry people and violent offenders, but also things like dealing with suicide victims. These interviews in BLEEDING BLUE are touching and insightful, and viewers will take away a new insight into the hard, important work of police officers. Audiences will also take away a renewed sense of confidence that most police officers are good people doing their best work. Many of the most emotionally powerful scenes in the documentary involve police officers who have lost their lives or become seriously injured during the course of their work. One example involves a family grieving the loss of their son and brother. BLEEDING BLUE is a small way to honor such tremendous sacrifices.

Other parts of the documentary showcase the extreme anti-police rhetoric coming from radical leftist groups like Black Lives Matter and even politicians like President Barack Obama, who should know better. The most eye-opening sequence in these parts is a discussion of the recent riots in Ferguson, Missouri. In 2014, false reports of a deadly police-involved shooting of a petty thief who apparently assaulted a police officer and tried to grab his gun were repeatedly made by the national “news” media and by the Obama administration, leading to several nights of rioting. As a result of the leftist lies concerning Ferguson, police officers in other cities started pulling back from working so overtly in high crime areas, leading to increases in murders, assaults and even deadly attacks on police officers.

BLEEDING BLUE is decidedly Christian and often deeply and profoundly moving. Several Bible verses are cited and there are several first-hand descriptions of an officer’s faith. The movie is also quite patriotic, expressing a deep love for American freedoms and culture. However, some of the subject matter isn’t suitable for younger children. For example, the movie contains vivid descriptions from officers of violent encounters and a few gruesome crime scenes. Also, there are several scenes where some “f” words are partially bleeped out by the filmmakers.

Thus, BLEEDING BLUE warrants caution for older children and other sensitive viewers.