V stanovanju preprodajalca mamil umrejo štirje newyorški policisti. Več kot očitno je, da so se policisti znašli v pasti. Tragedijo preiskuje detektiv Ray Tierney, ki hitro pride na sled dokazom o podkupljivosti policistov. Žal je za okrožje, v katerem so umrli policisti, odgovoren Rayev brat Francis, zato se Ray znajde v nehvaležnem položaju: naj razkrinka podkupljivost policistov in s tem spravi brata v težave ali naj molči? Ko se izkaže, da je v umore vpleten tudi Francisov najboljši prijatelj, se preiskava še dodatno zaplete.
A family of police officers - patriarch, two sons, and a son-in-law - deals with corruption in a precinct in Washington Heights. Four officers die in an ambush at a drug dealer's apartment. It's brother Francis's precinct, so when the investigation led by brother Ray finds hints of police corruption, there's pressure to close ranks and save Frankie's career. Dad, a police brass, promises Ray that he and Frankie can clean things up, and Ray should focus on catching the drug dealer who killed the cops. Meanwhile, brother-in-law Jimmy, a hothead and an enforcer, is visited at home by a lowlife. Is Jimmy involved in the corruption? Where can this take the family?