The 75th Precinct of the NYPD in Brooklyn saw one of the most shocking cases of corruption and cover-up between 1986 and 1992. Michael Dowd, a police officer at the precinct, was the leader of a group of corrupt officers known for robbing drug dealers and selling drugs. The wrongdoing was obvious, with Dowd flaunting his newfound money, being picked up in limousines, driving a Corvette, and taking regular trips to Atlantic City casinos. Many of Dowd’s superiors ignored what he was doing, for fear that the charges of corruption under their command could ruin their careers. Investigations within the 75th precinct were intentionally thrown in order to close the cases and avoid finding anything that could reveal the misconduct. It wasn’t until Dowd was arrested in Suffolk County for conversations with a drug dealer that the rest of the corruption was revealed.
In 1988, a grocery store that was a known front for drug operations was held up by three officers from the same precinct—the 75th. The officers were charged once the drugs and money that had been stolen were found in their car. Despite rumors that Officer Dowd was involved in the heist, nothing was ever done about it. Drug dealers testified that they were paying Dowd up to $4,000 each week, in addition to some cocaine, in order to keep him from arresting them. No investigation into Dowd was opened by Internal Affairs until the Suffolk County arrest. Dozens of fellow officers and superiors had simply looked the other way.