Drug Bust

Tim and I arrived at the station to find a buzz of activity. Sergeant Grey greeted us with a nod. "Bradford, Hunter, glad you're here," he said. "We've got a situation.

Angela and John had captured a fugitive who had escaped from court. The fugitive was a mid-level drug dealer who had fled to attend his daughter's coming-of-age ceremony. When they arrived at the scene of the festivities to arrest him, Angela and John made a compassionate decision. They didn't arrest him in front of his daughter and allowed him to have a dance with her."

This act of kindness paid off. Grateful for the gesture, the fugitive provided a valuable tip on drug trafficking in exchange for a plea deal. Now, we were all gathered to take part in the resulting drug bust.

Commander Grey gathered everyone to plan the operation. He says, "The deal will take place at 5 pm in the parking lot in Sunset Boulevard. The cocaine driven off from Mexico will land in the parking lot. The driver will walk away, a runner for the buyer will climb behind the wheel and drive off. The whole thing takes 90 seconds."

He then continues to tell us the positions and then tell us that he is also gonna join us in the field. After the instructions, we immediately set off.

Tim and I were parked at one of the exits in the parking lot, waiting for the drug dealers to arrive. We had been briefed on the operation earlier in the day, and now we were about to put the plan into action. 

At exactly 5 pm, Sergeant Grey's voice crackled over the radio. "All units, be advised, both cars have arrived. They are in the process of exchanging cars. Stand by for orders."

My heart pounded in my chest as we watched the cars in question. The exchange was quick, almost too quick. The moment the deal took place, Grey's voice came through again, firm and decisive. "Engage!"

The parking lot erupted into chaos. The driver of the car carrying the drugs sped off, managing to slip through our encirclement. Tania and Lucy were in pursuit, their sirens blaring as they chased the fleeing vehicle.

The two remaining men drew their guns, and the air was filled with the deafening sound of gunfire. One of the men targeted Angela and John, while the other turned his attention to Tim and me. 

Our assailant was armed with an automatic machine gun, and he sprayed bullets with reckless abandon. Tim and I took cover behind our car, the metal frame shuddering under the relentless barrage. The situation quickly became dire. The gunman advanced towards Tim's position, firing continuously. Tim returned fire, but the sheer volume of bullets kept him pinned down. I was reloading my weapon when I saw the gunman close in on Tim. 

Time seemed to slow as I watched the gunman, his finger tightening on the trigger. With a deep breath, I steadied myself. I took my stance, relaxing my shoulders as I aimed at the gunman's head. Everything around me faded into the background. All I could see was the target. I pressed the trigger, and the bullet flew from my gun with a sharp crack, slicing through the air.

The bullet struck the gunman in the head. It entered one side and exited the other, a clean shot. The gunman's eyes widened in shock, and he crumpled to the ground, the machine gun slipping from his grasp. He was dead before he hit the pavement.

For a moment, I was frozen, the gravity of what I had just done crashing over me. My first kill. The weight of it settled on my shoulders. I felt a strange mixture of relief and horror. Relief that Tim was safe, and horror at the life I had just taken.

Tim clapped me on the shoulder, his face pale but grateful. "Good job, Alex. You saved my life."

I nodded. We moved quickly, securing the area and assisting Angela and John with their suspect. The operation was successful, but the adrenaline rush had left me feeling hollow.

In the aftermath, the scene around us gradually quieted down. The suspects were apprehended, and the drugs were secured. Back at the station, I went through the motions, completing the necessary reports and debriefings. My colleagues offered congratulations and words of encouragement. 

Finally, I found a quiet moment to myself. It was a sobering experience. Taking a life in the line of duty, was something I had known I might have to face, but knowing and experiencing were two very different things.

I took a deep breath and stood up. After clearing my mind, I felt renewed. I knew this was a process I had to adapt to. This experience would shape me, and I was determined to learn from it. I was ready to move forward towards my goal now stronger and more resolved.

Shortly after, a pair of detectives from Internal Affairs (IA) arrived at our precinct. The reason for their visit was straightforward: since I had been involved in a fatal shooting, it was standard procedure for IA to conduct a thorough review. Although the shooting had been deemed valid by my fellow officers and was well-documented by the parking lot cameras, routine questioning was still required to ensure transparency.

Two detectives walked into the briefing room with a serious demeanour. As they approached me, Sergeant Grey introduced them and reassured me that this was merely a formality.

"Alex, Detectives Marks and Harris are here to conduct a routine inquiry about yesterday's incident. It's standard procedure for any officer-involved shooting," Grey explained.

I nodded, understanding the necessity of the process. We soon began seated in an interrogation room.

They began the questioning. "Officer Hunter, can you walk us through the events leading up to the shooting?"

I took a deep breath and started recounting the details of the drug bust.

The detective again asked, "Describe the confrontation with the suspect who engaged you and Officer Bradford."

"The gunman we faced had an automatic machine gun. It was a dire situation, especially when he started running towards Tim, firing continuously while I was reloading. I saw Tim's life was in immediate danger, so I took a shot at the suspect's head, aiming to neutralize the threat. The bullet hit its mark, and the suspect was killed instantly," I explained, my voice steady.

Marks glanced at Harris before turning back to me. "How did you feel about taking that shot, knowing it would be a kill shot?"

I paused, considering my response. "It was my first kill, and I felt a mix of emotions. Relief that Tim was safe, but also the heavy weight of having taken a life. But I knew it was necessary to protect Officer Bradford and myself."

Both detectives seemed satisfied with my account. Harris spoke next, his tone reassuring. "Thank you, Officer Hunter. Your actions were recorded by the parking lot camera, and the footage corroborates your account. This is a routine inquiry, and from what we've gathered, you acted in accordance with your training and the department's protocols."

After the IA detectives finished their routine questioning, Sergeant Grey approached me. "Alex, as standard protocol, you're being placed on compulsory leave until you're cleared by a psychologist."

I nodded, knowing this was part of the process.