About this episode

The episode explores the corruption within the NOPD during the 1990s, focusing on Operation Shattered Shield and the tragic story of Kim Groves.

In the early 1990s, New Orleans was known as the "Murder Capital of America," but the most dangerous criminals weren't just on the streets—some were wearing badges. Today on This Feels Criminal, Tyrella and Nikita break down Operation Shattered Shield, the massive FBI sting that exposed deep-seated corruption within the NOPD. We follow the story of the Hardy Brothers, a violent drug syndicate protected by the very officers sworn to stop them. At the center of it all is Officer Len Davis, a man so feared he was nicknamed "The Desire Projects Terrorist." When 32-year-old mother Kim Groves filed a brutality complaint against him, she had no idea she was signing her own death warrant. In this episode, we discuss: The Hardy Boys: How Wayne and Paul Hardy built a drug empire with help from inside the police department. The FBI Sting: How an undercover agent posing as a Miami dealer caught NOPD officers guarding shipments of cocaine. The Betrayal of Kim Groves: The heartbreaking story of a mother who stood up for her community and the chilling moment her murder was caught on an FBI wire. The Aftermath: The fallout of the 2012 DOJ consent decree and the quest for reform in New Orleans…

People in this episode

Hosts: Tyrella, Nikita

Topics covered

• police corruption
• drug syndicates
• FBI stings
• true crime
• New Orleans history
• community activism

Keywords

• NOPD
• Operation Shattered Shield
• Len Davis
• Kim Groves
• FBI sting
• drug empire
• police brutality
• New Orleans
• corruption

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: NOPD, FBI, DOJ

Places: New Orleans

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