Rampart: The LAPD's Darkest Chapter
How did an elite police unit become a national symbol of corruption?
4.4 (31)
204 mins
In the Rampart scandal, officers in the Los Angeles Police Department CRASH unit were exposed for framing suspects, planting evidence, and violent abuses of power—uncovering a hidden system of misconduct that shook public trust in American policing.
Ep 1:
The Cop Who Became the Gang
Rafael Pérez of the Los Angeles Police Department CRASH unit became entangled in a web of corruption that turned parts of the department into a gang-like operation, where the line between law enforcement and criminal behavior disappeared.
Ep 2:
The Bisquick Switch
Rafael Pérez became central to a widening investigation after a secret audit uncovered missing evidence from the property room, leading to allegations of theft, a high-profile arrest, a mistrial, and a plea deal that ultimately turned him into a key informant against fellow officers.
Ep 3:
The Whistleblower’s Map
Rafael Pérez began cooperating with investigators, and his recorded confessions helped expose a network of corruption involving framed suspects, overturned convictions, violence inside stations, and a department-wide crisis that shook the entire LAPD.
Ep 4:
The Price of the Badge
In the aftermath of the Rampart scandal, the LAPD faced lawsuits, overturned convictions, and a $125 million settlement, while leadership including Bernard Parks came under intense scrutiny and federal oversight began reshaping how the department operated in the shadow of systemic corruption.
Discussions (5)
Deborah
Level 7 · 4 mo agoPlanted evidence, stolen coke, and pancake mix in evidence bags. The audacity was truly seasoned.
Rowan
Level 8 · 4 mo agoThe tattoo system is wild. Built their own rank structure.
Brock
Level 2 · 4 mo agoBisquick in a police evidence bag is the most American plot twist ever
