Despite some improvements in race relations, some law enforcement officers are still facing emotional time serving on the front lines. Facing challenging situations on the job on a daily basis, they have to be forceful in making sure those conflicts don’t reflect their area or police force. That drive to improve the professional – and personal – lives of American law enforcement officers is chronicled in the upcoming documentary, ‘The Thin Black Line.’

Global Digital Releasing is set to distribute the movie digitally on January 9. 2024. In honor of the project’s release, Film Factual is premiering the feature’s trailer.

‘The Thin Black Line’ showcases African American law enforcement officers serving on the front lines. The documentary was created by actor and filmmaker Jim Klock, who still serves as a part-time deputy sheriff with the Stafford County Sheriff’s Office in Stafford, VA.

Stafford County Sheriff David Decatur granted full access to the sheriff’s office and personnel to obtain honest and unbiased insight. He hopes those visions will not only help bridge the gap between minorities and law enforcement officers throughout America, but also within his own department.

The movie focuses on several topics currently dominating our news outlets and social media. It features comprehensive and impassioned interviews from multiple officers. The interviewees share what being an African American and a police officer means to them, especially during this volatile time in America where public tensions over racism have divided the public over the trust in American policing.

While discussing ‘The Thin Black Line,’ Klock said: “When I was a young police officer my life and career was shaped by the love and influence of several African American police officers I worked with. Their unique experiences as a person of color in America, along with the challenges they faced in uniform as a person of color which were drastically different from me as a Caucasian male, opened my eyes in a way that not only encouraged me to be a better police officer and to treat all people with an understanding compassion filled heart but it has truly blessed me to be a better man in every area of my life. So, fast forward many years later and in my new profession as an actor/filmmaker I wanted to do something to say thank you and honor the amazing, courageous, and dedicated black and brown minority law enforcement officers protecting and serving in our communities.

“My goal was to give a few of these officers the opportunities to open the eyes and hearts of people in America of what it looks like when these officers who are minorities first, who deal with racism and injustice themselves choose to put on a uniform and put themselves in harm’s way to make the communities and our world a better place. They are choosing to run towards the fire, they are choosing to be in the fight to hold law enforcement accountable by establishing better policies, standards, and training to build better relationships between minorities and Law Enforcement,” the filmmaker continued.

“Over the last few years, law enforcement agencies across the country have seen a major decrease in applicants and are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit officers into the profession, especially minority officers. The one thing I know for sure is less men and women of color working in law enforcement and in leadership roles specifically is not the answer, and I hope this film helps show people why that is. The world needs to hear the stories of everyday heroes and I wanted to do my part to help tell them,” Klock added.