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Police Corruption Case Study

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Policing in the United States first began in Boston in 1636, shortly after the development of a police force in England. This level of informal or communal policing was commonly known as the “watch” (Potter, 2013). New York soon followed Boston, creating a watch unit in 1658 and in Philadelphia in 1700. Much of the watchmen were volunteers trying to evade military service or were sentenced to perform night watch as a form or reprimand or punishment. It was not until 1833 that the first day watch was created. In 1838 Boston led the way, creating the first American police force. Early American police were well-known for being corrupt and brazenly brutal. Potter states it was almost impossible for any member of the police force to maintain any …show more content…

Police corruption, also known as misconduct possesses the ability to damage not only a department’s image, but the image of law enforcement officers nationwide. Additionally, the accusation or suspected police corruption can cause public mistrust, distrust among fellow officers, and violations of both human and constitutional rights. There is not one specific form of misconduct or corruption. Misconduct and corruption can be seen in the form of accepting bribes in exchange for a law enforcement officers silence or agreement to forgo reporting the local, state, or federal law violation. For example, former Atlanta police officer Elton Augustin was sentenced to two years in prison for conspiring to accept bribes and lying to FBI agents. Between June 2007 and September 2007 Augustin and two other Atlanta police officers received over $10,000 to protect an illegal business. The nightclub in question posted the officers outside in the parking lot to intercept any incoming officers responding to calls at that location. In September 2007, the nightclub was shut down and the owner was apprehended for permit violations and running a business that promoted prostitution, drug sales, and gambling. Another form of misconduct is flouting. This means a law enforcement officer disregards the oath they took when pinning the badge ton heir chest. …show more content…

Law enforcement is a dangerous career field. You wake up, put on your second chance vest, snugly tie your boots, affix a gun belt to your hip, and kiss your family goodbye on your way out the door. As the door closes behind the officer, he/she does not know if they will be opening it again. According to the PEW Research Center, 84% of law enforcement officers say they worry about their own personal safety at least some of the time (2017). Physical confrontations are not an uncommon occurrence for those sworn to uphold the law. In the same study conducted by the Pew Research Center, 67% of law enforcement officers physically struggled / fought with a suspect who was resisting arrest. The community looks to their local law enforcement agency to not only enforce the law and protect their rights, but to protect them and their families at all cost; up to and including their life. Because of the inherent dangers law enforcement officers face, bonds among department members and fellow officers are built. These brothers and sisters in blue rely on each other for advice and support. This camaraderie has the ability to portray an us (law enforcement officers) vs. them (the public) image. This display of officer unity becomes an easy target when criticism steps in and the public feels a problem or situation was not handled in a favorable manner. For example, an individual

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Many years ago, the first organized American Police Department system was started in Boston, in 1838. (Dempsey & Forst, 20120 p. 7). The Boston Police Department provided 24 hour service which, was funded by the New York legislature. Most of the policeman on the force had little to no training but that changed over time as the importance of law enforcement in society became more prominent. As time progressed so did the police department 's use of technology to better equip the officers with easier means to do their jobs.

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Over 350 years back, America's first known system of law requirement was built up in Boston. When pioneers had settled there in 1630, nearby statutes had took into account constables to be delegated. In 1833, Philadelphia composed a free, 24-hour police power. In 1838, the Boston Police force was set up, with a day police and night watch working autonomously. New York City went with the same pattern in 1844, turning into the New York City Police Department in 1845.

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The creation of the night watch was from Boston in 1636, New York in 1658 lastly Philadelphia in 1700. This created policing style was not a particularly effective crime reduction procedure. These people that was selected as Watchmen more often fell asleep or where drunk on duty. From the beginning, the American policing system has been associated not to the problem of crime, but to emergencies as well as the difficulties of the United States political-economy, (Potter, 2013)

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Police corruption is not something that is frequently talked about, and there are definitely very few films about the subject. One such film is Serpico, which is based off of the life of NYPD Officer Frank Serpico. The movie shows the issues of police corruption, and how the police subculture works to keep it covered. The police subculture is a very complicated and closed thing.

