CORRUPTION AND REFORM

• NCJ Number: 56503
• Journal: Police Magazine Volume: 2 Issue: 3 Dated: (MAY 1979) Pages: 6-9
• Author(s): R WILSON
• Date Published: 1979
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Sale Source: Criminal Justice Publications, Inc
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: BACK ISSUE ALSO AVAILABLE

Annotation

REFORMS INITIATED BY NEW POLICE CHIEFS WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENTS OF STAMFORD, CONN., NEW ORLEANS, LA., AND CHARLESTOWN COUNTY, S.C., ARE DISCUSSED AGAINST A BACKDROP OF LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION.

Abstract

IN STANFORD, A SERIES OF LOCAL NEWSPAPER ARTICLES IN 1975 CHARGING POLICE TIES TO GAMBLING, GUNRUNNING, AND ORGANIZED CRIME, FORCED THE RESIGNATION OF SCORES OF OFFICERS, INCLUDING THE POLICE CHIEF. AN EXPERIENCED LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER BROUGHT IN FROM CALIFORNIA TO TAKE COMMAND OF THE DEPARTMENT FACED RAMPANT OPPOSITION WITHIN THE DEPARTMENT, BUT BUOYED BY PUBLIC SUPPORT, ESTABLISHED AN INTERNAL AFFAIRS DIVISION CHARGED WITH PURSUING BOTH POLICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION. THE MANY MORE RESIGNATIONS THAT RESULTED HEIGHTENED FEDERAL INTEREST IN THE MOB ACTIVITIES UNCOVERED BY SUBSEQUENT INVESTIGATIONS. THE SITUATION IN NEW ORLEANS WAS LESS DRAMATIC; THE NEW CHIEF, ALSO AN OUTSIDER, WAS BROUGHT IN NOT AS A RESULT OF AN EXPOSE OR SCANDAL, BUT AS A RESULT OF A CHANGE IN ADMINISTRATIVE PHILOSOPHY FOLLOWING THE ELECTION OF THE CITY'S FIRST BLACK MAYOR. THE CORRUPTION WAS LESS DRAMATIC AND WAS NOT TIED TO LOCAL GAMBLING AND PROSTITUTION BUT TO PROBLEMS OF PERSONAL FIEFDOMS PERPETUATED BY SENIOR POLICE OFFICIALS. ALTHOUGH INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS ARE ONGOING INTO SEVERAL ALLEGED LINKS BETWEEN CRIME FIGURES AND POLICE AND CITY OFFICIALS, THE CHIEF'S MOVES TO TRANSFER AND EFFECTIVELY DEMOTE SEVERAL TOP OFFICERS BROUGHT HIM THE MOST SEVERE CRITICISM. HE WAS SEEN AS BEING ON A COLLISION COURSE WITH THE ENTRENCHED CORRUPTION AND PATRONAGE THAT HAS PLAGUED THE CITY FOR AT LEAST 25 YEARS. UNLIKE BOTH STAMFORD AND NEW ORLEANS, THE CLEANUP IN CHARLESTOWN FOLLOWED FEDERAL INVESTIGATIONS AND INDICTMENTS OF POLICE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT OFFICIALS FOR INVOLVEMENT IN VICE RINGS IN THE COUNTY, PARTICULARLY PROSTITUTION. AN OUTSIDER WAS BROUGHT IN TO REPLACE THE DISGRACED FORMER POLICE CHIEF, AND ALTHOUGH HE MET WITH SOME OPPOSITION FROM WITHIN AND WITHOUT THE DEPARTMENT, HE LAUNCHED SOME INTERNAL INVESTIGATIONS AND BEGAN A SYSTEMATIC CRACKDOWN ON LOCAL CLUBS AND MASSAGE PARLORS. (KBL)