Denzel Washington on what playing a cop onscreen has taught him about law enforcement

Denzel Washington has played many cops onscreen over his career. Some are good, some are bad.

He once again dons the uniform for The Little Things and spoke to Yahoo Entertainment about how his past peformances has affected his perception of law enforcement, especially in light of recent protests.

He recalled a harrowing incident during a ride-along he was doing with a police officer for research on his 1991 film Ricochet. The cop was helping a confused and distraught older man when two young people jumped out of a racing car to confront him. The cop kept his cool and nobody was hurt but Washington recalls how easily it could have gone the other way.

"In an instant it taught me, and I never forgot it, what our law enforcement people have to deal with moment to moment," he said. "And I have the utmost respect for what they do."

"I just don't care for people that put those kinds of people down. If it weren't for them, we would not have the freedom to complain about what they do," he added.

Video Transcript

- How's the trunk space?

KEVIN POLOWY: You've played good cops. You've played bad cops. Your cop here is a good man with a checkered past. It feels like a really interesting time to play law enforcement, given recent events and conversations we're having about policing right now. This film really does cut into sort of the complications of the profession. How much thought do you put into a role like this when it comes to how law enforcement is represented?

DENZEL WASHINGTON: I did a movie called "Ricochet," and 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. And 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 diffused the entire situation by just remaining calm. But it showed me in an instant how he could-- how they can lose their life.

He had no-- now, he could have-- and he didn't overreact. He could have pulled his gun out and shot the people that came driving up real fast. He could have shot the old man that was just 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. And I have the utmost respect for what they do, for what our soldiers do that-- that sacrifice their lives. I'm directing a movie now about a soldier that makes the ultimate sacrifice. And I just don't care for people that put those kinds of people down. If it weren't for them, we would not have the freedom to complain about what they do.