Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD artwork

History · Audible | Crooked Media

Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

by Audible | Crooked Media

The police tell us they are here to protect us. But what if their original purpose was something else altogether? Peabody Award-winning host Chenjerai Kumanyika takes listeners on a journey to uncover the hidden history of the largest police force in the world – from its roots in slavery, to rival police gangs battling across the city, to everyday people who resisted every step of the way. As our society debates where policing is going, Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD explores where the police came from. From Wondery, Crooked Media and PushBlack. Audible subscribers can listen to all episodes of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD ad-free right now. Join Audible today by downloading the Audible app.

Latest episodes

Showing 13 · updated from the feed

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Bonus Episode: The Fall of Eric Adams

New York’s Mayor Eric Adams has been indicted and charged by the federal government with corruption, wire fraud, bribery and more. Could we have predicted what kind of ma

Nov 1 2024
24 min

Black History, For Real: NYPD's Secret Story | For Real, For Real | 9

"Woop! Woop! That’s the sound of da police! Conscious and Frankie welcome Dr. Chenjerai Kumanyika – host of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD. Dr. Kumanyik

Oct 23 2024
42 min

Stay Dangerous | 8

The NYPD loves to show off its diversity, but it often hides how hard and long it fought that diversity. Chenjerai takes us back in time to the real story of how the NYPD

Oct 21 2024
47 min

The American Problem | 7

New York’s police start to realize that beating up and arresting immigrants is making them distrustful of cops. In response, a police chief has an idea, borne out of his

Oct 14 2024
38 min

The Rotten Orchard | 6

It’s like clockwork: every 20 years or so, a corruption scandal forces the NYPD into the hot seat. But how did this cycle begin? To find out, we go back over a century ag

Oct 7 2024
40 min

The Moral Crusade | 5

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-a

Sep 30 2024
39 min

They’ve Got Weapons | 4

Horrific race riots erupt when New York City starts to draft soldiers into the Civil War. A mob of white people, who resent fighting for emancipation, direct their rage a

Sep 23 2024
46 min

What’s Done Can Be Undone | 3

New York’s power-hungry mayor weaponizes the police to help him control the city – and bulldoze a thriving Black community for his own real estate profits. The state, fea

Sep 16 2024
40 min

If It Bleeds It Leads | 2

Before the NYPD existed, New Yorkers strongly opposed the idea of an armed police force – until a powerful news publisher changed everything. After a grisly murder takes

Sep 9 2024
42 min

They Keep People Safe | 1

Chenjerai takes us back to the summer of 1835, when Black New Yorkers are being kidnapped and sold into slavery in the south. But their friends and families can’t call th

Sep 9 2024
43 min

Introducing: Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD

The police tell us they are here to protect us. But what if their original purpose was something else altogether? Peabody Award-winning host Chenjerai Kumanyika takes lis

Aug 26 2024
2 min

Chart positions

Where Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD ranks today in each Apple Podcasts chart (US, Oct 21, 2026).

#194 NEW History US

What listeners say

A curated, balanced selection of Apple Podcasts reviews.

This podcast offers an important perspective on policing in the USA and its dubious origins. A perspective important to all people on the political spectrum if they truly wish to improve policing in America. If you’re blinded by the blanket belief all policing is good, you probably won’t like this. But if you’re willing to listen and learn on that topic, it is a great podcast. Give it a listen

OCollazo121 · Dec 2024

While much of this story is truly terrible to behold, Chenjerai helps us through it masterfully. He is funny, smart, very wise, and has a beautiful voice. Everyone on any side of the debate on policing, from the skeptics, the defenders, to the ambivalent, should listen to this show.

The Real UrvUrm · Dec 2024

I learned about this podcast via American Hysteria, and I am SO glad I did! I am learning so much important history, through stories told in an absolutely engaging way. It’s heartbreaking at times, but so worthwhile.

HBD66 · Nov 2024

This was the best podcast I have listened to all year. I believe that the history of the police is kept hidden, their efforts to make amends with said history, lip service. Beautifully done, listen to this and let it radicalize you.

audintheair · Oct 2024

We strive to present a balanced view by showing a diverse range of reviews from Apple Podcasts.

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About Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD on Reason.fm

Here you find the Apple Podcasts chart positions of Empire City: The Untold Origin Story of the NYPD, its latest episodes to listen to directly, and reviews from listeners. Rankings are updated daily for the United States.

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