Consequences Ch. 03

Your Iron Wolf took it back up: "We will warn them at some point in time, and after that we'll begin making a full circle around them. As to marchers, we break those up at the first sign of violence... smashed window, damaged car, Molotov cocktail thrown, anything. Resistance will be futile; we will be trying to make as many arrests as possible. County Jail is ready to process large numbers tonight, if need be. And our Federal friends are ready to help us process those suspects in order to find repeat offenders or national-level 'threat actors', as they call them."

Your Iron Wolf: "Additionally, we have everything in place to implement our plans to shut off the major streets into Town if anything starts up. And we've let the bars along University Avenue as well as the clubs on MLK Jr Drive know that we will implement an immediate curfew and start shutting down alcohol sales at the first signs of trouble."

"They're not gonna like that." said Lt. Rudistan with more joviality than the situation called for.

"Actually," said Captain Tanya P. Muscone, "the bars along the University are okay with it, since they could become targets of the violence. They've already been having incidents of pseudo-'students' accosting their customers that are sitting outside, and demanding those customers vocally support their anti-Police agenda. So they'd welcome the clean-up."

"Having said that," continued Tanya, "the clubs and strip joints in the Tenderloin District are bitching about it, and apparently don't mind being part of the problem instead of helping with our solutions."

"We'll cross those Rubicons when we get to them." I said. "In the meantime, where are the Press deploying themselves?"

"KXTC is trying to act like nothing is going on," said Lieutenant Myron Milton, "which is a sure sign that something is going on."

After the chuckles died away, he said "all of their vans except two are in the KXTC parking lot. The other two, we cannot find at all. We think they're parked inside buildings somewhere and are completely shut down so as to not give away any electronic signatures. Bettina Wurtzburg and Amber Harris are at the KXTC offices, but we are not sure where Lester Holder is. His cellphone is not pinging from anywhere, and did not come on when we tried to activate it remotely."

"Good Lord." groaned the Chief. "Don't get us in legal trouble, please. We've already got a hostile USDOJ just looking to beat our heads in."

"No worries, sir." I said. "What about KFXU and any other Press?"

"KFXU's vans have been out and about," said Myron, "but in patterns consistent with what they do every day. And we've seen no groups of people near any of their vans, either. Compare and contrast with Lester Holder often meeting with groups, especially around the Jasmine club."

Myron: "We did have one sighting of a reporter from a national news network, whose name won't be mentioned but their initials are 'C-N-N', on the University campus near the Political Science building."

"That could be about anything." Cindy said.

I replied "Maybe they're doing a story about how coincidences exist." That was not 'well-received' by the Green Crowbar, who waved her green crowbar in my general direction.

When Teresa finished detailing our plans to shut off and shut down trouble, I stood up and said "I just want to say one thing before the Chief dismisses us. You've all done a great job, truly a great job, the past few weeks. There are a lot of Police Forces that wish they were us right now."

Your Iron Crowbar: "And I want to single out someone for especially exemplary service during this time. Commander Croyle has done virtually all the planning, and most of the implementing of everything we've done to this point, saving lives and untold amounts of property. And she's had to deal with me in all of it. So Commander Croyle, there are not words enough to properly praise you for the outstanding job you've done, and I am very grateful you are on our team."

"Hear hear." growled Our Sheriff as everyone applauded, giving Teresa the ovation she deserved, which made her blush...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

It was a really full house at The Mountain Nest. Sheriff Griswold had brought himself, and catered the barbeque dinner, which was set up in a big open tent in the backyard. Tanya and Jack Muscone had brought Pete, Tiffany, and Jennifer. Cindy and Callie had brought Betsy, Edward and Stephanie Steele had brought Marie, Todd and Teresa brought their boys, and Daniel and Melina Allgood brought their kids, adding to Molly and Paulina and their kids.

After supper, some boys played softball in the yard, albeit not well, while some played board games with some of the girls. Tasha, Patricia and Betsy were petting Buddy and Bowser, who were not complaining about it a bit. Melina was supervising the girls and dogs while they were outside.

Meanwhile, we adults were sitting under the tent and discussing Paulina's situation. Teresa and I were not drinking; we were expecting to be called in if any trouble arose in Town. Everyone else was drinking, to various degrees.

"I know you want to be a Prosecutor, Paulina," said Cindy. "But my father has a ton of legal work you can do, and he'll pay you well."

Teresa said "The Hospital is going to need more lawyers, too, as they ramp up to hire more Staff and add new research facilities."

Todd says "I can always use more legal help at BOW Enterprises."

Daniel Allgood said "If you want to be the City Attorney, I'll hire you on the spot. Dennis Garland is very likely not going to be coming back to that position."

"Rehab not going well for him?" Cindy asked.

Laura said "I probably should not say anything out loud, so keep this to yourselves, but Mr. Garland's problems are much deeper than his alcohol addiction, though it'd be good to get him over that. I'll just say that he's in therapy with one of my fellow psychologists at the University."

