Pope: “Lets pause in this report for one moment, Commander, to hear why you ignored policy & put Sergeant Gabriel in an ambulance instead of waiting for the black & whites & sent FID to the wrong emergency room.”
Taylor: “I thought the Paramedics were going to Cedars. My apologies. I was off duty. I’d had several alcoholic beverages on an empty stomach.”
Sharon: “You didn’t seem at all drunk to me, Commander.”
Brenda: “Well, regardless, Erik Whitner is in a stable condition, Sergeant Gabriel has met with his Counsel & given his statement. The only things outstanding is the homicide of a newspaper vendor which no one has been allowed to investigate.”
Sharon: “Chief Pope, I spent the night familiarising myself with Major Crimes, really, really impressive, I find no incidents where they’ve investigating the murder of a newspaper vendor, whereas the shooting of an unarmed civilian my an LAPD Officer incurs serious liability.”
Brenda: “Well, it can’t take priority over homicide. Perhaps Captain Raydor would like to tell Mr Parsell’s family that his murder...”
Sharon: “Chief Johnson wants to combine my Officer involved shooting with her murder investigation...”
Brenda: “I’m sorry, are you interrupting me again, Captain?”
Sharon: “...when they are clearly two distinctly different cases.”
Brenda: “Are you interrupting me?”
Sharon: “I must go first! My investigation must go first! These attempts to pull rank are embarrassing, unprofessional & potentially an obstruction of justice. I have a Federally mandated responsibility to determine why an LAPD Officer discharged his weapon which supersedes Chief Johnson’s objections. As well as yours Sir, if it comes to that.”
Pope: “Were there any witnesses to this shooting?”
Brenda: “Yes. A couple saw a young white man shoot Mr Parsall several time’s at point blank range, empty his cash drawers & run away.”
Sharon: “Erik Whitner had $2 in his pocket. He had no gun, he wasn’t ID’d by the witnesses.”
Brenda: “Well then, whoever murdered Mr Parsall is still out there. What if he shoots someone else while Captain Raydor refuses me access to the crime scene?”
Pope: “Is it safe to assume that the white male who shot Mr Parsall was not Sergeant Gabriel?”
Sharon: “That is not the issue here.”
Taylor: “Then what is the issue Captain?”
Sharon: “Clearly, Chief Johnson wants to combine my case with her murder in order to protect a well-liked member of her Division.”
Brenda: “I will not allow my professional conduct to be questioned like this. Especially when all I’ve asked Captain Raydor to do is just move her red tape just a few feet to the left so that I can properly begin searching for a murdering.”
Pope: “Alright Captain Raydor, you seem to be insisting that this officer involved shooting & that Parsall murder are two separate events.”
Sharon: “That’s exactly what they are & I need to be allowed to work my case before Chief Johnson...”
Pope: “No, no, no. If Erik Whitner is not the shooter then Major Crimes needs to look for the real killer. You and Chief Johnson will share the crime scene & the witnesses. But Sargent Gabriel is not to take part in this investigation until the officer involved shooting is completely explained.”
Sharon: “Chief Johnson, wait. I just want to say that I understand the urge to protect the people you work with & I respect it. But I’m obligated to investigate this shooting as if it were a criminal act & I would ask that you do nothing to jeopardise the success of my enquiry, that’s all.”
Brenda: “You stay out of my way Captain & I’ll stay out of yours.”
Sharon: “Well...I tried.”
Taylor: “Careful Chief. She’s part of Internal Affairs & she can carry a grudge.”
Brenda: “Well then, she better get ready for some heavy lifting.”
