> In one case, law enforcement didn't pay their bill, resulting in the person being wiretapped having the wiretap connection show up on their bill, blowing the case.
In the fictional world of The Wire, one of the "wires" were blown when the guy checked on his mobile bill to find out his account was flagged to not be disconnected. I'm sure this was art imitating life or inspired by type of thing
The Wire is allegedly one of the more realistic crime shows in how incompetent it portrays the police.
It was created by a journalist and a cop, who both had long careers in Baltimore before working on the show. Not surprising how realistic it is. (Also a beautiful work of art beyond the realism.) If you find the show interesting, David Simon's book "Homicide" is a great read.
And a few of his other series, such as Treme, The Deuce, and Generation Kill are all fantastic.
In their defense their target was amazingly adept.
Many criminals even today don't engage in basic counter measures like you see on that show.
And I'd call them "dysfunctional" more than inept. Bad leadership stymied by political goals overcomes even good policing.
You’re doing my boy McNulty dirty.
That, and the alcoholism
Never watched the wire...but I remember back 25+ years ago some people joking about not paying their phone bill to see if the phone was tapped.
They claimed that since it never got shut off when they didn't pay it must be tapped.
Possibly correct I suppose...