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Wiltshire Division, Vice Detail. Joe Friday and Frank Smith are on the trail of bad cops who take bribes to extort money.
After being picked up for bookmaking, Lawrence claims to be no “stoolie”, but has come to grips with Joe and Frank as he talks circles around the matter, he recounts his life as a bookie, and how he got picked up by a cop on the make.
In voiceover, Joe describes looking through photo line ups of cops and employees. Mrs. Lawrence knows her husband is no good but resents the constant pestering the cops give her as well as her husband. It’s soon clear that Williams is no cop. Mrs. Williams joins the photo lineup which is expanded to other known extortionists. Other victims are approached, but will they be willing to help?
Joe explains the age-old scam, posing as a cop to commit crime as he continues to share the mundane progress of the case. Victims slowly emerge to say how they were caught gambling, then were extorted, and thought there was no use or hope in reporting the crimes. The embarrassment of the blackmail keeps mouths shut even for people who are broke, not just the rich.
Assurances to the victims finally pay off. Joe Friday and Frank Smith are on the move to catch the phony cop redhanded.
