It turn out 75% of New York's tax revenue came from alcohol. Think of the business opportunity in all the the people who need to wet their whistle.

If you are in trouble of being caught pay 'em off. The police's pay is so low most of them are in the bootlegging business anyway.

Even though the federal government banned alcohol, it does not seem to be off limits to them. George Cassidy sold alcohol to the House of Representatives for five years before he was caught by DC police. He was banned from entering the House Office Building, so he ventured to the Senate Office Building next door. When caught by police he was wearing a light green hat, hence the headliner nickname. The lesson to be learned from this is that the government is not your enemy, but your customer.

Many have lost faith in the hypercritical police that "enforce" prohibition when really are making profit on bootlegging. Even though you might have little faith in their "policing," if you have friends or business partners who are police the law enforcement will be more likely to turn a blind eye to your business venture.