Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

The Moral Crusade | 5

Sep 30, 2024

Anthony Comstock, America's first professional vice fighter, takes center stage as he reshapes the NYPD's approach to morality. He battles against corruption in 19th-century New York, revealing how officers profited from vice while Comstock crusades for change. The tensions between his moral vision and the police's complicity highlight the evolving landscape of societal norms. As he gains support, Comstock's initiatives lead to the enactment of the Comstock Act, dramatically intertwining issues of morality and personal freedom, especially for women.

39:58

Episode guests

Anthony Comstock

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Episode notes

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

Anthony Comstock's moral crusade not only reshaped societal norms around obscenity but also influenced the NYPD's approach to policing personal desires.

The symbiotic corruption between early NYPD officers and the vice economy illustrates the complex interplay of morality and systemic law enforcement practices.

Deep dives

The Chaos of Parenting and Society

Navigating the unpredictability of parenting is a common struggle, highlighted by the chaotic nature of the world. Children often challenge the boundaries set by adults, coloring outside the lines and refusing to conform to societal expectations. This resistance reflects a broader societal issue, where attempts to impose order frequently clash with the natural disorder surrounding us. The episode underscores that the struggle for control begins in our minds, influenced by the environments of our homes and schools.

Intro

3min

The Crusade Against Vice and Community Surveillance

4min

Crusader Against Vice

8min

Confronting Corruption: The Struggle for Morality in 19th Century New York

2min

Legacy of Morality and Exploitation

24min

Accessibility and Promotions: A Call to Listen and Engage

2min

Officers in early New York didn’t just police the city’s vice economy; they profited from it. But when America’s first professional vice fighter Anthony Comstock strong-arms the NYPD into enforcing his vision of morality, he also transformed how and what we police.

From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack.

Empire City is made with a commitment to ensure the stories of those who were and are still impacted by the NYPD are always part of the stories we tell ourselves about the police, about America, and about democracy.

Voices & References:

Amy Werbel https://www.fitnyc.edu/creative-nexus/faculty/directory/werbel-amy.php

Bill Williams, descendant of Clubber Williams

Jennifer Wright https://www.jenashleywright.com/

Lust On Trial: Censorship and the Rise of American Obscenity in the Age of Anthony Comstock https://www.amazon.com/Lust-Trial-Censorship-American-Obscenity/dp/0231175221

Madame Restell: The Life, Death, and Resurrection of Old New York’s Most Fabulous, Fearless, and Infamous Abortionist

https://www.amazon.com/Madame-Restell-Resurrection-Fabulous-Abortionist/dp/0306826798

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