Which commission examined widespread corruption in the NYPD during the 1970s?

• A. Mollen Commission
• B. Kefauver Commission
• C. Knapp Commission
• D. Warren Commission

Answer: (C)

The situation this question points to is examined by the Knapp Commission. Formed in New York City in 1970 to investigate the NYPD, it produced a landmark report in 1972 that revealed widespread bribery, gratuities, and other corrupt practices within the department. The findings highlighted how pervasive corruption was and introduced concepts like “meat-eaters” (officers who actively solicited bribes) and “grass-eaters” (officers who passively tolerated corruption). The commission’s work spurred reforms aimed at stronger oversight, internal discipline, and accountability in policing.

For context, the Kefauver and Warren Commissions addressed other topics (organized crime in general and the JFK assassination, respectively), and the Mollen Commission investigated NYPD corruption later, in the 1990s.