Police Corruption Case Study

Former New York Police Officer, Francesco Vincent “Frank,” Serpico is known for whistleblowing on police corruption during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His action led to investigation known as Knapp Commission held by Mayor John V. Lindsay to investigate the New York Police Department (Roberts, 2012). The Knapp Commission analyze their police, which results illustrate two types of corrupted law enforcement officers for either being grass-eaters or meat eaters. Researchers stated that grass eaters are taught to keep loyal to their brotherhood no matter what the situation has become, while meat-eaters are police officers who use their badge for personal gain (5 Police Corruption Scandals that Rocked New York City, 2015). Although the 1970s
dealt with police corruption, there is no doubt that Frank Serpico did in fact explained the percentage of the police force. For example, there are approximately ten percent of honest police officer, while there is only ten percent that are corrupted and eighty percent wished they can be honest (5 Police Corruption Scandals that Rocked New York City, 2015). After being known as the snitch in the police force, it is believed that Frank Serpico was setup during a drug operation in Brooklyn, New York, which he was shot in the face and lay helpless with no support from his partners. Frank Serpico stated that his intention was not being called a rat in the police department, but to not accept bribes or favors in the community and follow the police the culture (Petit, 2011). In addition, being an honest police officer in the police force can be beneficial, while it can also be life and death situation with the individual or a family member.
The year 1992 in Long Island A former New York Police Officer, Michael Dowd, was arrested in 1992 for running a drug ring in Long Island, New York.
He is to believe to be the most corrupted law enforcement officers in New York history, which he spent nearly 12 years behind bars. It is determined by scholars that the New York Police continually received 16 complaints on Officer Dowd’ unethical behavior, which it stated that he has been robbing drug dealers and drug trafficking with fellow police officers in East Section of Brooklyn (Treaster, 1994). Although there were signs that Officer Michael Dowd was involved with corruption, senior officers allegedly ignored the allegations. Senior officers wanted to protect their officers from a police scandal and did not want a repeat of another scandal during the late 1960s with former officer Serpico. The New York Police Department failed as leaders to file an investigation against their fellow officer, however, Suffolk County took the initiative to investigate Officer Dowd through telephone conversation. Five law enforcement officers and a retire associate where arrested for extortion and bribes on helping as well as providing cocaine with drug dealers (Treaster, New York City Officers Charged With Running L.I. Cocaine Ring,
1992).
30th Precinct in Harlem In the early 1990s, Harlem was known for being the capital of cocaine in the city, which Harlem Police Officers seized nearly $900,000 in drug money and double the salary in other precinct (5 Police Corruption Scandals that Rocked New York City, 2015). Corrupted police officers made false radio calls in order to conduct illegal drug trafficking with other officers. Furthermore, officers often made false 911 emergency calls to cover illegal drug raids, which they stole large amounts of cash and drugs from drug dealers. Supervisors in all precinct looked the other way, while their officers broke the laws and continue to wreak havoc (Corruption in the 'Dirty 30', 1994). Furthermore, a loyal police officer, Barry Brown, took the initiative and testify against their other officers, while his face was hidden and voice disguised in order to avoid retaliation from the precinct. All 33 police officers were charged and arrested for blackmail, grand larceny, civil rights plot, and narcostics allocation.