Structural racism has been identified as a major source of medical vulnerability for urban populations. Police brutality is a consequence of structural racism and a critical social determinant of urban health that is associated with both physical and psychological injury. However, the presence of law enforcement agents is common in the healthcare setting, especially in the emergency department. The emergency department occupies a critical social role as a major source of healthcare for vulnerable urban populations, yet very little is known about patients’ opinions regarding police activity in the ED. This study contributes to the growing body of literature on the pathogenic effects of structural racism by designing trauma informed methodology to investigate patient perceptions of police presence in the emergency room. / Urban Bioethics