Research Paper on:
Rampart Division Scandal and the LAPD

Unformatted Sample Text from the Research Paper:
one of the nations largest and most high-profile cities. It is an institution that has been riddled with scandal and apparent double-dealings and corruption. High-profile incidents such as the beating  of Rodney King, the "misplaced" evidence of the O.J. Simpson trial, the confusion related to the trials for the murders committed by the Menendez brothers, and most recently, the "Rampart  Scandal" have not been able to be swept under any "thin blue line" carpets. In the problems of the Rampart division of the LAPD, what seems to be apparent  is that officers were willing to buy into the theories that have circulated throughout the past decade regarding the existence of "super-predators" whose violence can only be stopped by superior  violence. Therefore, if the role of the police force is to enforce the law and protect the community, the logic would stand that they are virtually obligated to be the  most accomplished of the super-predators. In the Rampart scandal some officers almost proved that to be the case. However, what should be considered in terms of Rampart and in terms  of 21st century law enforcement is the fact that underlying social and cultural issues are every bit as important, generally even more important in the context of appropriate law enforcement  and community policing. THe pervading attitudes regarding "us" and "them" have become quite nearly codified in the thinking of many parts of society . . . certainly in the thinking  of many police officers. While the crimes of Los Angles police officers committed against those under their jurisdiction cannot be minimized, what must be looked at more carefully are  the circumstances which have spawned the robo-cop mentality of police officers in American cities throughout the country. One need only think of the torture and beatings covered by the media