In a recent interview, Oscar winner Denzel Washington expressed his support for America’s police and soldiers, calling out those who “put down” America’s law enforcement and military, men and women for whom Washington said he had “the utmost respect.”
Denzel Washington has a long history of portraying police officers in his films. In the cult classic ‘Training Day,’ he played Alonzo Harris, one of his most iconic cop roles.
Denzel Washington took the time in a recent interview with Yahoo! Entertainment to address the public’s criticism of the American police system, he said:
“I have the utmost respect for what they do, for what our soldiers do, [people] that sacrifice their lives. I just don’t care for people who put those kind of people down. If it weren’t for them, we would not have the freedom to complain about what they do.”
In addition, the Oscar winner commented on a one-on-one experience he had with a cop while shadowing him for his role in the 1991 film ‘Ricochet.’
“I went out on call with a sergeant. We got a call of a man outside his house with a rifle that was distraught. We pulled up and did a U-turn past the house and came up short of the house. He told me to sit in the car, which I was gonna do. I wasn’t getting out. He got out. As he got out, another car came screaming up and two young people jumped out screaming. As it turned out, it was their grandfather. This policeman defused the entire situation by just remaining calm.”
“But it showed me in an instant how they can lose their life. … He didn’t overreact. He could’ve pulled his gun out and shot the people that came up driving real fast. He could’ve shot the old man that was distraught and a bit confused, I think he was suffering a little bit from dementia. But in an instant it taught me, and I never forgot it, what our law enforcement people have to deal with moment to moment, second to second,” he continued.
The veteran Hollywood star recently earned praise in his private life after being captured on video in what appeared to be an effort to help a homeless man during an encounter with police in Los Angeles.
TMZ posted a video last May showing Washington appearing to mediate a tense situation between the homeless man, who is black, and two police officers. The video shows Washington placing himself between the man and the police in front of what looks to be Barton G, a restaurant in the West Hollywood area.
One of the L.A. police officers publicly thanked Washington, calling him a good Samaritan, and even gave the homeless man a mask for protection. “So Denzel helped us today,” the officer said.
Washington, who has also portrayed a U.S. soldier several times during his stellar career, will next direct a film about a soldier who “makes the ultimate sacrifice.”
Watch it here: Youtube/The Central Avenue
Sources: Taphaps, Yahoo, Independent
A black man that uses his head, can think for himself, has religious beliefs, and actually cares for others. This is a man you could call a hero now-a-days even though he’d say not to. He speaks his mind and I have much respect for him. He isn’t out there selling the lies of the left, or the corrupt black leaders who make millions off racism. No he’s trying to make a difference in the black and white communities by being one of the few speaking the truth. There is a saying, and I’ll probably get it totally messed up, and for that I apologize, but it goes something like this…when lies become truth, and the truth lies, than the speakers of truth will become hated by the masses. (Again I apologize for destroying the saying but I hope you recognize the meaning)