Alex S. Vitale is Professor of Sociology at Brooklyn College and author of The End of Policing. In this discussion, Alex describes the current state of policing in the US, and provides a historical and sociological context as to why policing functions as it currently does. Alex describes the policies that have led to the current problems many segments of the American population have with police and the tactics police employ. From the War on Drugs to the War on Terror, Alex describes how the political class operates on a very flawed view of human nature, and how that has inevitably led to policies and the horrendous experiences many have had with police. Putting this all in context allows us to address the underlying issues with policing as a whole, and work to change the way social issues are dealt with within our communities.