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The History of Law Enforcement Corruption

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LessonLearning Goal

You will be able to discuss the historyof law enforcement corruption as wellas describe the issues related tocorruption in the law enforcementcommunity.

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Learning Objectives

• Describe the issues related to corruption in law enforcement.

• Explain the causes that contribute to corruption.

• Instruct others on proactive actions to implement in the prevention of corruption.

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Video Case StudyNew Orleans Police

Department

• When viewing the tape, ID the following:– How did the corruption

start?– What were the underlying

causes?– What could have been done

to prevent the problem?

• Do any of these causes still exist in LE?

• Do any exist in YOUR agency?

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30 Second Quiz

• How much money did the Detroit PD pay out in civil judgments and settlements between 1987-1997?

• Points:– 4– 3– 2– 1

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30 Second Quiz

• How much money did the Detroit PD pay out in civil judgments and settlements between 1987-1997?

• Answer = 92 million $• Points:

– 4– 3– 2– 1

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History ofU. S. Law Enforcement

• Night Watches–Larger cities passed laws to allow daytime officers to replace night watchmen.–The increase in duties and responsibilities resulted in an increase in inefficiency

•Political interference resulted in graft and corruption

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History ofU. S. Law Enforcement

• Chiefs had no authority to hire or fire

• Discipline could not be enforced

• No employment standards

• No training requirements

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History ofU. S. Law Enforcement

• 1960’s unrest, crime increase• Commission on L.E. and Administration of Justice 1965

–Omnibus Crime and Safe Streets Act

• 1980’s Miami River Gang– 70 arrested between 1980-1986– 2 year change: 60% minority: 650 to 1,050 – Ken Harms 1984 Herb Breslow 1985

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Boston Police Strikeof 1919

• Boston PD wanted to affiliate with the AFL

• Chief suspended several union activists

• Officers conducted a strike– 8 deaths– Over a hundred

people injured– Millions of dollars in

property damage

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Boston Police Strike of 1919

“A strike of policemen of a great city, leavingthat city at the mercy of an army of thugs, is acrime against civilization. In my judgment theobligation of a policeman is as sacred and directas the obligation of a soldier.

He is a public servant, not a private employee, and the whole honor of the community is in hishands. He has no right to prefer any privateadvantage to public safety.”

President Woodrow Wilson

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The Struggles of the 1920s and 1930s

• 18th Amendment• The resulting graft,

political interference and corruption

• The public offered bribes to police to “look the other way”

• Police had to enforce a very unpopular law

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The Struggles of the 1920s and 1930s

• The Results:– Bought off cops– Low morale– Lack of self-respect– Loss of integrity and

honor• The Response:

– Wickersham Commission– Recommendations

directed toward police management and operations

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World War II

• Manpower shortages led to:– Poor recruitment

procedures– Low hiring criteria– Unqualified and

poorly trained officers

– These procedures were long lasting

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The 1940s and 1950s

• The IACP Identified causes of officer dissatisfaction:– Working hours– Salary– Pensions– Benefits

• By 1956 there were 44 different police unions

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The Challengesof the 1960s

• Police weren’t ready for the problems presented by social issues such as:– Anti-war – Civil Rights– Public criticism was at an

all time high• Results

– Post Commissions– More $ for training– Higher hiring standards– Policies and Procedures

manuals

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National Law Enforcement Officer Disciplinary Research

Project

Researched data concerning all law enforcement officers that had been formally disciplined within their states between

1990 and 1995.

2,296 Law Enforcement Officers were totally

decertified.

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Officers Decertifiedbetween 1990-1995

• Had an average of 7.2 years on the job

• Average age was 32• 93% (90.5) were male and 7% (9.5)

were female• 73% (81) were white; 19% (11.3) were

African American; 8% (6.2) were Hispanic

• 56% (66) were city officers; 33% (25) were deputies; 11% (8) were state officers

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Officers Decertified between 1990-1995

• Employment status– 92% were full-time– 5% were part-time– 3% were auxiliary or reserve officers

• Education– 70% had a high school degree– 11% had a GED– 10% had either an A.A. or A.S. degree– 9% had either a B.S. or B.A. degree

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More Findings by the Commission and Council

Discipline Action # Cases % Cases

• Revocation 2,296 59.1• Case Dismissed 502 12.9• Suspension 320 8.2• Cases Pending 278 7.2• Initial Decert. Denied 244 6.3• Probation 203 5.2• Reprimand 41 1.1

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The 4 Most Frequently Committed Crimes

• Making false statements and reports 19.92%

• Larceny 12.12%• Sex offenses other

than rape 9.48%• Battery 9.15%

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The Four Common Causes

#1 – Greed (26.99%)

Larceny 12.12%

Fraud/Forgery 5.03%

Selling CDS 4.44%

Robbery 1.19%

Bribery 1.19%

Stolen Property 1.10%

Gambling .46%

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The Four Common Causes

#2 – Anger (19.69%)

Battery 9.15%

Excessive Force 5.05%

Weapons Offenses 4.02%

Family Offenses 1.47%

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The Four Common Causes

# 3: Lust (12.74%)

Sexual offenses other than rape

9.48%

Sexual battery/rape

2.77%

Morals and decency crimes

.49%

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The Four Common Causes

#4 – Peer Pressure (12.7%)

Driving Under the Influence

5.08%

Drugs other than cocaineand cannabis

4.64%

Positive cocaine drug test

1.62%

Positive cannabis drug test

1.36%

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Unethical Acts . . .

Nothing is devastating usmore!

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Why Ethics is a Leadership

and Training Need!

• Officers can lose their:– Jobs– Careers– Retirement– Dignity– Reputations– Futures– Families

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Finally, 2 to 3 Times asMany Officers . . .

Commit Suicide than die in theLine of duty! ! !

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The History of Law Enforcement Corruption