Police corruption and abuse of authority in Training Day

Moving Training Day

Training Day

In the moving Training Day, Officer Jake Hoyt (Ethan Hawk) and Detective Alonzo Harris (Denzel Washington) serve on a narcotics unit that Harris commands. He is a highly decorated officer inside the LAPD (who is known for his good police work and strong track record of convictions). Hoyt is a young officer who wants to become involved in undercover work and advance his career. Set on Hoyt's first day, the movie discusses the issues surrounding the role of police authority and how it is exercised. To fully understand the way that these ideas apply to field of criminal justice requires: comparing select aspects of the movie with key law enforcement procedures. Together, these elements will highlight the way these practices are applied and what aspects should be taken into account to prevent abuse. ("Training Day," 2001)

Key Points from Training Day

Training Day is focusing on how Hoyt is reacting to the less formalized policies and procedures that Harris is using. This occurs at the start of the movie when Hoyt is on his way to roll call and is informed that they do not have to go. As the film continues, Harris engages in activities that are designed to benefit himself / his associates and test Hoyt's loyalty. The most notable include: failing to make key arrests, performing illegal searches and creating a fake police shooting. The way that Harris fails to make key arrests occurs: when he witnesses a drug deal and an attempted rape. These issues are problematic, as they are illustrating how Harris is completely corrupt. ("Training Day," 2001)

To test how far Hoyt will go, Harris has him smoke marijuana and will visit a friend of his named Roger (who is known drug dealer and former police officer). They then leave and Harris meets with high ranking police officials. These individuals tell him that they know about his situation with Russian Mafia and they advise him to leave town. Harris assures them that he can handle everything. He then gives them some money (which was sized earlier from gang members and a drug dealer named Sandman). Harris tells Hoyt that he had to pay these individuals with the money he seized from Sandman to secure the warrant. ("Training Day," 2001)

They return to Roger's house and find the money that he has hidden underneath his kitchen. It is at this point that Harris kills Roger and then works with the rest of his team to create a cover story. This involves every man receiving a percentage of the money that was recovered. Then, Harris shoots one team member and places the gun in Roger's hand. This is to show that when they entered the premises, he shot one of the officers. To defend themselves, they were forced to kill Roger. ("Training Day," 2001)

The problem is that Hoyt refuses to take the money and is shaken by these events. This is when Harris will go with Hoyt to the home of a Mexican gangster named Smiley. He hands him a bag of money and disappears. Smiley's wife goes in the other room and counts what was received. When she returns, Smiley and his associates drag Hoyt in the bathroom to execute him for Harris. It is at this point that Smiley comes across his cousin's wallet. This is who Hoyt rescued from two men who were attempting to rape her earlier in the movie. After realizing what happens, Smiley lets Hoyt go and says this is just business. The film ends with Hoyt and Harris having a final confrontation about the money. After being beaten up by Hoyt, Harris tells the crowd that whoever kills him will receive half that money that he has on him. However, the neighborhood does not respect Harris and refuses to intervene. The final scene shows, Harris being murder by the Russian mafia and Hoyt hearing this on the news as he is driving home. These areas are illustrating how Harris is violating numerous aspects of criminal justice procedures and the law. ("Training Day," 2001)

Conclusion

Clearly, the movie Training Day is showing the challenges that most law enforcement officers will face. This is occurring through their desire to enforce the law and remain within its boundaries. Yet, at the same time they are dealing with criminal elements that are corrupt and have tremendous amounts of influence. The challenges that most individuals will have to face, is maintaining a balance in enforcing the law and the relationship that they have with these elements. Those who are able to remember these objectives will be able to follow the different constitutional provisions and prevent abuses from occurring. This is when the public will have more support for the police department and the activities that they are involved in.