The Best Police Corruption Shows

Operating out of a converted church, an experimental division of the Los Angeles Police Department uses criminal methods to coerce information and stage arrests and take a share of various drug busts. The Shield's cast, led by Michael Chiklis, boasts quite a bit of star power including Glenn Close and Forest Whitaker in extended roles. It also enjoyed continued critical acclaim over its run, including an Emmy for Michael Chiklis.

The Wire thematically follows five different institutions in the city of Baltimore and their relation to law enforcement, told through the eyes of recurring characters and continuing storylines. The drama collected an extensive cast over the years including popular characters played by Dominic West, Idris Elba, Andre Royo, and Michael K. Williams. During its airing, the series only received average viewership and received no major awards but is retroactively considered one of the greatest television shows of all time due to its hyper realistic portrayal of crime and urban life, use of real-life Baltimore and Maryland figures, and multi-layered narratives.

Based on the nonfiction book of the same name, We Own This City traces the rise and fall of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force and the corruption surrounding it. The ensemble cast features Jon Bernthal in the lead role as well as Wunmi Mosaku, Jamie Hector, and Josh Charles. The series has received critical acclaim, including one review calling it a “spiritual successor to The Wire with an even more pessimistic outlook on law enforcement.”

ADA Decourcy Ward and corrupt FBI veteran Jackie Rohr join forces to tackle a case that will change the city's justice system forever. Aldis Hodge and Kevin Bacon play the central two characters in the series, which was based on a story by Ben Affleck and Charlie MacLean. City on a Hill was praised for being ambitious and entertaining even if it didn't always land gracefully.

NYPD detective Harlee Santos is forced by the FBI to go undercover and investigate her squad, headed up by Matt Wozniak, after being confronted about her own complicit corruption. Jennifer Lopez stars opposite Ray Liotta with Drea de Matteo, Warren Kole, and Dayo Okeniyi playing supporting roles. Critics praised the performance of Lopez especially, and considered the show a glossy, fun ride. 

Set fifteen years after the events of the 2001 film, Officer Kyle Craig partners with the morally ambiguous Detective Frank Roarke as he infiltrates the LAPD's Special Investigation Section. Bill Paxton stars as Roarke, in one of his final roles before passing, while Justin Cornwell plays his rookie partner. The show received mixed reviews for being entertaining but not always being able to distinguish itself from other police procedurals.