>> we caught up with serpico, 78 years old.peaking on camera for the first time in years, a far cry from 1973 when his story was made into an oscar-nominated film, in the 1960s serpico was behind one of the biggest scandals the nypd ever faced. >> i testified before a grand jury exposing widespread corruption throughout the department. that eventually led to the nap commission and they exposed you know police officers selling drugs, guns, shields, favors murders, it was a nightmare. >> when serpico spoke out he was shut out by the police force and even left for dead by a fellow officer after being wounded in the line of duty. >> i still have a bullet in my head and i was lucky to come out with my life. you don't talk about your own kind. you know, you don't expose your own kind. or, maybe will expose you. >> he says the insular police culture is responsible for many of the problems we see today. >> when an honest, self-respecting police officers finds something wrong within the ranks of the department, and tries to expose it, i

interested. >> reporter: for bell and frank serpico, it was a good step. it was put to the fest in the case of dontre hamilton. an independent investigation was launched. hamilton's lawyers said the probe was not truly independent as the investigators were former police officers. frank serpico says there's a long way to go. >> some officers with i have to say, a low mentality, think that i'm the law, this is me. i am the law. no you are not the law. you were sworn to protect and serve and respect that law and enforce that law on all equally. >> let us rededicate ourselves... >> frank serpico sees that in new york. rows of officers turning their back on a mayor at the funeral of one of two police men gunned down. police rank and file were angry at the mayor for statements made that seemed critical of police. >> if i was the commissioner i'd fire them. that's setting a bad precedent not only to the society, other police officers it's just that they have too much power. they have too much power and they don't want to give up that power. >> frank serpico says

>> we caught up with serpico now 78 years old in upstate new york.hese days, he tends to stay out of the limelight, speaking on camera for the first time in years. a far cry from 1973, when his story was made into an oscar nominated film, his role famously played by al pacino. >> you're firing without a warrant? without a brain in your head? >> in the 1960s, serpico was behind one of the biggest scandals that the nypd ever faced. >> i testified behind a grand jury, exposing widespread corruption throughout the department. >> he says that the insular police culture is responsible for many of the problems that we see today. >> it's this blue wall that they talk of, like the mafia's and you just don't talk about what other cops do. >> the new york native says the closed off culture plagues police departments across the country, and it can only be cracked if the officers are held accountable to people outside of their circle. >> the district attorney works with the police, and they work hand-in-hand every day, and that's why you need an outside investiga

we have his story. >> my name is frank serpico. i'm retired new york city police detective. >> 42 years after he left the force, frank serpico never thought he'd still be fighting for police reform, but the legendary whistle blower said little has changed over the years. >> i say this in all sympathy and brotherhood and camaraderie that maybe all these people that are protesting are not really wrong. >> from ferguson, missouri to new york city, protests against the excessive use of police force have brought thousands to the streets. >> do you expect to, you know, gain the respect and the hearts and minds of the people that you're killing their children and their families? >> we caught up with serpico now 78 years old in upstate new york. these days, he tends to stay out of the lime light speaking on camera for the first time in years. a far cry from 1973, when his story was made into an as car-nominate film,ryes role portrayed by al pacino. >> you're firing without a brain in your head? >> serpico was behind one of the biggest scan

>> we caught up with serpico now 78 years old in upstate new york. these days, he tends to stay out of the limelight speaking on camera for the first time in years. a far cry from 1973, when his story was made into an oscar nominated film, his role famously played by al pacino. >> you're firing without a warrant? without a brain in your head? >> in the 1960s serpico was behind one of the biggest scandals that the nypd ever faced. >> i testified behind a grand jury exposing widespread corruption throughout the department. >> he says that the insular police culture is responsible for many of the problems that we see today. >> it's this blue wall that they talk of, like the mafia's and you just don't talk about what other cops do. >> the new york native says the closed off culture plagues police departments across the country, and it can only be cracked if the officers are held accountable to people outside of their circle. >> the district attorney works with the police, and they work hand-in-hand every day and that's why you need an outside investigato

. >> franc serpico on police, brutality and the thin blue >>> and thanks for joining us. i'm joie chen, it is wednesday now in paris. it's mourning and the defiance against violent attackers entering a new day. the satirical magazine targeted last week "charlie hebdo" rushed to put out 3 million copies of its new edition. the cover features a drawing of the new mohammed, a dear in his eye, the captions "i am charlie", and "all forgiven." there's another image emerging, a video showing the gun me after the attack -- gunmen after the attack. you see them as they reload and try to escape down a narrow street. the police officers back down the street. the gunmen reload their rifles. the brothers feed by, firing again at them >>> france's prime minister tried to make clear that his nation stands as one with radical islam, not to islam. to many, that distinction between faith and extremism is lost. in the muslim community there's growing concern that they are seen for their faith ahead of their loyalty to france. "america tonight"s sheila macvicar is in paris where there is fea

when i read your story, it did remind me of frank serpico, a well-known nypd officer in new york.s what he wrote in politico about his experience 40 years after. there were movies made about him and everything. he said i still get hate mail from active and retired police officers. a couple years ago after the death of david dirk the police officer was one of my few allies inside the department and my efforts to expose graft. the internet message board of nypd had messages directed toward me join your mentor rat scum, read one. you can only speak about the baltimore pd is this a culture that says to officers it's more important to stay loyal to your fellow officers, even if they're doing something wrong, than for you to come forward? >> well ma'am, i know police try to view themselves as a family and, unfortunately, you know i bought into that in hopes that, like you said officers would come and support me. unfortunately, baltimore had more of, a guess, a gang mentality or dysfunctional family mentality instead. they were basically against me for speaking out against other officers