Whitman Knapp

Infobox Judge
name = P. Whitman Knapp


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alma_mater = Harvard University
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birthdate = birth date|1909|2|24|mf=y
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deathdate = death date and age|2004|6|14|1909|2|24|mf=y
deathplace = New York, New York
spouse = Ann Fallert Knapp
religion =

Percy Whitman Knapp (February 24, 1909 - June 14, 2004) was a federal judge who led a far-reaching investigation into corruption in the New York City Police Department from 1970 to 1972.

Childhood and education

Whitman Knapp was the son of Wallace Percy Knapp, a wealthy New York lawyer. His mother was killed in a horse riding accident in Central Park when he was only three years old. He attended St. Bernard's School, graduating in 1923, Choate boarding school, graduating in 1927 and Yale University, graduating in 1931. He went on to Harvard Law School, where he was editor of the Harvard Law Review, graduating in 1934. He married Elizabeth Mercer shortly after graduation.

Law

After his graduation from law school, he started working with the law firm of Cadwalader, Wickersham & Taft in Manhattan. He remained there until 1938, when he left to become an Assistant District Attorney in Manhattan under the newly elected racket-busting District Attorney Thomas E. Dewey.

In 1941, Mr. Knapp returned to private life and joined the law firm of Donovan, Leisure, Newton & Lumbard. Within a year Frank S. Hogan, Manhattan's new District Attorney, persuaded him to return to the fold. At one point Mr. Knapp was chief of three bureaus: appeals, indictments, and fraud.

In 1950, Mr. Knapp left Mr. Hogan’s office to again enter private practice. In the next few years he served as a special counsel to Mr. Dewey, who had become governor of New York State, and was a member of the commission that revised the state’s criminal code.

Knapp served during 1953-1954 as special counsel to the Waterfront Commission of New York Harbor, which looked into corruption on the waterfront.

Knapp Commission

In 1970, Mayor John V. Lindsay appointed Knapp to head a five-member commission investigating corruption in the New York City Police Department later known as the Knapp Commission. The probe was sparked by revelations from two police officers, Patrolman Frank Serpico and Sergeant David Durk.

Looking back on the work of the Knapp Commission, Knapp said that the relatively few convictions did not matter as much as his work did, for he felt his work had changed the culture of the police so that they took the charge of corruption in their midst more seriously.

Federal judge

As the Knapp Commission was ending its investigation and was preparing to issue a report, President Richard M. Nixon nominated Knapp as a Judge of the U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York. Knapp was quickly confirmed and was seated on the bench on June 30, 1972.

*In 1986, Judge Knapp presided over the racketeering case against Bronx County Democratic leader Stanley M. Friedman.

*In 1987, Judge Knapp was appointed United States Senior District Court Judge.

*In 1993, Judge Knapp joined with Judge Jack B. Weinstein of the United States District Court for the Eastern District of New York, based in Brooklyn, New York, in declaring that they would no longer preside over drug trials.

Judge Knapp developed a reputation for resisting cynicism, never losing faith in the ability of police to do the right thing.

Death

In 2004, Judge Knapp died at the age of 95 at the Cabrini Hospice in Manhattan. He served on the bench up until his death. He was survived by his third wife, Ann Fallert Knapp, a son, Gregory Wallace Knapp, and by three children from his first wife, Elizabeth Mercer Nason; a son, Whitman E. Knapp, and two daughters, Caroline Hines and Marion Knapp; five grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. [cite news |first= |last= |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=Whitman Knapp, 95, Dies. Exposed Police Corruption. |url=http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20C14FC3A540C768DDDAF0894DC404482 |quote=Whitman Knapp, a federal judge with a prosecutor's tenacity and a Wall Street pedigree who led New York City through a tumultuous two-year investigation into widespread police corruption in the early 1970's, died yesterday at Cabrini Hospice in Manhattan. He was 95 and lived in Manhattan. |publisher=New York Times |date=June 15, 2004 |accessdate=2008-06-18 ]

