The Blue Code of Silence (or Blue Wall of Silence) is an unwritten rule among police officers in the United States not to report on another colleague's errors, misconducts or crimes. If questioned about an incident of misconduct involving another officer (e.g. during the course of an official inquiry), if following the Blue Code of Silence it would be standard procedure to claim ignorance.

Ironically, it is similar to the code of silence in organized crime, like the Omertà.

Studies demonstrate that most police feel that the code is applicable in cases of “illegal brutality or bending of the rules in order to protect colleagues from criminal proceedings”, but not to illegal actions with an “acquisitive motive”.^[1][2]

Nevertheless, cases such as the Rampart Scandal demonstrate that blue code culture can sometimes extend to cover-ups of every level of crime, acquisitive or otherwise.

[edit] See also

• NYPD
• Frank Serpico

[edit] References

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