How a specialized police unit spiraled into systemic corruption
In short: In Baltimore, a highly specialized task force became a symbol of law enforcement failure. What began as a mission to combat gun violence devolved into a web of criminal activity, involving officers who were eventually convicted for their roles in a widespread corruption scandal.
The HBO miniseries We Own This City, which premiered on April 25, 2022, dramatizes the descent of the Baltimore Police Department's Gun Trace Task Force (GTTF) into criminality. Based on the nonfiction book by Baltimore Sun investigative reporter Justin Fenton, the six-episode series explores how a unit intended to curb violence instead became a central figure in a major corruption investigation. The narrative, directed by Reinaldo Marcus Green, utilizes a nonlinear structure and frequent flashbacks to detail these events.
At the heart of the scandal was Sergeant Wayne Jenkins, portrayed by Jon Bernthal. Jenkins was one of eight officers who faced conviction on various corruption charges during 2018 and 2019. The series examines the systemic nature of this misconduct, illustrating how individual choices contributed to a broader breakdown of institutional integrity within the department. This theme of systemic failure was noted by critics on Rotten Tomatoes, who described the show as a pessimistic exploration of compromised individuals.
The production of the series faced several logistical hurdles, including a one-week halt in September 2021 due to a COVID-19 event. Despite this, the series received significant critical acclaim. On Rotten Tomatoes, it maintained a 93% approval rating with an average score of 8.3/10 from 56 critics. Metacritic also awarded the series a score of 83 out of 100, indicating universal acclaim. The production involved a large ensemble cast, including Josh Charles, Jamie Hector, and Wunmi Mosaku, to bring this complex true story to life.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: We Own This City
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