What Are the Findings from the Knapp Commission

Question

Examlex · Accepted Answer

The Answer is The Knapp Commission, officially known as the Commission to Investigate Alleged Police Corruption, was established in April 1970 by Mayor John V. Lindsay of New York City. It was named after its chairman, Whitman Knapp. The commission was formed in response to allegations of widespread corruption within the New York City Police Department (NYPD) brought to light by the public testimony of police officer Frank Serpico and other whistleblowers.

The Knapp Commission's findings, released in a report in 1972, were significant and troubling. They included:

1. Widespread Corruption: The commission found that corruption was extensive within the NYPD. It was not limited to a few isolated cases but was systemic, involving a significant number of officers across various ranks and units.

2. Two Types of Corrupt Officers: The commission categorized corrupt officers into two types: "grass-eaters" and "meat-eaters." Grass-eaters were those who passively accepted bribes and payoffs that came their way. Meat-eaters were the officers who aggressively sought out ways to make money illegally.

3. Payoffs and Protection: The report detailed how officers received payoffs to overlook illegal activities such as gambling, drug trafficking, and prostitution. In some cases, officers actively provided protection to these criminal operations.

4. Inadequate Internal Accountability: The commission criticized the NYPD's internal mechanisms for preventing and investigating corruption. It found that the department's internal affairs division was ineffective and that there was a culture of silence and fear of retribution, which discouraged officers from reporting corrupt activities.

5. Recommendations for Reform: The Knapp Commission made several recommendations to combat police corruption. These included establishing permanent anti-corruption procedures, improving the methods for screening and monitoring police officers, increasing the independence and resources of internal affairs, and creating an external oversight agency.

The Knapp Commission's findings led to significant reforms within the NYPD and influenced the way police departments across the United States addressed corruption. The commission's work underscored the importance of integrity and accountability in law enforcement and highlighted the need for ongoing vigilance to prevent corruption.

What Are the Findings from the Knapp Commission

Definitions: