The Seven Five

The Seven Five recounts the police corruption scandal at the 75th Precinct in New York City during the 1980s crack epidemic. The film primarily follows former police officer Michael Dowd and the events that ultimately led to his arrest.

The 75th Precinct in Brooklyn had one of the highest murder rates in the United States and was considered one of the most dangerous areas in the country during the late 1980s. Dowd felt overworked, underappreciated, and underpaid. He accepted bribes, robbed drug dealers, and protected cartel figures such as Adam Diaz.

Dowd was later assigned a new partner, Ken Eurell, who struggled with alcoholism and drank while on duty. However, when Dowd planned to kidnap a woman at the behest of a Colombian gangster for ransom, Eurell contacted Internal Affairs, leading to Dowd’s arrest. The case triggered a wider investigation into corruption within the NYPD, resulting in the arrest of dozens of police officers.