It is human nature, I suppose, this natural desire to fit in. We create relationships and search for accord in a likeminded crowd. With few exceptions, humans instinctually long to belong. We have all experienced this longing - those situations where we wish for even the slightest nod or hint of attention from another person, a bit of acknowledgement for accomplished work. Recall the variety of thoughts that emerge in particular social situations or at a workplace: e.g., “first day of school, will I have any friends”, “wow she is gorgeous, I hope to talk to her”, and “will my boss notice my job well done and finally give me that raise?” Whether we encounter a “hello” from a passerby or wish to start a family with a loved one, we all yearn to satisfy this fundamental need to fit in, to belong. Now imagine how a person might feel if they rarely receive that acknowledgement, attention, or nod. One might feel shunned, disregarded, and unwanted. For many police officers, these emotions often occur as a consequence of their work if they choose to do the right thing; that is, if they report a corrupt fellow cop. Some police officers take part in an unofficial code of silence as a strategy to avoid rejection and reproach from fellow cops. As highlighted in Police Attitudes Toward Abuse of Authority, many police officers do not believe in protecting corrupt cops; however, despite their beliefs, they consciously choose to not report corrupt cops due to the fear of becoming an outcast within the group. According to the above research article, two-thirds of police officers reported that those who break this code of silence “are likely to be given the cold shoulder” by others in the division. Cops, who swear to uphold justice, will forgo oath in order to maintain unity within the group. Now, this may come as a surprise at first, but we must remember that cops are human beings with the same innate human needs as the non-police population, simply attempting to fit in and longing to belong. In the films Serpico and Copland, each protagonist overcomes this seemingly instinctual urge to belong to their group, thus gaining the willpower to fight for what they both swore to protect - justice. In the 1973 film, Serpico, the audience enters the life of Frank Serpico, a young Italian-American police officer recently sworn into service with the New York Police Department. Within minutes of the films beginning, viewers encounter the deeply corrupted nature of the police department. Serpico encounters crooked cops that break the rules, steal arrests, and collect bribes from criminals. He even transfers to multiple units throughout the film trying to avoid corruption, but quickly realizes that corruption permeates almost every individual and division no matter their rank or prestige. As the film develops, astute viewers also notice how film directors portray Frank Serpico as an iconoclast. Although Serpico does reflect some typical police officer norms such as a
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Now, most officers are not naturally corrupt. Unfortunately, it only takes one leader who is both charismatic and corrupted to spoil an entire division. In Copland, Lt. Moe Tilden, internal affairs investigator, makes he similar claim. He says, “Everyday, I see cops who lost their way. And I can tell you – these lost cops – they are a minority – but they tend together... They infect those around them. They are like maggots. Where you find one – you often find a nest.” In both Copland and Serpico, the police forces have become “infected,” just as Lt. Tilden claims. If institutions can train cops to fight against the urge to fit in with the group, then more cops would follow suit of Serpico and Heflin, ultimately building more just police institutions from the ground up.
Other solutions for ridding corruption include offering support for cops who may face disdain because of reporting misconduct. In addition, governments must insure that their internal affairs operations contain individuals that will always strive for justice. Now, this will occur easily, but through review of personnel and severe consequences for anyone who does break the rules, governments can create just internal affairs committees. This will serve the system well because it offers a surefire option for just police officers to report
Now, most officers are not naturally corrupt. Unfortunately, it only takes one leader who is both charismatic and corrupted to spoil an entire division. In Copland, Lt. Moe Tilden, internal affairs investigator, makes he similar claim. He says, “Everyday, I see cops who lost their way. And I can tell you – these lost cops – they are a minority – but they tend together... They infect those around them. They are like maggots. Where you find one – you often find a nest.” In both Copland and Serpico, the police forces have become “infected,” just as Lt. Tilden claims. If institutions can train cops to fight against the urge to fit in with the group, then more cops would follow suit of Serpico and Heflin, ultimately building more just police institutions from the ground up.
Other solutions for ridding corruption include offering support for cops who may face disdain because of reporting misconduct. In addition, governments must insure that their internal affairs operations contain individuals that will always strive for justice. Now, this will occur easily, but through review of personnel and severe consequences for anyone who does break the rules, governments can create just internal affairs committees. This will serve the system well because it offers a surefire option for just police officers to report