How does he keep his job? No way he does right? How does he go to the department the next day and explain what happened? He still smoked PCP, he still drank on the job, he still was a witness to crimes he did nothing to stop.
shareGood question. I'd imagine he'd voluntarily turn in his badge after giving a statement. Maybe IA would question other officers on his unit and the community to verify the claims. Otherwise he'd likely be discharged due to all of the conduct he partook in. Witnesses willing to testify to to Harris' ways, including his own wife/girlfriend may help. In the end though Jake probably would either return to the department he came from if the investigation found that Harris made him do much of what he did against his will or he'd simply have to find another line of work.
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In a deleted scene, Smiley tells Jake he reached the "next level," and might make chief someday
It's at least possible that Jake, with the help of the wise men, gets cover for his own actions as the force works to cover up Alonzo's malfeasance and murder
He has the money that Alonzo stole from Roger and was going to give to the Russians, no?
Didn’t Hoyt make a comment that “this [ie the money] is all the evidence I need?” It was when he barged in on Denzel and Eva, and Denzel said “It’s not what you know; it’s what you can prove”
So it’s implied that the money was Jake’s way of escaping the tangle / web.
Good question.
I don't work for a police department so I'm not sure how internal investigations work. I do know that drinking on the job is not necessarily uncommon for police. And not following the orders of your more experience superior officer is a big no no.
But, I would say he would be suspended without pay since this was probably his first offense. He was a rookie cop and was instructed by his much more experienced and the eyes of the police prestigious superior officer to smoke what he thought was weed and drink on the job. His part in the Sandman theft and crack dealer bust was all support of his superior officer. He did not know the warrant was fake or even that Alonzo stole money. He didn't open fire in a neighborhood only Alonzo after being shot at. He was also witness to crimes but was in danger of being killed himself if he didn't play along and knew he didn't have enough prof to stand against it.
Confronting his superior officer and taking a million into evidence I would assume would save his career if not earn him some kind of award of distinguished service to his community.
The part he would probably need to leave out was the Smiley scene. He unloaded and handed his weapon and left himself defenseless in the presence of armed men who were likely criminals if not at the very least sketchy men not to be trusted.