All over the United States there is an increasing concern about police brutality. This issue stems from many innocent citizens being victimized at the hands of law officials. Specifically here in N.Y.C., there are numerous cases pending between law abiding citizens and cops, particularly the Abner Louima trial. Louima was tortured in the bathroom of a police station in Brooklyn by four officers. All of the officers and sergeants accused of the crime, pleaded not guilty. However, Justin Volpe changed his mind and decided to confess to the brutality of Louima after over two years. Is there a growing difference between "good" and "bad" cops? If there is, how are we to know which one's are here to serve and protect the rights of others?

Here is what some New Yorker's had to say about this controversy:

Name: Ms. Wright

Age: 35

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: City Worker

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? Volpe thought he could get away with it (torture of Abner Louima) but he couldn't and if Louima would've died we would have never found out about it at all.

Do you think the officers that came forward with information should be viewed as heroes even though they withheld this information for over two years? No, they should not be labeled as heroes, they should all be prosecuted at the trial because they withheld this information for two years.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? Yes, there are some good cops but they are not focused on by people due to the bad cops in the city.

Name: Harold Mack

Age: 46

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: Social Worker

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? I think he was pressured into that plea because he didn't think all the other stuff was going to come out, more people being exposed. I think he was trying to save other people.

Do you think the officers that came forward with information should be held as heroes even though they with held this information this information for over two years? I don't think they should be heroes but I commend them for stepping forward on the case.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? Yes I feel that there are good cops in the City, I grew up and have family members who are cops and they serve and protect like they are supposed to do.

Name: Al Callweld

Age: 49

Residence: Harlem

Occupation:

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? Well I'm not surprised. Anyone could've figured it out. It's good that many cops are stepping up and defending the honor of police officers.

Do you think the officers came forward with information should be held as heroes even though they with held this information this information for over two years? No, no, no they should not because it's been too long that this information has been kept behind the police stations walls.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? Well actually there are many good cops who may be kept silent by the bad cops who also give the good cops a bad rep.

Name: Jeff Wickam

Age: 19

Residence: Harlem, NY

Occupation: Student

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? That just shows how coward he is. He knows he was guilty from the start....overwhelming... so I guess he has to be guilty.

Do you think the officers came forward with information should be held as heroes even though they with held this information this information for over two years? No!! They should be discharged from the force and made an example like they're being done now, because corrupt cops don't get away with nothing.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? Yeah, there are [good cops] left. There's gonna be one,[as] soon I go into criminal justice. I plan on going ino law enforcement, so watch out for me.

Do you think Officer Volpe should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law which is life without parole? Most definitely, he's supposed to protect and serve and he's not doing it...sticking a pole up somebody's rear. He deserve's the punnishment..he deserves whatever they give him.

Name: Irma Williams

Age: 38

Residence: Harlem, by way of LES

Occupation: --------------

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? Well he was guilty all along so..I guess guilt was killing him, his back was against the wall. Also, I think that he feels that he will get a lesser sentence if he confesses. I think he should get the chair.

Do you think the officers came forward with information should be held as heroes even though they with held this information this information for over two years? No, they're down with it... one of them had to take the fall, so I think they picked him to take the fall so this whole thing would be over.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? No Comment

Name: Margie Evans

Age: 57

Residence: Harlem

Occupation: Professional Black Woman

What do you think of officer Volpe changing his plea from NOT guilty TO guilty? I think that he was guilty all the time and that he just confessed up to what he had done.

Do you think the officers came forward with information should be held as heroes even though they with held this information this information for over two years? No! No, no, no, no, I think they should be held accountable for what they have done and should be prosecuted for obstruction of justice.

Do you still feel that there are still good, honest fair cops in the New York City police department? I think there has always been some good cops and good people in all walks of life, but they're always gonna be people that don't adhere to he law.