The novel’s “Warrior Cops” section dramatizes the real-world militarization of American police departments, a trend that accelerated after the 9/11 attacks. Federal initiatives have fueled this phenomenon, most notably the Department of Defense’s 1033 Program, which “allows eligible law enforcement agencies to acquire surplus military equipment at no cost, covering items such as tactical gear, vehicles, weapons, and more” (Commonwealth of Massachusetts. “1033 Program.” Mass.Gov). Consequently, civilian police have access to armored vehicles like MRAPs (Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicles), assault rifles, and combat gear. In a 2015 report, it was noted that “[n]early 80% of the SWAT raids the ACLU studied were conducted to serve search warrants, usually in drug cases” (American Civil Liberties Union. “War Comes Home: ACLU.” ACLU.org, 19 Apr. 2015). Grisham depicts this phenomenon in the botched SWAT raid on the Renfro home, where eight officers in “full combat gear” (108) invade the house of an elderly couple to combat drug trafficking. However, their maneuvers are the result of faulty information, for the Renfros have no involvement in the crime and are merely victims of a stolen IP address. In the raid, however, the police even bring a tank, which Rudd notes “they use whenever possible” (111). Critics of police militarization argue that it fosters a “warrior” mindset, leading to excessive force in routine domestic situations, such as serving warrants (McElrath, Wayne, and Sarah Turberville. “Poisoning Our Police: How the Militarization Mindset Threatens Constitutional Rights and Public Safety | Project on Government Oversight.” Project on Government Oversight, 9 June 2020). The tragic raid on the Renfros, which results in Kitty Renfro’s death, exemplifies this critique. Instead of a simple knock on the door, the police launch a pre-dawn assault on a quiet suburban home, a scenario that mirrors real-life incidents. Grisham uses this context to explore the dangerous consequences of applying military tactics to civilian policing.