A police officer in plainclothes is eating lunch in a restaurant on his day off. He is not noticed by two patrol officers sitting at the counter having coffee. The uniformed patrol officers get up and leave without paying or even leaving a tip. The owner of the coffee shop is overheard just before the officers leave without paying, saying that he is grateful the police presence remains strong in this rough part of town. The plainclothes police officer decides not to say anything to the officers even though they were wrong not to pay or tip. What is this an example of?

Question

Zack Silva

Social Studies

4 September, 21:22

A police officer in plainclothes is eating lunch in a restaurant on his day off. He is not noticed by two patrol officers sitting at the counter having coffee. The uniformed patrol officers get up and leave without paying or even leaving a tip. The owner of the coffee shop is overheard just before the officers leave without paying, saying that he is grateful the police presence remains strong in this rough part of town. The plainclothes police officer decides not to say anything to the officers even though they were wrong not to pay or tip. What is this an example of?

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Answers (1)

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Nola Ray · Answer 1

The answer to the case given in the question is a phenomenon called the blue curtain or blue wall of silence.

This refers to a term used in the United States where police officers would not report her or his police officer colleagues who have done any errors, misconducts, or crimes. It is clear from the case that the two patrol officers were committing misconduct by not paying the owner of the coffee shop, but the plain clothed police officer did not say anything.