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Live PD
Live P.D. has been canceled at A&E as protests against police brutality continue to sweep the globe, Deadline reports. A&E’s decision to cancel Live P.D., long considered its flagship program, comes two days after the Austin American-Statesman reported that the Live P.D. cameras recorded two sheriff’s deputies tased a 40-year-old man, Javier Ambler, multiple times as he begged for his life. Ambler later died, and A&E has since admitted that Live P.D. deleted footage of his arrest.
“This is a critical time in our nation’s history and we have made the decision to cease production on Live PD,” A&E said in a statement provided to Deadline. “Going forward, we will determine if there is a clear pathway to tell the stories of both the community and the police officers whose role it is to serve them. And with that, we will be meeting with community and civil rights leaders as well as police departments.”
According to Deadline, Live P.D.‘s cancellation was a joint decision between A&E and producer Big Fish Entertainment. The move was likely influenced by Paramount Network’s decision to cancel Cops after 31 years on the air; as of last week, both shows were pulled from their respective network’s schedules, but Paramount Network made the hiatus permanent on Tuesday night, and A&E followed suit the following day.
This week, Live P.D. faced additional scrutiny when the Austin American-Statesman reported that in 2019, the show’s cameras filmed two Williamson County Sheriffs Deputies tase Austin-area resident Javier Ambler four times as he pleaded for his life. Ambler died a few hours later, but A&E said that in the 18 months since his death, Live P.D. has deleted the footage.
“Video of the tragic death of Javier Ambler was captured by body cams worn on the officers involved as well by the producers of Live PD who were riding with certain officers involved,” the network said in a statement to the Statesman. “As is the case with all footage taken by Live PD producers, we no longer retained the unaired footage after learning that the investigation had concluded.” A&E added that the footage never aired on the network.
Shortly after news of the Live P.D. cancellation broke, host Dan Abrams wrote that he is “shocked and beyond disappointed by” A&E’s decision. “Please know I, we, did everything we could to fight for you, and for our continued effort at transparency in policing,” he tweeted. “I was convinced the show would go on.”
In subsequent tweets, Abrams thanked “Live PD Nation” for their enduring support over the past four years. “Thank you for making this so much more than a tv show,” he said. You created a huge community of kind, caring people with whom I hope to stay in touch with in this next chapter.”
UPDATED 6/11/10:48 A.M. ET: This story has been updated to include additional information from the Austin American-Statesman.
