NYPD Corruption
LEXOW COMMITTEE (1894) - correct answer The Lexow Committee,
which took its name from its chairperson.
- Its star witness, Max Schmittberger, testified that he had paid $300 to become an
officer and $12,000 to become a captain
- merit system created
CURRAN COMMITTEE/BECKER-ROSENTHAL AFFAIR INVESTIGATION (1912) - correct
answer Herman Rosenthal, a gambler, was shot and killed in front of
the Hotel Metropole on 43rd Street in Times Square. Several on-duty police officers
witnessed the killing but allegedly took no action.
- The Committee concluded that there was an extensive system of payoffs to police
by gamblers and operators of brothels. Officers took bribes to throw cases and the
Department made little or no effort to discipline its ranks.
- Becker and four others were executed for the Rosenthal murder and eight
inspectors were indicted.
THE SEABURY INVESTIGATION (1932) - correct answer In the same
month that Seabury was appointed to chair the Committee, a Supreme Court justice
stepped into a taxi in front of a restaurant on West 45th Street and was never seen
again.
- Several attorneys were disbarred for participating in corruption. Two magistrates
were removed from office for both accepting loans from gamblers and falsifying
transcripts.
THE GROSS/HELFAND INVESTIGATION (1949) - correct answer Gross
paid 1 mill for police protection
21 officers were charged with conspiracy for accepting money for not enforcing the
law. Nearly 60 other officers were named as unindicted co-conspirators. The
accused officers ranged from patrolman to assistant chief inspector, which was the
second highest uniformed rank in the NYPD then. All of the accused officers were
released for lack of evidence and the double jeopardy clause precluded their re-
prosecution.
