In August 2014, a white cop named Darren Wilson shot and killed Michael Brown, an unarmed black teenager. Police left Brown's dead body in the middle of the road for four hours. After protesters across the nation demanded accountability, Wilson was indicted for murder. But the following November, a smirking prosecutor announced on national television that a grand jury had decided not to indict.

There was a satisfied look smeared across Bob McCulloch's face as he announced that the case would not go forward, which was slightly confusing. After all, it was his job to secure an indictment, and here he was standing up in front of the nation admitting his failure and smiling about it.

It became clear fairly quickly, however, that McCulloch hadn't been interested in actually getting an indictment at all. Turns out his actions were unusual for a prosecuting attorney in a grand jury hearing: He presented evidence to the jury but basically let them sort through it alone. He allowed Wilson—the subject of the investigation—to testify. He chose not to recommend any specific charges against Wilson. In other words, he did everything in his power to make it look as if he were trying to bring Officer Wilson to justice, while actually doing everything in his power to avoid further prosecuting him.

This week, McCulloch was named Prosecutor of the Year in Missouri. It's almost unimaginable—and a clear slap in the face—to give such an award to a prosecutor who smiled as he told the world that he had failed to do his job, and a boy's murder would not be prosecuted as a result.

Prosecutors in America have little accountability, outrageous discretion, and monumentally more resources than their public defender counterparts. This makes it easier for some, like McCulloch, to let their personal beliefs blatantly interfere with their job.

When McCulloch was 12 years old his father, a police officer, was killed in the line of duty by a kidnapper trying to escape. The killer was black. While this alone certainly doesn't prove bias, it may be related to how McCulloch's chooses to prosecute police—and not just in the case against Darren Wilson. Read on for more.