Post-conflict peace is often fragile. To achieve sustainable peace, citizens need to regain trust in state institutions. It is crucial that people regard the police as source of, rather than threat to, individual security. What shapes individuals' attitudes towards security forces? While studies suggest that media can contribute to post-war reconciliation and stability, we investigate potentially adverse effects of inflammatory broadcasts. We argue that exposure to incendiary media can have a lasting negative impact on people's trust in security forces. To test our argument, we take advantage of exogenous variation in the reception of inflammatory radio programs in Nepal's Western Terai region. Drawing on a quasi-experimental research design and original data from a survey of about 2,000 respondents, we find empirical evidence for individuals being less likely to view the police as a guarantor and protector of individual security in areas with access to inflammatory broadcasts. Our study has important implications for understanding micro-dynamics of post-conflict stability and prospects for state-building.