Laura continued: "And if you'd like to do something like teaching, Paulina, the University Law School would hire you, especially if I tug at some strings."

I said "And to round out the picture, Paulina... you don't have to do anything for a while yet. Your brother T-Square has agreed to collaborate with me on supporting you, and of course I'll make sure Tasha's taken care of, no matter what."

"I appreciate all of the offers, and all of the support." Paulina said, some emotion in her voice. "And when I was deciding on whether or not to make the racial discrimination complaint against Miriam, part of that was to consider my future. And I realized that I've got too much here to move away from... especially all of you as family. And removing Tasha from her dad and all her brothers and sisters would be... I just can't do that to her."

"So what do you think will happen?" asked Edward Steele. "I know that several of us Council Members are ready to give Miriam Walters hell over this, but we'll follow your lead on it."

Paulina said "I'm not sure. I don't even know if I've been fired yet, or suspended. I guess we'll see on Monday. I do know that I'm not going to fool with that crap about being Savannah's 'researcher' (air quotes). I'm a lawyer, not a glorified intern."

"I just don't get it." said Daniel Allgood. "Franklin Washington is gone; he's running for Nance's judicial seat, and I know I'm praying Franklin wins. Hannah Doss is running for Magistrate Court Judge, and things look good for her to win. If Savannah Fineman wins the Solicitor position, Miriam Walters will literally have no ADAs left. What is she expecting to happen?"

Sheriff Griswold growled "That's what Paulina can leverage, if she wants to remain a Prosecutor----"

*BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!*

*BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!* *BRING!*

Teresa's cellphone rang, following by mine a split-instant later. We answered, then said 'I'll be right there." at the same time. As we disconnected the calls, I said "All right, folks. It's starting..."

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The sun had set and the last of its light was disappearing over the western horizon as the we came into Headquarters, the Sheriff having ridden with me in my Police SUV, and Cindy with Teresa in Teresa's Police SUV. We went to Classroom 'E', which was where we were setting up our Command Post, and where Chief Moynahan and Lieutenant Mary Milton were sitting.

'Where's Captain Muscone?" asked the Chief as we took seats.

"She's helping transport all our kids to The Cabin." I said. "She'll be here soon."

"Tell you what..." the Chief said, taking out his Police iPhone. Then he made a call, and I heard him say "Yes, Captain, this is Chief Moynahan... yes, I heard that... Do you have your laptop with you?... Listen, what I want you to dooooo, is to stay at Commander Troy's home on the mountain, watch over the kids, keep your eyes and ears open, and check in with us via your laptop... Yes, you're our person in the 'undisclosed location' in case the Seditionists try to overrun Police Headquarters and the Old Mill... okay, thank you. Bye."

"That's a good idea." I said. "Though I don't see County Jail nor this Headquarters being overrun."

"An abundance of cautionnnnn." the Chief said. "Okay, Loo-tenant Milton, brief them."

"Thank you, Chief." said Mary Milton. Images from various cameras appeared on the screens as she spoke: "Two KXTC vans arrived at Courthouse Square just before sunset, on East Street (which is the north-south street that forms the eastern border of Square). They didn't pass through a barrier checkpoint, so we think they were parked very close by, within our cordon, and moved in right as the sun was setting."

"So much for this being a spontaneous event." I said. "And the thugs arrived shortly afterwards?"

"Very shortly afterwards, sir." said Mary. "The group of Antifa thugs that have been on the east side of Courthouse Square since this afternoon began chanting and yelling right when the KXTC vans arrived, literally as if on cue. Their numbers also began swelling, as people came on foot from the north, east, and south."

"Past our barriers?" Cindy Ross asked sharply.

"Yes ma'am." said Mary. "The plan, if I understood it correctly, was that we would not impede small groups going into that area. Was that not right, Commander?"

"You got it right." I said. To the others I said "We're allowing them in so that we can bust more of them when we surround them. How are the cameras doing to get facial rec, Mary?"

"We have drones up, getting good images," said Mary, "and the extra cameras we've installed are working well, also. The thugs have taken out two older street cameras that the knew about, and they're trying to knock the drones out of the sky if they fly too low."

"Is that a good idea?" Cindy asked. "Letting them mass like that? They'll be harder to deal with."

"We're 'kettling' them." said Teresa. "We're going to surround them, and take them into custody."

"We're concentrating them in one area," said the Chief, "and then we hit them with the artillery, so to speak."

"What about other areas of Town?" I asked. "Any problems?"

"There was a KXTC van trying to hide behind the Jasmine club." said Mary. "We sent in four Patrol cruisers with four armed-and-armored Officers in each car to the scene, and told the KXTC people to leave. When they started giving us lip, and when people started noticing and massing, our guys told the KXTC people to either drive away, or we'd arrest all of them and impound the vehicle and drive it out of there."

