There are few more intimidating notions in allcrimethan that of a dirty cop.

On the surface, everything aboutBrooklyn Nine-Nine’sMelanie Hawkins would indicate that you’d want her to work your case.

Thematically, it is concerned with the moral ambiguities that arise when policemen investigate their own.

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This helps give context to Tony’s actions as a ruthless boss with violent tendencies.

7Dudley Smith

L.A.

Confidential (1997)

L.A.

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Confidential is a film adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel, directed by Curtis Hanson.

The film explores themes of morality, power, and the seedy underbelly of the city.

Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito also star.

Characters from Hospital Playlist and Business Proposal are edited in a collage.

Police corruption is the central premise of 1993’s standoutL.A.

Confidential, with James Cromwell’s Captain Dudley Smith serving as the living embodiment of that notion.

He would have had the last laugh too, were it not forL.A.

10 Corrupt Movie & TV Cops We Would Never Want Working Our Case

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of the club while dealing with the new president - his stepfather - Clay Morrow.

Stahl was killed by Ryan Hurst’s Opie Winston inSons of Anarchy’s third season finale.

…the lieutenant’s existence is a blurry haze of drugs, prostitutes, and gambling…

Brooklyn 99 Poster

From the creative minds of Dan Goor and Michael Schur comes Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a police comedy series set in the NYPD’s fictional 99th precinct. Headed by the comedically serious Captain Raymond Holt and protagonist Jake Peralta, the detectives of the 99 deal with burglaries, drug deals, and oddities in New York City, occasionally steering into real-world issues surrounding police perception and social concerns in the 2010s and earlier. Each detective has their own unique personality that makes them stand out, creating endearing dynamics that helped the show thrive for eight seasons.

However, make no mistake; this is one of popular culture’s preeminent unscrupulous police officers.

Portrayed in an Oscar-winning turn from Denzel Washington, Alonzo Harris is virtually synonymous with 2001’siconic crime-thrillerTraining Day.

The series ran for seven seasons on FX and received several nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods.

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During the show’s run, The Shield’s Vic Mackey proved himself an absolute genius, well mostly.

Here we take a look at his smartest and dumbest moves.

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The story in each season deals with a conflict within a police department between the regular forces and the internal affairs or “anti-corruption” unit. Thematically, it is concerned with the moral ambiguities that arise when policemen investigate their own.

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The Sopranos Poster

Considered to be a quintessential drama series to watch, The Sopranos is a crime-drama series that follows Tony Soprano, who tries to manage the expectations of an Italian-American patriarch while acting as the head of a prolific New Jersey crime family. Burdened by the stress of the expectations thrust upon him, Tony regularly visits a therapist throughout the series run. This helps give context to Tony’s actions as a ruthless boss with violent tendencies.

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L.A. Confidential (1997) - Poster - Kevin Spacey, Russel crowe, guy pearce & kim basinger

L.A. Confidential is a film adaptation of James Ellroy’s novel, directed by Curtis Hanson. Set in 1950s Los Angeles, it follows three detectives played by Russell Crowe, Guy Pearce, and Kevin Spacey, as they investigate a series of murders linked to corruption within the police force. The film explores themes of morality, power, and the seedy underbelly of the city. Kim Basinger and Danny DeVito also star.

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Headshot Of Guy Pearce In The 77th annual Cannes

leon poster

Directed by Luc Besson, the 1994 thriller Leon: The Professional tells the story of professional hitman Leon (Jean Reno), who forms a bond with young girl Mathilda (Natalie Portman) after taking her as a protégée after corrupt DEA agent Norman Stansfield (Gary Oldman) kills her family.

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The Departed, directed by Martin Scorsese, depicts the tense interplay between the police and the Irish Mafia in South Boston. As an undercover officer infiltrates the criminal underworld, a syndicate informant rises within the police force, culminating in a high-stakes struggle to uncover the dual moles within their ranks.

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Headshot Of Matt Damon In The 74th Berlin International Film

Sons of Anarchy Final Poster

Sons of Anarchy, created by Kurt Sutter, follows a notorious outlaw motorcycle club, the Sons of Anarchy, as they confront drug dealers, corporate developers, and law enforcement to protect their livelihoods and their hometown of Charming, CA. Loosely based on William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Sons of Anarchy explores what happens when the seduction of money and power comes between family. The show follows the Teller and Morrow family legacies, with Jackson ‘Jax’ Teller handling his duties as the V.P. of the club while dealing with the new president - his stepfather - Clay Morrow.

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Harvey Keitel in Bad Lieutenant

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Denzel Washington and Alonzo Harris star in Training Day, an action thriller that follows the two stars as Los Angeles narcotics officers. Jake Hoyt is prepping on his first major training day for a promotion as he spends spend a tense twenty-four hours across several L.A. crime-ridden neighborhoods as Jake sees the danger and horrors of the job.

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the shield poster

The Shield is a gritty police drama starring Michael Chiklis as Detective Vic Mackey, the leader of a corrupt anti-gang unit in Los Angeles who breaks the law because he thinks it’s the only way to bring criminals to justice. The series ran for seven seasons on FX and received several nominations, including Emmy and Golden Globe nods.

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