References

Further reading

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30A10FB3E5813738DDDAB0A94DD405B828DF1D3 HER HORSE KILLS HER IN CENTRAL PARK; Falls on Mrs. Knapp, Crushing Her Chest, While She Is Riding with Daughter - New York Times article: May 22, 1912]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0F17FE395F11738DDDAF0994DE405B818FF1D3 YALE ALUMNI HOLD COLORFUL REUNIONS; HONORED MEMBERS OF YALE'S GRADUATING CLASS - New York Times article: June 16, 1931]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00610FB3958177A93C5AB178DD85F408385F9 MISS MERCER PICKS BRIDAL ATTENDANTS; Brookline, Mass., Girl to Be Wed to Percy Whitman Knapp in Maine on Saturday - New York Times article: June 27, 1934]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50717F73B5A157A93CBAB1789D95F438385F9 DEWEY APPOINTS 14; AVERAGE AGE IS 32; Eleven Republicans, Two of Labor Party and Democrat Named as Assistants - New York Times article: December 29, 1937]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70A14FB385A137A93C6A9178AD95F428585F9 MRS. MARROW WED TO WHITMAN KNAPP - New York Times article: November 4, 1956]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10A15F9385C127A93C2AA178DD85F438585F9 MRS. KNAPP WED TO JOHN W. NASON; Former Elizabeth Mercer and Ex-Swarthmore Head Marry at Keene Valley - New York Times article: June 30, 1957]
* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10814FF355517768FDDAC0A94DC405B808BF1D3 Graft Paid to Police Here Said to Run Into Millions; Survey Links Payoffs to Gambling and Narcotics Some on Force Accuse Officials of Failure to Act Graft Payments to Policemen Here Are Reported to Run Into the Millions Annually Some Members of Force Say Officials Fail to Act - New York Times article: April 25, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F20911F9395F147188DDAF0A94DC405B808BF1D3 Mayor's Committee Investigating Police Corruption Here Meets Tomorrow to Determine Procedures - New York Times article: April 26, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F60D10FE3F5D137B93CBA9178ED85F448785F9 PANEL ON POLICE MAY BE REPLACED; Mayor Is Expected to Name a Larger Unit on Graft That Excludes Leary - New York Times article: May 9, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10812F63F5D137B93C0AB178ED85F448785F9 LINDSAY APPOINTS CORRUPTION UNIT; Subpoena Power Asked for 2d Panel to Study Police - New York Times article: May 22, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00914FE3B5A157493C1AB178ED85F448785F9 Graft-Inquiry Head; Percy Whitman Knapp - New York Times article: May 23, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40911FA3555107A93C5A9178DD85F448785F9 KNAPP SAYS LAWS SPUR POLICE GRAFT; Lindsay Appointee Explains Objectives of Inquiry - New York Times article: June 7, 1970]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F5081EFA3A55127B93C5A81789D85F458785F9 41 Policemen Are Subpoenaed By Knapp Unit in Betting Inquiry- New York Times article: February 17, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F10D1FF73954127B93CBA9178DD85F458785F9 PERJURY LAID TO 2 IN POLICE INQUIRY; Patrolmen in Meat Incident Are First to Be Accused in Knapp Investigation Perjury Charged to 2 Policemen In Knapp Inquiry on Corruption - New York Times article: June 9, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50714FD3A5B1A7493C0A9178CD85F458785F9 Knapp Says Mayor Shares Blame for Corrupt Police; Knapp Faults Lindsay On Corruption of Police - New York Times article: July 2, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50811F6385C1A7493CBA8178BD95F458785F9 KNAPP UNIT TELLS OF POLICE BRIBERY AS HEARINGS OPEN; Reports 'Extensive' Problem in Corruption Here--Tape Evidence Is Presented DETAILS OF VICE GRAFT 2 Patrolmen and a Lawyer Linked to Payoffs to Help an East Side Madam Knapp Panel Tells of Police Bribery as Hearings Begin Here - New York Times article: October 19, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F50A12FE3B5C1A7493C1AB178BD95F458785F9 Patrolman Says 'All But 2' Of Colleagues Got Bribes; Numbers Runner Tells the Knapp Panel That He Paid Off a Detective Monthly With Money From Social Security Patrolman Says 'All But 2' Colleagues Took Bribes - New York Times article: October 23, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0917F7345B137A93C6AB178BD95F458785F9 KNAPP UNIT'S HEAD DEFENDS LEGALITY OF INVESTIGATION; Public Attention Is Essential in Combating Corruption, Lawyer Tells Critics HOGAN BACKS HEARINGS But Roberts Scores Actions -- Police Bid Businessmen End Giving of Gratuities Knapp Commission Chairman Defends Legality of Investigation - New York Times article: October 24, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FA0616FB3D591A7493C7AB178BD95F458785F9 Knapp Urges a Permanent Body on Police Corruption to Succeed His Panel - New York Times article: October 25, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F40C1EFB345B1A7493C2AA178BD95F458785F9 Knapp Witness to Tell of Lindsay Officials' Apathy; Witness Will Tell Knapp Panel Lindsay Officials Ignored Graft - New York Times article: October 30, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F4071EF63B5C1A7493C6A81789D95F458785F9 Leary Agrees to Be Knapp Witness - New York Times article: December 14, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F1081EF73D591A7493C7A81789D95F458785F9 Serpico's Lonely Journey to Knapp Witness Stand - New York Times article: December 15, 1971]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=FB0D13FC3C59107A93CBA9178AD85F468785F9 The Knapp Commission Didn't Know It Couldn't Be Done; The Knapp Commission - New York Times article: January 9, 1972]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70C16FA3C5B107A93C3AB1788D85F468785F9 Phillips, a Knapp Witness, Indicted in Two Murders; Phillips, Knapp Witness, Is Indicted - New York Times article: March 21, 1972]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F00A16FF3A591A7493C4A8178DD85F468785F9 KNAPP NOMINATED AS FEDERAL JUDGE; Head of Police Inquiry Unit One of Four Named Here - New York Times article: June 16, 1972]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F30E16FC395E127A93C5AB1783D85F468785F9 Knapp Panel's Recommendation a Touchy Problem for Mayor and Governor - New York Times article: August 27, 1972]

* [http://select.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=F70B11FF3E59107A93CAAB1789D95F468785F9 KNAPP PANEL SAYS WALSH AND OTHERS IGNORED TIPS BY U.S. ON POLICE CRIMES; KRIEGEL IS SCORED - New York Times article: December 28, 1972]

External links

* [http://www.fjc.gov/servlet/tGetInfo?jid=1294 Federal Judicial Center - Judges of the United States Courts]

ee also

*Thomas E. Dewey
*Frank S. Hogan
*John V. Lindsay
*Knapp Commission
*Mollen Commission
*Police corruption
*Police misconduct
*Frank Serpico
*"Serpico"
*United States District Court for the Southern District of New York
*United States federal judge