The Seven Five

I couldnt stop watching this documentary when I first came across it. It's absolutely chilling to see and hear what these cops did.

A Wake-up Call

The Seven Five is a documentary about corruption in the NYPD during the 1980s. A police precinct in the East New York Section of Brooklyn, the seven five is located in a notoriously dangerous section of the borough known for drug dealing and a gamut of other crimes. The film is a retrospective accounting by Police Officer Mike Dowd, and others, as they recount their corruption, criminal conduct and other out of control behaviors before getting caught and thrown in jail. What makes this film so riveting, is the candidness in which Dowd and other former officers talk about how they stole money from drug dealers, accepted bribes and established their own criminal enterprise within the NYPD. While the movie goer can appreciate gaining insight in the misconduct of NYPD police officers, we cannot help but feel violated by their conduct and betrayal of the public trust. The seven five is exhibit "A" as far as making the case against police recruitment trends - to recruit individuals from outside of the 5 boroughs to police the city dwellers.

What we learn from the Seven Five is that people in power and authority can abuse it to such an extent as they exploit and feed off the troubles and social ills of poor neighborhoods, and neighborhoods where they have little investment, other than a paycheck. However, what truly makes this movie compelling is that it provides insight into the minds and psychology of corrupt officers as they justify their actions in furtherance of personal gain. This movie should leave you sick to your stomach as you come to terms with your own ignorance of the subject at hand and extrapolate the full extent of possible outcomes with every police interaction. Dowd may no longer be a police officer stalking the streets of NYC, but rest assured corruption exists in many police departments, and the potential for corruption exists in all.

Gave this documentary 10 stars but I would have to give the American Government and NYPD 0 after seeing this. If you want to be a gangster it is painfully obvious what step one should be. That being said, if you can get over the depressing reality of this documentary, this was an incredible watch and a very eye opening film. It was like The Departed but in real life.

NYC has a long and storied history of policing through many eras and generations. The police department is huge, probably up to about 30,000 now. In the 80s NYC was a cesspool. Years of democratic government destroyed the city. Police officers were stuck in the middle of absolute chaos and anarchy. This story about officer going bad certainly tarnishes the badge and our faith in POLICE. But as a story that's being told firsthand, it is great! It is intriguing, compelling, and above all first hand accounts of what was going on at the time. So if you're looking for real crime stories and in this case involving police as the criminals, look no further. This is a great depiction of that type of subject matter, as unsavory as it might be to most of us. My thanks go out to all officers who hold the line, do the right thing, and are there when we need them.

I found this gripping from start to finish, an amazing insight into outrageous police corruption, I can't recommend enough, well worth a watch.