The Top 10 Worst Dirty Cops From Movies

Dirty Cops Have a Long History on the Silver Screen.

2020 is a year that’s been hella divisive, especially since the Black Lives Matter movement has (once again) dragged the epidemic of police misconduct and brutality once more into the spotlight. People have a lot of strong emotions tied to law enforcement these days, and while I don’t think all cops are bad, there are enough so-called rotten apples that dirty cops have become a major element in movies. Why does this matter? Because art imitates life, and the character trope had to come from somewhere. Look, I’m not here to condemn every officer out there doing their job right, but I’m also not going to say that every cop is a “good guy” just because he wears a uniform. With that in mind, I’ve pulled together 10 of the wickedest, vilest, and most deplorable dirty cops to ever grace the silver screen. There are a lot out there, but I aimed for the worst of the worst: the kind of officers who slap cuffs on you for resisting arrest, but never mention what you were being arrested for in the first place. With that in mind, I’m also sticking to state police (no federal agents) and only listing American characters. I would tell you to brush up on your rights before taking on this list, but I honestly think bringing them up would only get you a face full of mace from these dirty cops.

10. Captain Hank Quinlan- Touch of Evil

Unfortunately, racism in law enforcement is nothing new. Even in the 1950s cinematic genius, Orson Welles knew that there were a lot of dirty cops out there just looking for an excuse to make life worse for people of color. Not only did he co-write and direct Touch of Evil (that’s just how the guy rolled), but he starred as the disgusting Captain Hark Quinlan. Quinlan is the kind of cop that staggers onto a crime scene reeking of booze and hotdog burps, ready to blame the first Mexican he can for the crime so that he can get back to drinking and presumably enjoying $1 hotdog night. This lowlife border town lawman couldn’t find his feet much less actual evidence. So, it’s no surprise that he freely admits to planting some of his own to close out his past cases. His justification? He swears he only set up people he knew were guilty. I’m pretty sure that framing people isn’t a part of the 5th amendment, but Quinlan’s probably never read the constitution.   

9. Officer John Ryan- Crash

Personally, I found Paul Haggis’ Crash cumbersome in how heavy-handed it was. That isn’t to say that it certainly didn’t hit the nail on the head with a lot of the themes and characters, especially Matt Dillon’s irredeemable Officer John Ryan. In a disturbing scene, Officer Ryan pulls a couple over, and upon seeing that they happen to be black, he decides to “exercise” his authority by being a racist, condescending dick head. When Thandie Newton’s character dares to talk back, he subjects the couple to a body search. To prove what a big, tough guy he is hiding behind his badge, Officer Ryan molests her while forcing her husband to watch. After getting an apology, the scumbag lets them off with a warning. I hate to say it, but there are dirty cops out there just like Officer Ryan protected by a blue wall of silence and that’s exactly why there have been so many protests.

8. Captain McCluskey- The Godfather

Every capo knows that if you’re going to get into organized crime, you’ll need a few dirty cops on your payroll. Sicilian drug slinger Sollozzo’s dirty cop just so happens to be an old school, tough as nails Irish NYPD Captain McCluskey (Sterling Hayden). Sure, the Irish didn’t exactly have an easy time in the land of opportunity when they first arrived, but that’s no excuse for them becoming bullies with badges. Captain McCluskey shows little restraint when it comes to “roughing” up criminals, and actually breaks Michael Corleone’s jaw the first time they meet. To make matters worse, he’s protecting a dealer who is selling poison to kids in order to turn a profit. I’m not going to glamorize the Corleone family since, well, they were villains too, but at least they stayed out of the drug game. At least McCluskey is one of the few dirty cops that actually got his comeuppance. 

7. Captain Dudley Smith- L.A. Confidential

Before this list of dirty cops from movies is done you’ll notice that a lot of these characters are members of the LAPD. That’s because the LAPD has a rich and vibrant history of royally screwing the pooch when it comes to police corruption. Captain Dudley Smith (James Cromwell) is a perfect example of the type of attitude that has a history of running rampant in tight-knit police stations. Behind those kind eyes and grandfatherly disposition lurks the kind of man who believes the best way to get a confession is to beat it out of a suspect and that evidence was made to be planted. Captain Smith spent years indoctrinating his officers to his method of law enforcement and has no qualms in removing any obstacles in his path. He’s eventually discovered, but rather than admit to the corruption, the LAPD paints Captain Smith as a hero who died in the line of duty.    

6. Lieutenant Terence McDonagh- Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans

It was a toss-up which Bad Lieutenant to include the original Harvey Keitel version or the Nicolas Cage one. The two films really have nothing to do with one another, but it felt kind of weird to have multiple entries with eerily similar titles on a top 10 list. So, I went with the Cage version, because, let’s face it, finding good movies he’s in these days is a bit… Challenging. HIs post 90s erratic, high energy style turns out to be perfectly suited for a drug-addicted, gambling debt addled New Orleans police officer. McDonagh starts the film off as a jerk, sure, but a good deed hurls him down a dark path when he’s prescribed oxycodone for a back injury he received while rescuing a drowning convict during a hurricane (who he mocked before saving). Now he’s addicted to everything under the sky and owes some dangerous people over 50 grand. To make ends meet, he tips off local criminals of police activity. Still, McDonagh falls pretty far, and he wasn’t exactly an angel to begin with.