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Crowe made an oath when becoming a police officer, so he can't break the law while he's a cop.

Ritchie milked that for all it was worth.
Returning that amount of money in such a public way, got the attention of the higher ups and gave him the reputation as being incorruptible.
Personally, I think it was impossible for him to take the money as his partner was too much of a liability. Even without the money the guy turned into a drug dealer stealing junkie, imagine if he suddenly got half a million, he'd squeal in no time.

Of course, just imagine the faces on everyone else when they realise you're no a corrupt little fook like them. It's worth every penny. (arrogant sneer)
Marlon, Claudia and Dimby the cats 1989-2005, 2007 and 2010.

I think I'd find it very hard to return the whole lot!
What a great film, I saw this last night and really enjoyed it. Despite it having quite a long running time (it was on TV and had ad' breaks also) I was captivated by the whole film.
I really like the fact the film is a slow, purposeful suspense-builder. There's sparing use of violence and action in the film, only ever used when the characters and film require it. Lots of similar themed movies would be all guns blazing throughout. This was all about well drawn characters and superb performances.
Very good film IMO.

$1 Million in 1968 would be worth $6,196,328.40 in 2010..
Booty Time! Booty Time! Across the USA.. Booty Time! Booty Time! Yay Yay Yay..

Do you know how fast anyone who took that money would get caught in this day and age?

With rogue cops like Richie, I'd be afraid to take any dirty money.

Nope, call me a bad person but whatever, I don't care, it's a million dollars of dirty money.
I thought Crowe was stupid in handing it in.

"So fair, yet so cold"

no beep way!
I'd keep it for sure
When there's no more room in hell, The dead will walk the earth

I would have kept it.
"You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling."

I would keep the money. I'm a nice guy but not nice enough to turn in a million bucks when I could help out me and mine.
"I say what I mean, and I do what I say. "

I'd turn it in to the proper authorities. I feel bad when I pick up a quarter off the street. Feeling as if I should find out who's it is. Not necessarily because the quarter is his, but simply because it is not mine. I tend to think if I didn't earn it I shouldn't have it. $1,000,000 would scare the hell out of me.

I'd make sure the money was clean first. Not clean as in unmarked, but clean as in, didn't belong to any gangs, drug cartels etc. Don't want anybody gunning after my ass. Not sure how I would be able to figure that out the easy way though.
But if there was an easy was to make sure it was totally clean, and it was, HELL NO I wouldn't turn it in.
But i'd probably just leave it though, since there's really no way of being entirely sure, and turning the money in to the cops could still make you a target to whoever it belonged to.

To be honest, I'd return it. I don't get called the
Serpico
of the 2000s for nothing.
"Don't cry, it is to be. In time, I'll take away your miseries and make 'em mineD'Evils."

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I would hand it in because it's the right thing to do. I pride myself on being an honest person and keeping money that is not yours is just about the most dishonest thing you could ever do.
There are also several major reasons you would not want to keep money of that size.

1. Whoever it belongs to will want it back and you will not be safe.
2. Even if they find you and you give it back, you're probably dead.
3. If you deposit more than 5 grand in cash in a bank, the police will come knocking.
4. If the police do come knocking, you're doing time. Who would ever believe the 'I just found it' card?

I'd return it at risk of being stuck in a 'No Country For Old Men' situation.

Return it?
No effin' way.
"Freedom is never free"

No I wouldn't return it because it was the right thing to do, but I would return it in fear of getting my a$$ blown away by whomever it belonged to!
I know what you mean. I hate it when anyone even looks at my igneous rocks

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I would not keep it.
I think at the time it may sound glamorous, but as the above poster mentioned, to really get away with taking the money, you would have to go through alot. The money probably could not even be used for a long time. It is not like you coudl find it, then go around buying things right away.
Also, think about who it could belong to. Who? Think about the things some people do for $100 bucks let alone a million. Even if noone was after you, paranoia may come.
I think the character actully did the smart thing.
Taking the money woudl solve alot of problems, but open up a hell of alot more.
Now, where was I?

The problem is that a lot of people ARE stupid with money like that and they DO get caught. Sure, if you sit on it and don't spend a dime for years and launder it slowly through small deposits and offshore accounts and casinos you could theoretically clean any marked currency. But if you are a vice cop involved in a case of a missing million dollars, both Internal Revenue and the mobsters who lost the money will be paying close attention to any purchases you makes or vacations you take that don't fit with your pay rate.
Yeah, you could get away with it. But if you really wanted to spend it you would effectively have to leave the country and your friends and family and job and life for a million dollars of undocumented money that would have to last you the rest of your life.
That said, and knowing where the money came from, and where it would likely end up were I to turn it in, I think I might decide to keep it. Store it in a safe deposit box for a couple years and discretely look into whether it was marked, launder it slowly and just use it for minor luxury items that wouldn't get noticed. Give a lot to charity and keep it for a retirement fund when nobody will notice the expenditures.
People of Earth! I am Kronos, King of the Monkey People!