frank serpico
“The fight for justice against corruption is never easy. It never has been and never will be. It exacts a toll on our self [sic], our families, our friends, and especially our children. In the end, I believe, as in my case, the price we pay is well worth holding on to our dignity.”
-FRANK SERPICO
When a person thinks about a policeman, or an officer of the law, they think of an individual who upholds justice and protects the innocent. In truth, not all policemen and women are like the people described. In all of history there have been people in powerful positions who abuse the position they have and stop upholding what is right. Despite all the crooked and corrupt cops in our history, there have always been policemen who stand against the corrupt. One policeman who stood up against police corruption was Frank Serpico. Serpico was the first policeman to willingly testify against other officers in the NYPD. Francesco Vincent Serpico was born on April 14, 1936. He was born in Brooklyn, New York to Italian immigrants. When he was 17 he enlisted in the United States army, and was an infantryman for two years in South Korea. Serpico was also a part time investigator while attending Brooklyn College. Serpico later became a policeman. Frank Serpico witnessed police corruption in his everyday life. He witnessed police officers taking bribes from criminals and even officers harassing citizens. He was disgusted by what he saw and could not allow it to continue. Serpico refused to take bribes and he reported police officers who abused their position in society. He accomplished nothing until a fellow officer named David Durk helped him. Their persistence caused Mayor John Lindsay to create the Knapp Commission to investigate police corruption. On February 3, 1971 Frank Serpico was shot in the head in a sketchy drug bust. His fellow officers did not protect him properly due to the fact that he was exposing their corruption. The officers felt betrayed, and believed that Serpico deserved to die. Despite getting shot in the head Serpico survived. The bullet did result in him losing his ability to hear from his left ear. Despite getting shot he testified to the Knapp Commision. His testimony was brought to the public, and the war against corrupt cops in the NYPD began. After he got shot he was awarded by the NYPD and he shortly left the force. Serpico moved to Switzerland to get away from New York and live a life of peace. In 1973 Al Pacino made a movie documenting his life. At a dinner where Pacino was interviewing Serpico to understand the person he was he asked Serpico why he didn’t just keep his mouth shut. What made him want to expose the wrongdoing that he saw every day? Serpico responded, “....if I had just walked away, then who would I be when I listened to Beethoven?” This meant that if he stayed quiet what type of person would he be, if a person at all. The movie had positive reviews and introduced the public to a true hero. Serpico’s wife, who he met in the Netherlands, died of cancer in 1980. He returned to New York in the early 1980’s after his wife died. He moved back to New York City where he currently lives. He spends his time living in a cabin he helped build in a town called Stuyvesant on the Hudson River. He walks to a cafe nearby to check emails and to enjoy life. He lives in a quiet and peaceful isolation. Serpico still carries bullet fragments in his head where he was shot. The cost for being an honest cop, for being a good person.
Frank Serpico was a morally courageous cop who even after he departs from the world will forever be a hero. Serpico was beloved by some and despised by others. His actions defined what type of person he was, and despite his actions being good he suffered for the choices he made. He was the first officer to willingly expose corruption inside the NYPD. He told the public about the things other officers did such as taking bribes and brutalizing citizens. He was regarded as a menace to other cops, and hated by most of the department. If it were not for Serpico the police force would continue to be corrupt. He was hated by his fellow officers, and was not protected properly in a drug bust. This resulted in him being shot in the head. Serpico was deafened in his left ear and bullet fragments are still lodged in his head. We can all learn from the lessons and trials in Serpico’s life. He was an extremely brave man who served in the army, and was a police officer who would not stand for the corrupt cops he worked with. He was capable of doing the right thing despite his coworkers despising him for it. He showed moral courage by exposing the wrongdoings of those who were supposed to protect the rights of the innocent. What separates Serpico from many morally courageous people in the world is that he is not as remembered as others. When you think of people who exhibited moral courage throughout history a police man would probably not be your first thought. Serpico is a hero known by few and might be lost in time. His actions have inspired other cops who were bystanders to police corruption to stand up and end their silence. He was a big step in revolutionizing what a true police officer is today.
TIMELINE OF FRANK SERPICO
1. Frank Serpico was born on April 14,1936
2. Serpico served on the New York City Police department for 12 years
3. Serpico witnessed corruption in the department and refused to take bribes and he testified and exposed corruption in the police force
5. He was the first officer to willingly testify against other officers
6. Shot in the face in a drug bust on February 3,1971 . He was not protected properly by his fellow officers.
7. When shot in the drug bust in 1972 he lost hearing in his left ear
8. Serpico testified against fellow officers to the Knapp Commission in October and December of 1971
9. Serpico was awarded for his bravery due to him being shot in the drug bust and immediately quit the force
10. Serpico went to live in Switzerland for ten years before moving back to New York
11. In 1973 Al Pacino played Frank Serpico in a movie recounting the officer’s life The movie is called Serpico
12. Now lives in New York City
1. Frank Serpico was born on April 14,1936
2. Serpico served on the New York City Police department for 12 years
3. Serpico witnessed corruption in the department and refused to take bribes and he testified and exposed corruption in the police force
5. He was the first officer to willingly testify against other officers
6. Shot in the face in a drug bust on February 3,1971 . He was not protected properly by his fellow officers.
7. When shot in the drug bust in 1972 he lost hearing in his left ear
8. Serpico testified against fellow officers to the Knapp Commission in October and December of 1971
9. Serpico was awarded for his bravery due to him being shot in the drug bust and immediately quit the force
10. Serpico went to live in Switzerland for ten years before moving back to New York
11. In 1973 Al Pacino played Frank Serpico in a movie recounting the officer’s life The movie is called Serpico
12. Now lives in New York City