The Rampart Scadal and CRASH

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In the late 1990s a new corruption started in the Community Resources against Street Hoodlums or also known as CRASH anti-gang unit within the Rampart Division of the Los Angeles police department. Many officers were proven and convicted of committing unlawful beatings and shootings against gangs. Officers were also convicted for offenses such as, implanting false evidence, theft, bank robbery, distributing illegal drugs, and perjury. The Rampart scandal caused the public to be very concern towards corruption involved in law enforcement since many cases were never tried as of 2008; this demonstrated a high degree of corruption issues. (“The Rampart scandal.” WiseGeek.) The Rampart scandal started with Officer Frank Lyga on March 18, 1997 with a road rage incident. Lyga was working on an undercover case in a Buick, waiting for a drug deal to take place, but the deal was called off. When driving back to the police station, he stopped at a red light and looked over to the car next to him, and notices a black man with shaved head and goatee. Lyga, thinking that the man was staring at him; he rolled down his window and asked, “Can I help you?” The man replied back to Lyga in a rude manner, “Aint nobody looking at you, punk.” The man immediately wanted to fight Lyga and suggested that they both pull over. Since the man challenged to fight Lyga, he assumed that the man was associated with a gang. ("The Rampart Scandal Explodes." TruTv.) When the man pulled over, Lyga immediately drove off and called the police for help. The man chased Lyga until they both raised their weapons. Lyga shot and killed the man. Police investigated and discovered that the man shot by Lyga was Kevin Gaines, an undercover Los Angeles Rampart CRASH police office... ... middle of paper ... ...nduct, for instance, take in strong consideration any information or complaints received from the public or any other source that goes against the officers’ integrity. (“Recommendations for Corruption Prevention.” ICAC.NSW.GOV) In my opinion, corruption cannot be stopped but it can be reduced with the willingness of the people, as I mentioned above there could be plenty of recommendations but it’s all up to that person to put the effort. I think corruption is a choice; we all have voices and rights and if we chose to do unlawful things there is no one to blame but ourselves. However, there is corruption in every field of job out there. Corruption has been around for years and years and it will continue to be there in the future, it’s something that no one can eradicate. All countries around the world are facing corruption even the most powerful developed countries.

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