New Orleans’ Most Notorious Gangster Cop: Len Davis

Few stories capture the dark underbelly of New Orleans law enforcement like that of Antoinette Frank and Len Davis, but among them, Len Davis stands out as the city’s most notorious “gangster cop.” His name became synonymous with corruption, brutality, and betrayal—an officer sworn to protect who instead used his badge as a weapon.

Len Davis joined the New Orleans Police Department in the early 1990s, a time when the city was already struggling with high crime and deep mistrust between residents and police. From the beginning, Davis developed a reputation that set him apart for all the wrong reasons. He was aggressive, reckless, and widely feared in the neighborhoods he patrolled. Civilians complained about his behavior, fellow officers raised concerns, and internal affairs investigations followed him like a shadow. Still, Davis remained on the force.

What made Len Davis especially dangerous was how openly he blurred the line between cop and criminal. He was known to beat suspects, falsify reports, and intimidate witnesses. Rather than serving the community, he treated the streets like his personal territory, operating with a sense of untouchability that only comes when accountability is absent.

The case that finally exposed Len Davis to the world involved the murder of Kim Groves, a 32-year-old mother of three. Groves had filed a formal complaint against Davis after he allegedly assaulted her during a domestic disturbance call. Instead of facing discipline, Davis chose a path that would seal his legacy in infamy. Prosecutors later proved that Davis orchestrated Groves’ murder to silence her and prevent her from testifying against him.

In 1994, Kim Groves was gunned down outside her home. The killing sent shockwaves through New Orleans, but few initially suspected a police officer was behind it. As the investigation unfolded, however, evidence pointed directly at Len Davis. Witness testimony and recorded conversations revealed that Davis had paid a hitman to carry out the murder, using drug money and street connections rather than any sense of remorse.

Len Davis was eventually arrested, tried, and convicted in federal court. In 1996, he was sentenced to death, becoming one of the few police officers in U.S. history to receive such a sentence for crimes committed while abusing the power of his badge. Though his sentence was later reduced to life in prison without parole, the damage was already done.

The Len Davis case shattered public trust in the New Orleans Police Department and became a symbol of systemic failure. It showed what happens when warning signs are ignored and when officers who terrorize communities are protected instead of removed. For many in New Orleans, Len Davis wasn’t just a bad cop—he was the embodiment of everything people feared about corrupt policing.

Today, Len Davis’ name lives on as a cautionary tale. His story is a reminder that the badge does not make someone honorable, and that unchecked power can turn a sworn officer into something far worse than the criminals he claimed to fight. In the history of New Orleans crime, Len Davis will forever be remembered not as a protector, but as the city’s most notorious gangster cop.