I think journalists and police chiefs/PR often misuse the "few bad apples" metaphor.
A few rotten apples will ruin the whole barrel. Their rot encourages the rest of the apples to rot. A few bad apples can't be tolerated-- they have to be sorted out immediately or the whole barrel will be ruined and has to be thrown out.
A few rotten apples will ruin the whole barrel. Their rot encourages the rest of the apples to rot. A few bad apples can't be tolerated-- they have to be sorted out immediately or the whole barrel will be ruined and has to be thrown out.
I feel that it's an appropriate metaphor.