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Police Misconduct

Michael Bell Sr., a White man, looks at a high school photo of his son, Michael Bell Jr., a White man, while sitting at a table. Four other photos of Michael are visible beneath the high school photo of Michael Bell Jr.
Feature September 25
A Wisconsin Board Says the Real Victim of Police Misconduct Is … the Government
Michael Bell says Kenosha police killed his son and covered up the truth. A victims rights board had a different takeaway.
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Signs lie on the ground as a person hovers over one on the left side of the photo, and another person holds one with a gloved hand. A sign in the center reads: "Justice for Sandra Birchmore", and shows a picture of Sandra, a White young woman with brown hair and red-rimmed glasses.
Feature August 30
How a Massachusetts Cop Allegedly Groomed, Controlled and Killed Sandra Birchmore
Matthew Farwell met her in a police Explorer program. Prosecutors say he abused her for years before she became pregnant and he killed her.
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Traffic lights highlight the silhouette of a police officer as they wave their arm.
Closing Argument August 3
They Exposed Police Misconduct. Now They’re Paying a Steep Price.
Whistleblower laws have advanced in public and private sectors, but protections for police who report illegal or unethical behavior lag far behind.
By
A collage shows a side profile of a Black man in a suit, a clipping that shows a Minneapolis police badge and text, an image of protesters, and a mugshot of the same Black man with bruises on his face.
Feature June 16
The Minneapolis Cop Who Beat Him Pleaded Guilty. He Still Fears the Department Won’t Change.
Jaleel Stallings was swept up in the chaos of protests over George Floyd’s murder. The outcome changed his life.
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In a photo collage, from left, a photo of Former St. Louis Metropolitan Police Officer Lafeal Lawshea, a Black man; a gun in a clear plastic bag; a police vehicle; crime scene markers; Retired Sgt. Heather Taylor, a Black woman; white pills; a document from the Missouri Circuit Court that has handwriting that says “Defendant’s motion to suppress evidence is…”; and a photo of former Officer Ronald Vaughan.
Feature June 5
Some St. Louis Detectives May Have Botched Homicide Investigations
Several officers in the homicide unit faced internal complaints that they slept on the job, failed to get key evidence and lied to superiors.
By Rachel Lippmann, St. Louis Public Radio; Tom Scheck and Jennifer Lu, APM Reports
A security guard makes his rounds at Lakeforest Mall in Gaithersburg, Maryland, in February 2017.
Closing Argument May 11
When Bad Cops Become Private Security Guards
There’s growing evidence that former officers with troubling histories of abuse can easily find second careers in private security.
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A group of protesters hold signs, some showing photos of Sandra Birchmore, at a street corner. A person in the foreground is holding a pink sign and a small American flag.
Feature May 1
The Marshall Project Is Investigating Police Explorer Programs. We Want to Hear From You.
Help us report on police sexual abuse of young people in these law enforcement programs.
By The Marshall Project
A photo collage in black and white and blue tones shows, from left, an excerpt of a transcript that reads: “I hereby submit the following report into the matter of Sandra Birchmore, and into the possible violations…procedure, rules and regulations of the Stoughton Pol…”; a sign reading “Stoughton”, the silhouette of a police officer; the words “Sandra Birchmore”; an excerpt of a transcript that reads “The relationship continue…many years and included…and communications while…was on duty for the Stoug…Police Department.”; and a photo of Sandra Birchmore.
Feature May 1
In This Police Youth Program, a Trail of Sexual Abuse Across the U.S.
Explorer posts, overseen by the Boy Scouts, are supposed to foster an interest in policing. They have faced nearly 200 allegations of misconduct.
By , and
Analysis December 20, 2023
Some of Our Best Work of 2023
In podcasts, broadcasts and narrative stories, we examined prison conditions, prosecutions of pregnant women, Dungeons & Dragons on death row, and more.
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A photo shows the back of a police officer, with the words "Paterson Police" on their uniform.
Closing Argument June 3, 2023
Three Years After George Floyd’s Murder, Police Reforms Are Slow-Paced
There have been mostly modest changes following protests that galvanized the country in 2020.
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