Probably a trope. Low level cops don’t just stumble on kingpins. It take a large, coordinated investigation. You can’t just pay off the arresting officer, you’d need to pay off dozens at a minimum. And someone would say something. Maybe not to their boss, but at a bar, etc.
I can imagine paying them off to let you go in that moment. The arresting officer could just tell his boss I’m sorry he escaped. Or you could pay to delay the investigation.
Then you just flee the US jurisdiction and they never get to see you again!!!
Probably a trope. Low level cops don’t just stumble on kingpins. It take a large, coordinated investigation. You can’t just pay off the arresting officer, you’d need to pay off dozens at a minimum. And someone would say something. Maybe not to their boss, but at a bar, etc.
I can imagine paying them off to let you go in that moment. The arresting officer could just tell his boss I’m sorry he escaped. Or you could pay to delay the investigation.
Then you just flee the US jurisdiction and they never get to see you again!!!