Corruption is rampant within the department, especially if supervisors do not control or prevent the spread of corruption. The use of the term blue wall of protection is why other officers and department leaders keep corrupt actions secret. For example, when an agent notices another agent taking or accepting bribes in exchange for favors, he or she will not report the colleague to protect him or her from reprimand or dismissal for his or her unethical act. Rotten Apple Hypothesis: Focuses the root of corruption on the character, or lack thereof, of the individual officer. This explanation proposes that corruption is the result of inadequate selection practices that fail to screen out unsuitable candidates for public service (Withrow & Dailey, p. 4). The bad apple hypothesis believes that people are born bad no matter what. These people who are bad apples are usually exposed to bad behavior as children. Officers considered bad apples are usually involved in murders, robberies and extortion. Their act creates a division within the