Roundtable: Valorizing the Violence--Talking Cops, Death, and Change

Session Submission Type: Roundtable Session

Abstract

While over the last few years police use of deadly force has become a mainstay in news broadcasting, the fact still remains that police officers, when killed in the line of duty maintain a certain presence within the national attention. Particularly vulgar are those described as killing the police, demonized as "cop-killer." What we see, then, is a hierarchical exposure to, and expression of, death that determines who can be a victim. We look to discuss these recent attentions, hoping to make visible the undercurrents of power that shape how we perceive each of these actions. Furthermore, we look to address not only the populations who experience such violence from the police, but those police officers, who as actors, are plagued by these seemingly growing tensions. Lastly, we look to explore and discuss the possible ways such violence can be reduced, looking particularly through, perhaps, radical means outside of policy discourse concerning policing.”

Sub Unit

• Area XIII: Roundtable Sessions

Chair

• Brian Pitman, Old Dominion University

Discussants

• Stephen Toppings Young, Old Dominion University

• Justin Turner, Morehead State University