Sincethemassacrethattookthelivesof19schoolchildreninUvalde,Texas,peopleacrosstheworldbegantoaskversionsofonequestion:whydidpolicewaitoutsidethedoorinsteadofprotectingthekids?

It'snotthefirsttimethisquestionhascomeup.Twoyearsago,asshewatchedpolicerespondtotheproteststhatfollowedthedeathofGeorgeFloyd,ProducerB.A.Parkerwondered:whatarepolicefor?WiththehelpofourProducerSarahQari,shefoundthattheUnitedStates’SupremeCourthadgiventhisamostconsequentialandbewilderinganswer.

Wedecidedtore-airthisepisodetoshedlightonhowacasefrom2005upendedourassumptionsabouttherolepolicearemeanttoplayinourlives.

SupportRadiolabbybecomingamemberofTheLab (https://members.radiolab.org/)today.    

RadiolabisonYouTube! (https://zpr.io/MTSFMLXQWDkE)Catchupwithnewepisodesandhearclassicsfromourarchive.Plus,findothercoolthingswedidinthepast—likeminiseries,musicvideos,shortfilmsandanimations,behind-the-scenesfeatures,Radiolabliveshows,andmore.Takealook,exploreandsubscribe!