A Month Gone By

The next two weeks were a whirlwind of action and adrenaline. Angela Lopez, my Training Officer, had a clear goal in mind: to become a detective. For that, she needed high-quality arrests on her resume. And so, we set out to conduct at least two major arrests per day.

Every morning started the same. Angela and I would meet at the station early, long before most of our colleagues arrived. She'd take advantage of this to grab the cases of arrest with more value before others. These were individuals with serious charges ranging from robbery to drug couriers and violent assaulters.

"Ready for another day, Alex?" Angela asked as we sipped our coffee in the briefing room.

"Always," I replied, feeling a mix of excitement and nerves. The stakes were high, but so was the reward. Not just for Angela, but for me too. Every arrest was a chance to prove myself, to show my capabilities.

During this time some we accomplished four noteworthy arrests and countless normal ones.

First case was a known gang member wanted for multiple robberies. We rolled out in an unmarked vehicle, blending in with the morning traffic. Angela briefed me on the plan one last time as we approached the suspect's known hangout.

We pulled up to a rundown house, flanked by backup units. Angela gave the signal, and we moved in. The front door was reinforced, but a battering ram took care of that. Inside, chaos erupted. The suspect tried to flee through a back window, but I was there to cut him off. With Angela covering me, I tackled the suspect and cuffed him.

Second case was a suspected drug dealer operating out of a nearby apartment complex. This one was trickier. The building was a maze, and we had to move quickly to avoid alerting the suspect. We split up to cover more ground. Angela found him first, and a brief foot chase ensued. I rounded a corner just in time to see her take him down with a textbook maneuver.

Third case was a violent offender who had skipped bail. This time, we had to coordinate with a SWAT team.

We arrived at the suspect's location, a fortified house in a quiet suburb. The SWAT team breached the front while Angela and I covered the back. The suspect tried to make a run for it but was quickly subdued by the overwhelming force. The coordination and precision of the operation were impressive, and it added another high-profile arrest to our record.

Fourth case was a domestic violence suspect known to be armed and dangerous. We approached the suspect's workplace, a construction site, with caution. Angela's strategy was to catch him off guard during his lunch break. It worked. He was sitting in his truck when we moved in. There was a tense moment when he reached for something, but my quick reflexes ensured he was disarmed and cuffed without incident.

Captain Zoe Andersen and Sergeant Wade Grey even commended us for our an exceptional job these past two weeks. Angela and I were wore satisfactory smiles that day.

I was doing a good job with Angela but my fellow rookies John and Lucy had a hard time during this period.

John and Talia Bishop were assigned a rusty old car as Nolan's punishment for damaging their vehicle often and causing heavy property damages during car chases. Elsewhere, Lucy is stuck with a temporary training officer named Scott Wrigley whose style is cautious. He doesn't respond to high risk calls and lives a risk free life writing tickets. I know that Lucy doesn't want to be this type of police officer so she has to put up with him till Tim Bradford returns.

At the end of today's shift, Angela says to me, "You don't have to come early from tomorrow."

"Why?", I ask.

She explains by saying, "We took advantage of this time when Tim is absent and Tania is assessing John's capabilities to pick favourable cases these two weeks. But from tomorrow Tim is coming back to report and Tania's done with John so Sergeant Grey will assign tasks from now on instead of us taking them by coming early."

I nod towards her understanding her meaning.

------

The following two weeks unfolded with a steady rhythm of routine calls and procedural tasks. As we settled into the groove of our assignments, I became increasingly familiar with the day-to-day operations at Mid-Wilshire Station.

These two weeks of our routine was a mix of mundane calls and routine patrols. Angela and I were often dispatched to minor incidents like - domestic disturbances, noise complaints, theft reports, vandalism, traffic incident, etc.

While this police work was fulfilling, I still miss the first two weeks of high risk cases. I think that my capabilities were fully demonstrated during that period.

-----

Its been a month since I started working as a police officer in Mid-Wilshire police station.

As I reflect on the past month, I can't help but feel a mix of satisfaction and anticipation. Each day has been a learning experience. I've grown accustomed to the routine and the challenges it brings.

Angela has become like a big sister to me. Her experience and guidance have been invaluable. I admire her strength and professionalism, and I'm grateful for the mentorship she provides. She also has some bad traits like she is sometimes hot tempered so occasionally I have to calm her down. Angela's support has made my transition into this role smoother, and I feel fortunate to have her by my side as a partner.

Today is a new day and we are all sitting in the briefing room. Sergeant Grey comes and addresses the room, "Today is a special day for rookies. All three of you are gonna switch training officers for the day."

He then assigns John to Angela, Lucy to Bishop and me to Tim Bradford.

After the briefing, I went to the gear room to check out my equipment. Once I was ready, I met Officer Tim, who was waiting outside his car. Seeing me approach, he climbed into the driver's seat and started the engine. I loaded my gear into the trunk and settled into the passenger seat.

We began our patrol on our usual route, engaging in small talk. After a while, I noticed Tim diverting from our planned course. Sensing my confusion, he explained, "I heard you and Lopez handled some heavy lifting while I was on leave."

"Yes, sir," I replied. "We took high-risk calls during that time."

Tim glanced at me, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. "Do you want to handle one with me?"

I nodded. Seeing my approval, he said, "Good. You've got guts."

Tim drove us to the outskirts of LA and parked near a black Toyota. Four men got out of the car, and Tim introduced them as detectives from the Major Crimes Department.

The lead detective briefed us on the operation: we were targeting a notorious gun runner who resided in a house two blocks away. The plan was for the detectives to storm the house while Tim and I guarded the back door to prevent any escapes.

We got into position, waiting for the signal. The lead detective gave the go-ahead, and the team burst into the house. Almost immediately, we heard a flurry of gunshots. Moments later, two armed men bolted out the back door, firing at us on sight.

Tim and I quickly found cover and returned fire, managing to pin the suspects in place. The intensity of the gunfire was overwhelming, and my adrenaline surged as I concentrated on keeping the suspects contained. The sharp sound of bullets whizzing by was deafening, but I remained composed.

Our strategy worked; we successfully held the gunmen in position long enough for the detectives inside to secure the scene. Moments later, the detectives apprehended all the gunmen, bringing the situation under control.

As the dust settled, Tim looked at me with a nod of approval. "Good job," he said. "You handled yourself well."

The operation had been chaotic but ultimately successful. The Major Crimes detectives began securing evidence, collecting firearms, documents, and anything else that could link the gun runner to other crimes. Tim and I helped with the cleanup, ensuring all evidence was properly documented and stored.

As we wrapped up, Tim took a moment to debrief with me. "Remember," he said, "staying calm under pressure is crucial. You did well today, but always be ready for the unexpected. It's what keeps us alive."

I nodded, absorbing his advice.

-----

After the intense operation, Tim and I resumed our patrol, the adrenaline from the encounter still coursing through my veins. The city felt different, almost quieter, as we navigated our route. As the afternoon sun climbed higher, our radio crackled to life with a summons from Sergeant Grey.

"Bradford, Hunter, report to the station immediately," came his stern voice. Tim glanced at me with a raised eyebrow before turning the car around. I couldn't help but wonder why Sergeant Grey called for us.