The following contains spoilers for Andor Season 1, Episode 7, "Announcement," now streaming on Disney+.
In the Star Wars Universe, Stormtroopers have certainly proven themselves to be quite a deadly force. Whether it be the clones made from Boba Fett's dad, Jango, or others who enlisted, such as Taramyn, and years later, Finn, most of them had no problem killing innocents. This was all part of the Empire or First Order's mandate, after all.
Anything the Empire had decreed, they were willing to execute. This is most notable with Order 66 where the Stormtroopers turned on the Jedi, and began helping the Sith Lord Palpatine -- then chancellor -- take control of the galaxy as a harsh military unit. Interestingly, in the years leading up to events of Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, the TV prequel Andor has redefined that story of policing a bit. The show does this by revealing there was a squad worse than Stormtroopers running loose.
Andor's Shoretroopers Love Police Brutality
After the Aldhani heist, Andor flees Ferrix in Episode 7, "Announcement," realizing he has to stay off-grid from everyone. He simply wants a life away from war, hiding out and disguising himself. However, on Niamos, a beach resort planet, Cassian is accosted while simply walking along the sandy shores to the store. Though he is a felon, the Shoretroopers (designed for tropical climate duty) aren't aware of this. One of the Shoretroopers, however, decides to bully and accuse him of being a criminal.
Other civilians are also seen being chased by patrolling troopers and KX-series security droids, which ends with Andor being violently choked by a robot and apprehended. He's then falsely charged with civil disruption, speech against the Empire, and for trying to flee the scene of anti-Imperial activity. In court, he's told this would have been a six-month sentence, but now, it's six years. The way Cassian's bad luck unfolds in Episode 7 feels like a statement on police brutality, especially regarding minorities and people of color in America. This is most notable in the way the Shoretrooper profiles Andor.
Andor's Shoretroopers Perpetuate a Flawed Judiciary
The irony of Andor being apprehended by these soldiers is that he was a key figure in the Aldhani heist. Given that the Empire feels insulted over being robbed, the Shoretroopers' directive is filled with hostility and aggression. More people are being arrested and thrown in cells without probable cause, mostly due to the Empire wanting potential dissidents put away. While the Stormtroopers acted on some sort of order and logic, the Shoretroopers operate more impulsively.
Sadly, the legal system and fake charges depicted in Andor further point to societal problems today in the real world, which leaves Cassian with no hope at all. He doesn't have a legal representative as he carted off to prison, effectively showing how fascist cops win. This paints the Shoretroopers in a more dangerous light than just soldiers on Scarif firing at Jyn Erso and Cassian's rebels. In this case, they're snuffing out rebels beforehand, along with corrupt hearings and other individuals they assume to be tied with insurrection.
Ultimately, the Shoretrooper's compounds how much of a dictator Palpatine was. While many assumed the Stormtroopers to be the most vile asset at his disposal, the Shoretroopers were much worse, abusing power and truly oppressing poor people solely based on how they look.
Andor streams Wednesdays on Disney+.