Can Communities Make a Difference in the Most Corrupt Police Departments?
Unfortunately, police corruption is an important issue that affects many cities in the United States and it can manifest in various ways such as bribery, abuse of power, and misconduct. Some police departments faced challenging situations and significant corruption issues over time, leading to a bad relationship and a lack of trust between the police and the communities they serve. In this article, we will look closer at 4 cities known for dealing with serious police corruption, discussing the cause of these problems and how they can be addressed.
Considering that there are multiple cities across the country known for their corrupt police departments, it turns out that the problem is widespread and very complex. Each one of them has their problems and challenges they need to face, but when it comes to corruption, some main issues are always present: abuse of power, cover-ups, and a lack of trust between the department and the community.
What can communities do?
The answer is YES. Communities play a crucial role and can combat corruption in various ways. One of the key steps is to educate residents about their rights and the issues of police misconduct. By raising awareness, communities can form advocacy groups that can fight for the necessary reforms. Another thing communities can do is build relationships. By organizing regular hall meetings, people can express clearly their concerns, and most importantly, they can do it directly to the officials.
Policy change is another important aspect because communities can push for laws that enhance police accountability and oversight. By doing so, residents can influence funding priorities. Another thing communities can do is create an anonymous voting system for residents to report police wrongdoing and support accountability. Young people must also be engaged which is essential for long-term change.
Finally, communities need to actively participate in local elections by voting for candidates who prioritize police reform.
Here are the top 4 most corrupt police departments in the United States:
1. Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is one of the biggest cities in the United States and is known for facing serious problems with police corruption. As you may already know, the Chicago Police Department has been involved in scandals over the years, and probably one of the biggest problems there is the excessive force. Residents have reported a lot of cases where officers acted violently without any reason. Another issue is the covering up of misconduct.
The shooting of Laqua McDonald in 2014 is one of the biggest incidents that happened in Chicago and drew national attention to these serious concerns. However, from 2017 the Chicago Police Department has been under federal oversight, meaning that the department is carefully monitored.
2. New Orleans, Louisiana
After Hurricane Katrina, a lot of police officers from New Orleans were accused of corruption. It’s believed that after the disaster, some officers didn’t provide any help to the community but instead, they were engaged in criminal activities.
In recent years, the New Orleans Police Department has made efforts to improve its image. The department is under federal oversight, similar to Chicago, to tackle these problems.
3. Baltimore, Maryland
The Baltimore Police Department gained national attention after the death of Freddie Gray in 2015, who died in police custody while sparking protests and demands for justice.
Another significant scandal in Baltimore involved a specialized unit called the Gun Trace Task Force. The problem was that some officers from the unit were found guilty of stealing drugs and money. That’s not all! They were also found planting false evidence, and misleading correct officers. The corruption harmed the community but significantly damaged the reputation of honest officers.
4. Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles is seen as the city of dreams by tourists, it has a vibrant culture and diverse population. Not everyone knows about the city’s background and the Rampart Division, for example. Officers from the division were found to be involved in illegal activities, including violence against citizens and drug dealing.
Even though major reforms were made, communities still felt the need for more work to ensure safety. In recent years, the Los Angeles Police Department implemented body cameras to increase transparency, but the trust still has to be improved, since corruption issues continue to exist.
What is your opinion about everything going on? Are we, as Americans, in danger? Unfortunately, it seems like everything is going crazy, and on top of that, we will also find out who will win the Presidential Elections of our country really soon. So, changes may occur. We just need to hope they’ll be for the better of the communities.
In this book you can find more information about corruption: Corruption in America: From Benjamin Franklin’s Snuff Box to Citizen United.
Do you want to learn more about the most dangerous parts of the country? Here are: Top 7 Most Dangerous Cities in California (Updated). It’s an article that can also be found on our website, Devastating Disasters.
