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Kind amazing that in nearly all police fiction, Internal Affairs – the division dedicated to rooting out malfeasance and crime within the police force – play the role of bad guys.
Because the heroes, of course, are maverick cops playing fast and loose with the rulebook.
Because the heroes, of course, are maverick cops playing fast and loose with the rulebook.
Our society has built a huge body of lore glorifying the worst aspects of policing, and demonizing its most responsible elements.
The hot-blooded cop turning off the camera in the interrogation room and roughing up a suspect:
GOOD GUY.
GOOD GUY.
The rulebound patrol officer hung up on the ethics of policing:
OBSTACLE.
OBSTACLE.
The ethics officer investigating police misconduct:
BAD GUY.
BAD GUY.
We who tell stories for a living have to make a change.
The Maverick Cop is quintessentially American: the ultimate attempt to have it both ways.
A hero who personifies law, wields all the power of the State...but comes and goes as he pleases, doesn't have to wear a uniform or get a haircut, and can use his power to gratify his id.
A hero who personifies law, wields all the power of the State...but comes and goes as he pleases, doesn't have to wear a uniform or get a haircut, and can use his power to gratify his id.
In reality, aside from legit undercover operations, plainclothes police officers are always a bad idea.