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As defined by Bob Harrison in Noble Cause Corruption and the Police Ethic, “Noble Cause Corruption is the concept of officers acting illegally,not for personal gain, but to fulfill moral obligations, stands as a testimony to the difficulties encouraged by those entrusted with the public's safety”. It is “a mindset or sub-culture which fosters a belief that the end sjustify the means, law enforcement is engaged in a mission to make our streets and communities safe and if that requires suspending the constitution or violating laws ourselves in order to accomplish our mission then for the greater good of society,so be it” (Steve Rothlien). Officers as well as other law enforcement officials are faced with ehtical dilemmas nearly everyday and have

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Police corruption has been the largest ongoing problem in the United States criminal justice system. In the documentary, “The Seven Five” directed by Tiller Russell, he sheds light onto the story of former NYPD officer Michael Dowd and how he and his prescient were involved in committing numerous crimes, including running their own cocaine ring while on the job in the 1980’s, early 90’s. Per the Criminal Law- Lawyer Source, police corruption is defined as “the abuse of police authority for personal gain or to gain advantage for the police organization. Police corruption can take the form of a variety of criminal activities ranging from actual commission of serious criminal (i.e. drug trafficking and money laundering) to the instances where

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Police officers have vowed their life to protect and serve. They risk their lives every day for their communities. As the last few years have sped past us, police officers have been very aggressive with the force they use when arresting a suspect, or even people in general. According to a Texas article on Civil Liberties and Civil Rights, “police officers typically use force offensively rather than defensively and do so with at least some degree of premeditation.” (Gross,2013, page 167).

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Originally, during Colonial times, policing in the United States consisted of little more than night watches. These watches weren’t very effective, as watchmen often drank or slept on duty, and many of the volunteers were only there as a way to get out of military service or helping with the watch as a form of punishment (Potter, 2013). It wasn’t until 1838 that the city of Boston established the first formal organized police force in America. Other cities soon followed, and by the 1880s, all major metropolitan areas had a formal police force. These changes took place largely due to the rapid population growth in American cities.

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Sadly, during the last few years the relationship between the community and its police has significantly deteriorated. This has been due to the way some officers have handled certain situations in which the use of violence or deadly force could have been avoided. Because of this, some sectors of the community no longer trust their police; such distrust has gotten to the point that they rather take matters into their own hands than calling them for help. Although not all officers misbehave and abuse their power “it only takes one bad apple to spoil the bunch”. The media has also contributed in promoting the idea that most cops are bad by transmitting, over and over, videos of police officers abusing their power.

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This means that even the criminals, who are a part of the public, have certain rights, particularly, civil rights. Police brutality causes a major concern in today’s society in America and a resolution is imminent. These racial prejudices are rooted in America’s deep psyche to grasp its power, we must move American original sin, slavery, and its corollary the terrible fear transmitted from generation to generation of a revolt. Police misconduct can be described as any inappropriate behavior on the part of any law enforcement officer that is either illegal or immoral or both.

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Many believe that the Police officer have existed since the beginning of civilization. Although the establishment of the U.S. Police force is actually a modern invention. The first organized police force funded by the public, was created in Boston in 1838, which employed officers full-time. The definition of public order during the 19th century, to today has been maintained by the police force.

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950 Words | 4 Pages

Corruption is a type of misconduct and offense in which the police break their contract and oath by abusing their power for personal gain or even for departmental gain. Examples of types of police corruption a. Bribery- police officer receives bribes so that they cannot write tickets for people who have gone against the law for example, from prostitutes and gambling, bribery does not only affect the united states but its world spread, examples of other countries with highest percentage of bribery are Pakistan and France. b. Assault on suspects- police officers use excessive force on suspects leading to injuries and at times suspects end up dying in their custody. Some police officers have been charged with murder of suspects in their custody.

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