Whistleblower ex-cop explains why it's hard to be the 'good apples' in police department

Ever since the horrifying death of George Floyd in custody set off nationwide anti-racism protests demanding police accountability, many have defended the police department with this excuse: "Of course, there are some bad apples in the force but that doesn't mean all cops are bad." Even if one truly wanted to believe that this is the case, widespread incidents of police brutality at protests in the past few weeks alone paint a very different picture. It has unveiled the deep flaws in the law enforcement system to such an extent that it has left us wondering whether there are any "good apples" in the mix at all. 

Ex-cop and former undercover police officer Paul Manning recently addressed the topic in a now-viral Twitter thread in which he recounted what happened to him after he called out the problematic actions of a fellow cop. Want to know why it’s so hard for #cops to be 'good apples'... he began. It was 2007 and I was assisting a call with an officer I’d never met before. He was from another team working overtime. Right in front of me, he broke a kid's nose with a punch. The septum was clearly deviated and blood was everywhere. The kid was handcuffed and the officer enquired of me “what should ‘we’ arrest him for?” “What did he do?” I enquired.

"He called me a name," he said. After 20 mins of him trying to persuade me we should fabricate a crime, he had to let the kid go. "We need to do notes, get our story straight" he then told me, Manning recalled. I don't need assistance in writing what happened. I found a quiet place and wrote the facts. As I wrote I was joined by a female A/Sgt who knew this officer. She spent 20 mins trying to convince me this kid was a "shitbag" & my notes should 'reflect the danger he posed.' I was disgusted. We don't behave this way. I went to the Platoon Commander and provide a statement for the assault I'd witnessed. An investigation commenced—one which should have been forwarded to @SIUOntario [Special Investigations Unit]. 

Manning believed that due process would be followed. But he was proven wrong. The investigator asked me questions like "How do you know his nose was broken?" and "Where did you get your medical degree?" (seriously?) Then came the result, a phone call from the Superintendent whilst I was home. "Paul, our investigation is complete and you've been found guilty of misconduct in that you failed to communicate with a colleague. A verbal warning will be put on file. Be careful in the future," he revealed. When I got back to work I was moved from my team, and away from my friends, to this officer's team. Officers just point blank refused to talk to me and I went to many calls by myself, without backup.

Then a message from another officer on the team to meet him. He told me how we "look after" each other on this team. "Don't stab each other in the back." Then for some fucked up reason, he dropped the 'n-bomb' out of nowhere. I just drove off leaving him sat there. Then I was called into the Deputy Chief's office, with the same Superintendent and my Union rep. In front of both, he told me to “be careful what you say in the future or you might not get back up when you need it.” I was an A/Inspector when I left the Met in 2005 to move to #Canada, but my appraisal that year reflected incompetence and unworthiness of the position of constable. Every position or course I applied for I was refused. I continued to #whistleblow until the Chief told me "You really have no concept of brotherhood, do you?" Manning tweeted.

Then I whistleblew #anonymous. 2015-ish, after going off sick with #PTSD from attempted murder, I went public with everything, to be met with a 'covert operation' by not only senior management but a member of the City council and lawyers, telling anyone who would listen I'm "nuts, crazy and delusional." This is how they deal with officers who tried to do the right thing. Two warrants on my home, numerous criminal investigations, and one arrest later and I'll still do the right thing no matter what they try and do to me, he stated. The officer who broke that kid's nose is now a Sergeant, probably helping others cover up their wrongdoings. Me, I'm off sick and will probably never find gainful employment again. Was it worth it? F*ck, no! Would I do the same? F*ck, yes! Would I advise other officers to break the 'blue wall of silence'? Well, that's for them to decide, but it will end your career. Until you offer protection for 'good apples' you are asking them to give up their careers because of someone else's wrongdoing.