Police corruption is a huge issue that has been happening around the world. Police have contaminated and planted evidence in the past to ensure a conviction of an innocent person. This is not how police are supposed to conduct themselves, and allegations of corruption in the force are taken seriously. Over the years many offenders who were incarcerated for a crime that they had not committed have been set free, but there are many more who are still waiting for evidence to prove innocent.
Once case that has been in the national spotlight is a police corruption case that occurred 10 years ago. In 2005 the offender was arrested for drug dealing in a building that was the route of office Watts and his tactical team. The offender was arrested and charged with the crime of drug dealing. He was given a sentence of 14 years in prison and as of now has spent 10 years of that time. Officer Watts had reported and testified that he found drugs in different packages that looked like the drugs were ready for distribution. The suspect allegedly had ran down the stairs and another member of Watts’s tactical team had apprehended Ben Baker. The officer stated that Baker had over $800 of cash on him and cocaine and heroin.
“Baker testified that Watts and his crew controlled complex as if it was their own home, and stealing drug money, making protection deals with drug dealers for money, and putting charges on those who refused to play their game” . Baker told the courts that Watts had tried to pin another drug case on him a year earlier in 2004 when he had disputed paying over a grand to Watts. Watts would have the drug dealers pay him to stay quiet and would take drug money from dealers for his own personal use. Baker also recalled Watts and his team planting drugs and taking down people who refused to keep paying him money.
Officer Watts was under investigation at the time of Bakers trial. The Chicago Police of Internal Affairs and the FBI had been investigating Watts and his team due to allegations of corruption just like what had been done to Baker. A FBI report that was dated 2004 had reported that Watts and his team were getting drug deal money which equaled into the thousands for protection at the complex. The agreement was the dealers had to may Watts $5,000 a week for protection. Watts and his partner at the time make a lot of drug money for protecting the dealers. Watts and an officer was charged with federal corruption, and convicted in January 2014 after a FBI sting went down. He was sentenced to 22 months in prison.
After Watts conviction Baker was able to get his case looked at. The case was brought forth January 2016 and the man who was charged was exonerated on those charges. The man was released after serving 10 out of the 14 years in the Robinson Correctional Facility. Baker had no idea of his release until it was time to leave the correctional facility. It only took the court a couple of minutes to decide to release Ben Baker from the correctional facility, and send him home.
The police corruption in this case could have been avoided if an investigation or suspicion had been followed up on in 2004. Watts has a history of pinning drug deals on people, and he should have been taken down sooner for his corruption. The case should have been looked at more thoroughly because this was not the first time it had happened to Ben Baker. Watts had tried to pin a case just like this on him in 2004. At the same time Watts was under suspicion and investigation but no one looked into the issue.
Police misconduct and corruption has happened in many cases over the years. This is not a new problem in the judicial system. “Over 1% of all law enforcement commit police misconduct every year, and that the consequences of misconduct are minor” . Investigations of police corruption should be followed through and taken seriously.
This will help reduce wrongful conviction due to police corruption in society.
Reference
Semanchik, M. (2016). Police Misconduct . Innocence Project, 1-2.
Sweeney, A. (2016). Chicago man freed on drug case. Chicago Tribune, 1-3.
