Frank Serpico

Frank Serpico was an NYPD cop who shot to fame for exposing widespread corruption and cop-on-cop crime within the police force in the early 1970s.

Law Officer

April 14, 1936

Aries

88

Frank Serpico, a retired American police officer, whistleblower, and activist, gained prominence for revealing extensive corruption within the New York Police Department during the late 1960s and early 1970s. His actions led to the establishment of the Knapp Commission, which investigated police corruption in the city. Serpico’s story inspired the 1973 film “Serpico,” starring Al Pacino, and he authored a book titled “Serpico: The Classic Story of the Cop Who Couldn’t Be Bought” that same year. He has received numerous awards and honors for his courage and advocacy.

Serpico’s other notable accomplishments include participating in the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee during the Civil Rights Movement, advocating for police reform and accountability, and working as a lecturer and public speaker. In recent years, he has continued to speak out against police corruption and push for reform, addressing the lack of justice for victims of police abuse, such as George Floyd. Serpico remains a leading figure in the fight for law enforcement accountability.

An interesting fact about Frank Serpico is that he became one of New York’s most renowned police officers after helping to expose one of the Police Department’s most notorious corruption scandals.