Documentaries Exposing Police Misconduct Around the World
From NYPD quota systems to evidence tampering: films that revealed corruption within law enforcement
True crime documentaries have become powerful tools for exposing police misconduct, from illegal arrest quotas in New York to evidence tampering allegations in Boston. These films combine investigative journalism with intimate access to whistleblowers, victims, and the officers themselves.
**Crime + Punishment and the NYPD Quota System**
Director Stephen Maing's *Crime + Punishment* follows the "12"—a group of whistleblower NYPD officers who exposed illegal arrest quotas within the department. While the NYPD officially announced a ban on quotas in 2010, the documentary reveals that by 2015, 12 minority officers alleged the practice was still ongoing. Maing gained access to secret recordings and intimate interviews with both the officers and citizens affected by the quota system, creating a damning portrait of institutional pressure to arrest regardless of public safety needs.
**A Body In The Snow and Boston Police Corruption**
Investigation Discovery's *A Body In The Snow: The Trial of Karen Read* examines the case of Karen Read, charged with of Boston police officer John O'Keefe in January 2022. Director Terry Dunn Meurer's documentary uncovered serious allegations against law enforcement, including the firing of lead detective Michael Proctor after he sent vulgar texts about the defendant. The film presents of potential tampering and conspiracy among police officials, raising questions about the integrity of the .
