police corruption
Crooked cop behavior
Police corruption is the misuse of authority by law enforcement officers for personal gain or other improper purposes.
It ranges from accepting bribes and shaking down suspects to planting evidence, stealing from crime scenes, or providing protection for criminal enterprises.
The investigation uncovered widespread police corruption in the department.
Corruption scandals periodically expose systemic problems rather than isolated bad actors.
Illegal return payments
- payoffsBenefits gained from effort
- graftIllicit political gain
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
- shakedownsForced extractions of money
embezzlement · backhanders · baksheesh · palm-greasing · protection money · hush money · skimming · slush funds
Systematic searches for truth
- whistleblowersThose exposing organizational misconduct
- exposésReports uncovering hidden truths
- indictmentsFormal criminal accusations
- trialsFormal legal proceedings
resignations · inquiries · reforms · consent decrees · internal affairs · Serpico · oversight boards · body cameras
Savage, merciless behavior
- excessive forceUnwarranted severity in restraint
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- false arrestsUnlawful taking into custody
- planting evidenceFabricating incriminating materials
intimidation · harassment · coercion · entrapment · cover-ups · perjury · tampering · beatings
Conducting illegal business schemes
- syndicatesOrganized groups sharing enterprise
- cartelsCollusive business alliances
- protection racketsExtortion through threatened violence
- drug traffickingIllegal distribution of controlled substances
tribute · contraband · smuggling · collusion · organized crime · vice squads · criminal networks · moonlighting
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- blue codePolice mutual protection pact
- thin blue lineMetaphor for police
impunity · lack of oversight · union protection · promotions · hiring practices · complicity · whitewashing · systemic racism
kickbacks
Illegal return payments
- payoffsBenefits gained from effort
- graftIllicit political gain
- dirty moneyIllegally obtained wealth
shakedowns · embezzlement · backhanders · baksheesh · palm-greasing · protection money · hush money · skimming · slush funds · under-the-table
investigations
Systematic searches for truth
- whistleblowersThose exposing organizational misconduct
- exposésReports uncovering hidden truths
- indictmentsFormal criminal accusations
trials · resignations · inquiries · reforms · consent decrees · internal affairs · Serpico · oversight boards · body cameras · accountability
brutality
Savage, merciless behavior
- excessive forceUnwarranted severity in restraint
- profilingCharacterizing by patterns
- false arrestsUnlawful taking into custody
planting evidence · intimidation · harassment · coercion · entrapment · cover-ups · perjury · tampering · beatings · chokeholds
racketeering
Conducting illegal business schemes
- syndicatesOrganized groups sharing enterprise
- cartelsCollusive business alliances
- protection racketsExtortion through threatened violence
drug trafficking · tribute · contraband · smuggling · collusion · organized crime · vice squads · criminal networks · moonlighting · hired muscle
cronyism
Favoring friends in appointments
- nepotismPreferring kin in hiring
- patronageSupporter's financial backing
- blue codePolice mutual protection pact
thin blue line · impunity · lack of oversight · union protection · promotions · hiring practices · complicity · whitewashing · systemic racism · old boys network
- injusticeinjustice, inequality, discrimination, bias, prejudice
- official misconductmalfeasance, ethics violation, misconduct, misfeasance, nonfeasance
- corruptiongraft, kickbacks, bribery, bribes, bribe
- Police Historyconstables, night watch, Scotland Yard, sheriffs, thief-takers
- racketeeringracketeering, protection racket, loan sharking, extortion, numbers racket
- Latin crimedrug trafficking, drug cartel, gang violence, kidnapping, human trafficking
police corruptionpolice accountability
Scrutiny of law enforcement conduct
police reform · police oversight · good governance · civilian review · whistleblower protection
police, corruption, policing, policed, polices, policeman, policewoman, corrupt, corrupted