Comments on: One Bad Cop

One Bad Cop

reenum — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:44:54 -0800

Fans of "The Shield" should learn more about the LAPD's Rampart scandal. Rafael Perez and his cronies were the inspiration for Vic Mackey and the Strike Team.

Previously discussed on the Blue.

By: Bookhouse

Bookhouse — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:47:15 -0800

That "Previously" link is sort of hilarious for how quickly it would get deleted today. But thanks for the links, Rafael is a pretty fascinating character.

By: kavasa

kavasa — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:55:21 -0800

Don't forget the Twin Cities Metro Gang Strike Force. Whee, militarized police.

By: KokuRyu

KokuRyu — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 12:56:57 -0800

Whee, militarized police. Don't forget the classic City of Quartz

By: the young rope-rider

the young rope-rider — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:01:27 -0800

Love it. Loved The Shield. One of the best endings of any series, ever. Thanks for the post.

By: telstar

telstar — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:08:25 -0800

Don't forget the Oakland, CA Police gang known as The Riders.

By: waraw

waraw — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:24:46 -0800

Did they have to use that font for the whole article?

By: Inspector.Gadget

Inspector.Gadget — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:30:53 -0800

The scandal also partially inspired the film Street Kings, which is notable for (a) Keanu Reeves' usual totally flat affect and (b) the fact that the movie is only redeemed by pretending that Hugh Laurie is in character as Dr. House when he's supposed to be playing an internal affairs investigator.

By: Bunny Ultramod

Bunny Ultramod — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 13:47:21 -0800

I lived in LA before the riots. I remember the LA Weekly (or maybe Reader) investigating the Sheriffs Department. I wish I could remember the details, which were harrowing -- something about a secret "gang" within the department who all had tattoos of, IIRC, hornet's nest, and each hornet around the nest represented somebody they had brutalized. God, it was bad there then. The riots surprised nobody.

By: homunculus

homunculus — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:27:19 -0800

Whee, militarized police.

By: entropone

entropone — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 14:43:17 -0800

It's hard for me to read about gangs in LA without mentioning Homeboy Industries and the book written by its founder, Father Greg Boyle SJ, Tattoos on the Heart. Highly recommended.

By: Ideefixe

Ideefixe — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 15:28:57 -0800

Homeboy would be a lot more impressive if people actually got jobs after "graduating" from Homeboy, but that's not the case. At best, it's a revolving door. And with Bruce Karatz as CEO, money might flow in but not jobs.

By: IvoShandor

IvoShandor — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 16:38:27 -0800

In addition the Rampart scandal loosely inspired some of GTA: San Andreas. The CRASH unit was featured in the video game.

By: warbaby

warbaby — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 17:40:28 -0800

That used to be a problem, but they've cleaned all that up. We can put that behind us. Every town's got some. Seattle only got exposed once.