The police on the bench

treason, intimidation and suspicion in an oral trial of exonerated police officers

Abstract

In 2019, eight police chiefs were brought to trial for receiving bribes. I propose to analyze said trial from the observations, interviews and news that appeared at the time of the raid that originated the case and the oral trial. Starting from the accounts of former police officers, witnesses, and the judicial process, I propose, first, to reconstruct accusations of treason that highlight informal mechanisms of institutional protection and punishment. Second, analyze the exercise of intimidation of witnesses and mistrust in my presence. This allows us to point out first that, although the exercise of police power focuses on stigmatized and / or illegalized population and activities, it also occurs on colleagues, witnesses and investigators and, second, that it is not the exclusive power of the police in activity, but also of exonerated officials and even their families and lawyers.