All articles tagged with #police corruption
In South Africa’s poorest areas, authorities link recent mass shootings to organized crime and police failures, with illicit mining gangs and a large stock of illegal firearms fueling violence; analysts say distrust of the police and under-resourcing hinder investigations, and President Ramaphosa authorized a year-long deployment of troops to curb crime.
New Chicago Police Chief Earl D. Mayo, 45, is charged with seven felonies, including theft and official misconduct, after prosecutors say he stole firearms seized in investigations and sold them to a Hobart pawn shop, while also possessing anabolic steroids; Tanika Borders is charged with assisting Mayo. Authorities traced a Ruger 9mm from an ongoing case to the pawn shop, and Mayo allegedly asked a fellow officer to buy back the gun and retrieve suppressors. Borders allegedly tried to remove Mayo’s steroids and purchase back a firearm. Mayo, arrested in Clark County, Ohio, remains jailed as Lake County prosecutors pursue return; Lake County has since taken over policing of New Chicago. He had been appointed chief in January 2023 and is on administrative leave; his father is Indiana State Police Major Jerry Williams.
Seven Toronto police officers and one retired officer were arrested and charged in an organized-crime probe for bribery, conspiracy to murder, and drug trafficking, allegedly leaking personal information to mobsters who then committed violence; the case began with a murder plot against a corrections employee and expanded as suspects targeted the employee and people in the police databases, with some officers accused of protecting illegal cannabis operations for bribes. Authorities suspended those accused and called for stricter oversight, while officials stressed the need to preserve public trust.
South African President Cyril Ramaphosa suspended his police minister amid allegations of links to organized crime and announced the formation of an independent commission to investigate the claims, aiming to address corruption within law enforcement and restore public trust.
Former Kansas police detective Roger Golubski, accused of kidnapping and raping two women in the 1990s and early 2000s, was found dead at his home on the morning his trial was set to begin. Authorities suspect suicide. Golubski, 71, faced charges of abusing his power to violate the civil rights of vulnerable Black women, with allegations that shocked the nation. His death means the case will not proceed to trial, leaving a lasting impact on the victims and their families.
Spain has arrested Óscar Sánchez Gil, the head of its economic crimes unit, after €20 million was found hidden in his home, linked to the country's largest cocaine bust involving 13 tonnes of the drug from Ecuador. Sánchez Gil and 15 others, including his partner, face charges of drug trafficking, bribery, and corruption. The money is believed to be profits from years of collaboration with criminal gangs, not from the recent bust.
The former Chief of Rio de Janeiro Civil Police, Rivaldo Barbosa, along with a Brazilian Congressman and his brother, were arrested for plotting the assassination of Rio City Councilwoman Marielle Franco and her driver in 2018. The head of Rio’s homicide investigation unit was also placed under house arrest for obstructing the investigation. The arrests shed light on police corruption and complicity in the crime, raising questions about the involvement of high-ranking officials, including President Bolsonaro. The widows of the victims expressed determination to continue fighting for justice.
"Criminal Record" is a compelling crime thriller series on Apple TV+ that delves into modern-day racism in the U.K. The show follows Detective Sergeant June Lenker as she uncovers the truth behind a seemingly innocent man's confession to a violent crime, while facing overt microaggressions and misogyny in the police force. The series explores police corruption, biases, and the human obsession with power and legacy. With captivating performances and unexpected plot twists, "Criminal Record" is a disconcerting yet thrilling exploration of preconceived notions and the narratives we create about others.
Father-son journalists John and Ramsey Archibald, along with colleagues Ashley Remkus and Challen Stephens, won a Pulitzer Prize for their investigative reporting on police corruption in the town of Brookside, Alabama. Their reporting led to the resignation of the police chief, four new laws, and a state audit, and freed some people from jail. The Archibalds' work has also been recognized with other awards and was part of a larger series on for-profit policing in Alabama.
A former San Diego police detective, Peter Griffin, and three others pleaded guilty to charges of operating massage parlors that offered commercial sex services. Griffin owned and operated five businesses in California and Arizona with his co-defendants between 2013 and 2022. The defendants advertised sexual services online and employed multiple women to perform those services. Griffin pleaded guilty to three charges: conspiracy, conspiracy to commit wire fraud, and the purchase of a $11,900 watch with funds derived from criminal activity. The co-defendants’ plea agreements state they took part in the ownership and management of Griffin’s businesses.