The cop culture of silence and fear

On October 27, 2011, Baltimore police officer Joe Crystal, while off-duty, witnessed two Baltimore cops beating a drug suspect after the suspect, who was fleeing from the officers, ironically kicked in the door of a home belonging to one of the officer’s girlfriend.

Crystal felt he had to exercise his moral responsibility so he reported the officers’ actions to the State’s Attorney’s Office.

That’s when the cop culture of silence and fear labeled Crystal a “snitch” and a “rat cop” by many of his fellow officers. He was subjected to threats and intimidation by the corrupt cop culture in Baltimore. Eventually, in 2014 he bowed to the pressure and resigned from the Baltimore PD.