“Thanks, boss,” Tower dead-panned.
“I’m serious,” Crawford said. “Get some sleep.”
Tower rose from his chair. “I will,” he said, and left.
He planned to do exactly what Crawford ordered. He just wanted to stop by his desk and review the files once more. In case he missed something.
When he’d settled into his chair and switched on the desk lamp, he figured maybe he’d check for any Field Interview Reports from patrol, too. And he might as well check on a few tips while he was at it. Just in case.
He wouldn’t be long.
Fifteen, twenty minutes. Tops.
But it was almost three in the morning when he finally switched out the light at his desk and drove home on deserted streets. As he stood undressing in the darkness of his bedroom, he could hear Stephanie’s light, rhythmic breathing. He slid in next to her, kissed her bare shoulder and fell asleep in less than ten seconds.
THIRTEEN
Monday, April 22
Day Shift
0812 hours
Lieutenant Alan Hart proofread his first of his two reports to the Chief of Police. The complaint against O’Sullivan and Battaglia flowed nicely, laying out the facts of the complaint and his findings in a clear, succinct, but complete fashion. His eyes flicked over the familiar words, slowing down at the RECOMMENDATION section long enough to enjoy his own prose.
Clearly, both officers employ a great deal of irreverent humor in the course of their daily work. While humor is a common response to stress and can provide some relief to the tension associated with police work, it is not appropriate for officers to direct it maliciously toward the citizenry. The testimonial evidence uncovered in this case leads this investigator to the unavoidable conclusion that both officers are guilty of doing exactly that with regard to Mr. Elway, the complainant. Not only was Mr. Elway ridiculed and insulted, but this occurred while he was attempting to report a felony crime.
This investigator does recommend a finding of FOUNDED with respect to the complaint of POOR DEMEANOR and INADEQUATE RESPONSE. This finding should be entered for both officers. This investigator recommends the following sanctions: One (1) day suspension for Officer O’Sullivan and a three (3) day suspension for Officer Battaglia. The difference in the sanction is justified due to the use of profanity by Officer Battaglia.
Nothing Follows
.
Lieutenant Hart smiled. It was a well-written summary. Hopefully, the Chief would see things his way. These two clowns needed to get a firm message from management. Police work was not a big joke, no matter how much they might think so. A suspension might just get their attention. If it didn’t, well then it was a nice springboard to termination if they didn’t get with the program.
He closed the file and slid it into a confidential envelope. Then he reached for the Chisolm file, which he’d just completed earlier that morning. While he wished he’d been able to find a bigger hammer for this one, he figured he’d just have to settle for what the case gave him.
He flipped open the file and skimmed his report. Once again, he slowed at the RECOMMENDATION section and read carefully.
Officer Chisolm’s speed may have been justified, given the nature of the call which he was assigned to assist. However, if one concedes that the response speed was appropriate, it naturally follows that the officer should have engaged his emergency equipment. The use of overhead lights is the lowest acceptable measure, though the intermittent use of a siren to clear traffic may have also been in order, depending upon traffic control devices and the number of civilian vehicles present.
This precaution may or may not have occurred to Officer Chisolm, but in either event, he did not utilize this equipment as per policy. Rather than address this fact in his interview, he chose instead to become defensive and shift blame. As the transcript indicates, Officer Chisolm focused upon the criminal record of the complainant instead of his own actions. Although he rightfully identified the nature of the complainant’s offense, that fact had no bearing on the question of this investigation — did Officer Chisolm drive in an unsafe manner without using the appropriate emergency equipment as outlined in Policy 44A? The evidence clearly answers this question emphatically in the affirmative.
Given that this transgression is firmly established, what should the sanction be? Under most circumstances, with no mitigating factors, this investigator would recommend a written reprimand for the involved officer. However, Officer Chisolm has shown a history of working outside of policy, flaunting rules and displaying considerable disrespect to his superior officers. This behavior can be, and frequently is, contagious. Additionally, this investigator saw very pointedly during the interview process that Officer Chisolm did not believe he had done anything wrong. He certainly did not express any remorse or accept any level of accountability for his actions. Therefore this investigator recommends a harsh sanction-a five (5) day suspension.
Hart smiled grimly. He knew five days was excessive, but it was a calculated play on his part. Any more than five days might start to seem ridiculous and would probably be rejected outright by the Chief. But by recommending a five day suspension, he’d planted the seed that a suspension was warranted. The Chief might — probably would — reduce the sanction to one or two days, thinking he was going easy on Chisolm. And that played right into Hart’s hands.
Of course, if he had his way, he’d have fired a malcontent like Chisolm a long time ago.
But he wasn’t Chief.
Yet.
Hart smiled. A stint in Internal Affairs looked great on a resume when you walked into a promotional evaluation for the rank of captain. Especially a resume that showed that the time spent in IA was an active one.
Yes, he’d make captain next time around. And the irony that he’d make it off of holding certain officers — two clowns and a burnout — accountable was not lost upon him.
Hart slipped the Chisolm file into a confidential folder. He glanced through the small window in his office. Outside, a light misty rain was spitting water against the glass. He stood and reached for his raincoat. His smile spread across his face for a moment before he forced his expression back to neutral.
It wouldn’t do to look as if he enjoyed delivering these files to the Chief. Even if, in fact, he did.
No, a future captain had to keep up appearances.
Hart opened the office door and stepped out to do his duty.
2232 hours
He sat in the small lounge, reading through the editorial page a second time. In addition to the scathing Op Ed article about the police keeping a serial rapist a secret, there were several letters to the editor. The ones that expressed outrage at the police were amusing, but there was the one that caught his interest. He read it over and over.
Dear Editor:
I hope that the River City Police Department understands what it is like to live in fear of a man like the Rainy Day Rapist. Never knowing when he might strike. Looking into every face with suspicion. Afraid to live our lives the way we want to out of a perverse terror that at any moment we might become a victim.
This doesn’t just change my life every day. It destroys my ability to live.
V. Rawlings
.
He smiled.
This wasn’t something he intended. He’d considered that he may have to outduel the police once things started rolling. Some bitches just didn’t know how to keep their mouths shut and it was inevitable that law enforcement would get involved.
But the press? This was…unanticipated. And while he hated the current incarnation of his nickname in the media, he knew it would change soon. After he laid the whammo on the next one. More of a whammo than his father ever laid on any bitch, that was certain.