In this opinion essay for The New York Times, Elliot Ackerman examines police reform through the lens of military leadership, moral courage, and institutional accountability.
Writing after the killing of George Floyd, Ackerman compares the crisis facing American policing to the military’s post-Vietnam reckoning after My Lai, arguing that reform must include officers willing to act from within.
Police Reform and Moral Courage
Ackerman highlights officers who kneel, march, or stand with protesters as examples of moral courage and possible partners in rebuilding public trust.
Lessons From the Military
The essay draws on Vietnam, My Lai, Hugh Thompson Jr., Abu Ghraib, and Ackerman’s own service in Iraq to show how misconduct harms both communities and those who serve honorably.
Leadership, Trust, and Accountability
At its center, the piece argues that police officers themselves must be part of the solution, because in moments of crisis the person most likely to prevent violence may be someone in uniform.