Training for War: Academy Socialization and Warrior Policing.

This article examines how the warrior-guardian construct shapes police training in four U.S. police academies, revealing that cadets are socialized to view their role as a war against a gendered and racialized enemy, primarily conceptualized as men of color. Drawing on ethnographic fieldwork and interviews, the study finds that instructors emphasize fear of "bad guys," encourage profiling based on behavior intertwined with racialized and gendered stereotypes, and promote adopting a warrior mentality as essential for survival and effectiveness. The warrior-guardian framework is deeply gendered, placing women officers in a bind where they must prove themselves as warriors while navigating protective and disciplinary dynamics rooted in masculinity. The research highlights the significance of academy training in perpetuating racialized and violent policing cultures and suggests that reform efforts should address these foundational socialization processes rather than focusing solely on demographic diversity or community trust-building.