The Blue Wall of Silence

The secrecy of police officers who lie or look the other way to protect other police officers
synonyms:blue wall, wall of silence

cover-up
concealment that attempts to prevent something scandalous from becoming public

‘Blue Code Of Silence’: The Death Of Terrance Franklin

Back to menu

A Twin Cities attorney said he felt compelled to write a book about one of his cases involving Minneapolis Police after the death of George Floyd, reports Jennifer Mayerle. WCCO 4 News At 10 – October 4, 2020

Blue wall of silence
Vertaald uit het Engels-De blauwe muur van stilte, ook blauwe code en blauw schild, zijn termen die worden gebruikt om de informele code van stilte aan te duiden onder politieagenten om niet te rapporteren over fouten, wangedrag of misdaden van een collega, inclusief politiegeweld. Wikipedia (Engels)

Originele beschrijving bekijken
The blue wall of silence, also blue code and blue shield, are terms used to denote the informal code of silence among police officers not to report on a colleague’s errors, misconducts, or crimes, including police brutality. Wikipedia

.

“One of the more difficult areas of improving police is dealing with corruption when it is imbedded in the police subculture. I use the term corruption broadly to include acts such as: stealing things, receiving regular payoffs—enforcing or not enforcing the law, accepting gifts and favors not afforded the general public, disregarding departmental rules and orders, lying, issuing false reports, giving false testimony or committing other acts a person knows are dishonest or morally wrong. Corruption exists when police break the law, whether in pursuit of enforcing it or to enhance their own lives by accepting special favors like free food, liquor, or other things of value.

“On the other hand, proper professional police work involves scrupulous adherence to the law while enforcing it. It is being honest to a fault. Because of the disparity in power between police and citizens, the lack of transparency in most police organizations, and few public mechanisms to effectively regulate or control police behavior, the problem still exists as to how to effectively reduce and eliminate police corruption…

“The primary failure of most efforts to reduce or eliminate corruption and other misconduct in a police department is that they usually fail to acknowledge the power of the police subculture I have described. When dishonesty is a matter of common practice, and when it significantly supplements the income and lifestyle of those who practice it, it is very difficult to eliminate.

Tearing Down the Blue Wall of Silence

 

The Derek Chauvin trial held one bad-apple cop accountable. But what about the rest of the barrel?

In the trial of Derek Chauvin, the prosecution’s witnesses included several police officers, from peers of George Floyd’s killer to upper brass. Their testimony against Chauvin, in a trial that resulted in a guilty verdict on murder charges, may indicate some loose bricks in the blue wall of silence that has so often protected cops from what other cops know about them.

But in testifying against Chauvin, these officers also created a narrative in which he and his crime are distant from them and their work. Are there broader problems with policing in Minneapolis? No doubt these officers’ views on that question vary. But this trial was narrowly about keeping one cop accountable to existing expectations, such as they are.

Derek Chauvin

1 Why I Broke the Code of Silence | Shannon Spalding | TEDxNorthbrookLibrary

Back to menu

25 jul. 2018

Many people have been put in a difficult position where they see something wrong happen, but they feel like they can’t say anything out of fear of retaliation. When Shannon Spalding was faced with the decision to either turn a blind eye or speak up, she chose to speak up. In this emotionally charged talk, she explains why sometimes it is necessary to break the code of silence. Shannon Spalding is a police whistleblower and advocate for criminal justice reform. As an undercover narcotics officer with the Chicago Police Department, she exposed a ring of corrupt law enforcement agents who terrorized the South Side housing projects of Chicago and imprisoned nearly 500 people on false charges. Her story was the subject of a four-part exposé from The Intercept called “Code of Silence,” and she has been featured on major national and international news outlets such as NBC, Democracy Now!, and Al Jazeera. Shannon now works with The Exoneration Project, a legal team that works to overturn wrongful convictions. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx

 

2 After Chauvin Verdict, Police Veteran Blows Whistle On The ‘Dangerous’ Blue Wall Of Silence

Back to menu

22 apr. 2021

Throughout the Chauvin trial, prosecutors called eight witnesses from the Minneapolis Police Department and Chauvin’s boss to testify against him. MSNBC’s Chief Legal Correspondent Ari Melber and retired NYPD detective Marq Claxton discuss how this rare move might affect the outcomes of similar cases and why police culture makes the so-called blue wall of silence so dangerous. (This interview is from MSNBC’s “The Beat with Ari Melber, a news show covering politics, law and culture airing nightly at 6pm ET on MSNBC. http://www.thebeatwithari.com). Aired on 04/21/2021.
 

“The Beat with Ari Melber” covers politics, law and culture on MSNBC nightly at 6pm ET, anchored by Emmy-winning journalist and attorney Ari Melber (@arimelber). The Beat focuses on original reporting and in-depth interviews with a wide variety of guests, and was nominated for a 2020 Emmy in the Outstanding Interview category.

MSNBC delivers breaking news, in-depth analysis of politics headlines, as well as commentary and informed perspectives. Find video clips and segments from The Rachel Maddow Show, Morning Joe, Meet the Press Daily, The Beat with Ari Melber, Deadline: White House with Nicolle Wallace, Hardball, All In, Last Word, 11th Hour, and more.

3 Black cop fired after intervening on chokehold: I lost everything






Back to menu

16 jun. 2020

 
Officials in Buffalo, New York, want an investigation into the firing of a black police officer who intervened when a white colleague had a suspect in a chokehold. The incident happened in November 2006. At the time, Officer Cariol Horne had served 19 of the 20 years needed to receive her pension, a spokesperson for Horne told CNN. But Horne was fired for intervening and did not qualify for her pension, the city said. “The message was sent that you don’t cross that blue line and so some officers — many officers don’t,” said Horne in an interview with CNN’s Brianna Keilar.

The LA Riots 20 Years Late

Back to menu

3 mei 2012

KCAL 9 and CBS 2 produce a special segment on the 20th anniversary of the Los Angeles Riots, hosted by Pat Harvey and featuring remarks from city leaders, including Operation HOPE Founder, Chairman and CEO John Hope Bryant.

4 Toxic Water Prank

Back to menu

28 mrt. 2011

 
Water fountain is toxic, this is why they install a sign instead of just stopping the fountain. A presentation of the Just For Laughs Gags. The funny hidden camera pranks show for the whole family. 
 
Juste pour rire les gags, l’émission de caméra caché la plus comique de la télé!