Mary: "So they drove away, and the Police vehicles followed them around until they realized we weren't going to stop following them, and they drove back to KXTC's offices and parked. They're still there. Oh... we also have word that the KXTC vehicles at Courthouse Square have only cameramen and technicians. No reporters. At all."

"That's curious." Teresa said.

"And it means they have something planned." I replied. "Any other Press vehicles on the Southside?"

"No sir." said Mary. "The two at Courthouse Square are the only ones."

"Where are our people?" Teresa asked.

"Just behind the buildings that ring the Square." Mary said. "A large group is inside the Courthouse, ready to defend it but also to come out and complete the ring."

"When are we going to send them in?" I asked Teresa.

"At the first sign of actual violence, or when we think we have as many in the ring as we're going to get." Teresa replied.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"We've been spotted." we heard over Police radio. We had one two desktop radio units on the table, rather than have all our Police radios on. One of them was listening to the regular channels, and one to Channel 5 Encrypted Radio. That last communication had been on Channel 5.

"Roger that." said another voice, which I recognized as Sr. Sergeant Roy McGhillie, who was in the tactical lead in the field. "Any more perps coming in?"

"Just a few." came the reply. "Wait... they're starting to realize we're around them. They're throwing things at our guys to the north." We could see on the Courthouse cam that thugs were throwing what appeared to be rocks or brinks from left to right... south to north as the crow flies."

I grabbed the microphone of the desktop radio and hit the 'Break' button, and I knew the loud noise we heard was being duplicated on every Police radio.

"Break break break!" I said into the microphone "This is Commander Troy. Move in! I say again, move in! Surround them, and arrest all of them!" My Officers complied.

"It's working." Teresa said with something resembling happiness in her voice. We watched as Officers poured out of the Courthouse and from between buildings, and also from the west, where they'd been waiting on Riverside Drive. The thugs were caught unawares and were surrounded.

"You are all under arrest!" a voice boomed out, the voice of Roy McGhillie on a bullhorn. What's neat is that we had a couple of newfangled bullhorns with radio transceivers, and what Roy was ordering was being broadcast through four bullhorns. "You are surrounded! Lie down on the ground!"

The circle closed in relentlessly. The front line of Officers had shields. As they got to the Antifa thugs, they would deftly move their shields out and then back in to capture a thug in a pincer movement. Then the Officers behind them forced the perps to the ground, and zip-tied their hands behind them. The perps were then moved to the rear of the circle, and paddywagons and a borrowed school bus began being filled.

As they saw they had no chance, many of the perps began lying down, but not moving when ordered, which was passively resisting arrest. Others raised their hands and began chanting "Hands up! Don't shoot! Hands up! Don't shoot!" One by one, they were all taken into Police custody.

When it was over, 142 arrests had been made. By 10:30pm, it was all over, and the TCPD Officers were mostly in the Headquarters gym, waiting for their next assignment. Teresa and I went to the gym, and I used a bullhorn to say "Outstanding job tonight! Give yourselves a huge round of applause." A huge round of applause ensued.

As Teresa and I were walking back towards my office, Lieutenant Rudistan came rushing down the hall to meet us. It was unusual to see Rudistan running like that, not that he couldn't move, but he rarely chose to do so.

"Sir!" he all but shouted. "We need you in the front lobby!" He stopped at the door to MCD and said "Where's Lieutenant Davis?"

"Right here." said Davis, coming out of his office.

"Come with us." said Rudistan. As we walked down the hall with him, Rudistan said "I recognized one of the people we arrested tonight, so I had him brought here to Headquarters instead of being processed at County Jail."

"Uh oh." I said, figuring it out, and maybe having just a wee bit of a vibe. "All right, let's go see if I'm right.

"You are, sir." Rudistan said as we passed through the metal door into the lobby. Standing between the waiting room and the door to the Booking areas, his hands zip-tied, attended by Corporal Hicks... was Jonathan Davis, Lt. Jerome Davis's father.

Part 13 - Serving Two Masters

"Commander," said Jerome Davis, his voice full of anger, "I'm taking this criminal through Booking myself."

"Make sure he's unarmed," I said, "but don't make him change clothes. Put him in I-1 when you're done." After Jerome led his father into the Booking area, I said quietly to Hicks "Go with them." Hicks went inside the Booking area, and Teresa and I went back through the main door and down the hallway to my office.

"Ohhhh, wowwwwww." Teresa said as I started a pot of coffee in my coffeemaker.

"Yeah." I said simply "That was all we needed. Okay, before I go tell the Chief, I want to ask you something. What did you think of tonight's incident overall?"

"I thought our Officers handled it very well." Teresa said. "The kettling maneuver worked well... er, is that what you meant with that question?"

"Yes and no." I said. "Tell you what... go check with your Precinct leadership and also see if anything new appears to be brewing. I'll go tell the Chief about Jerome's dad...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

"You have got to be kidding me." the Chief groaned when I told him the news. The Sheriff said nothing, but looked stunned. We were in the Chief's Conference Room, where I had found him and the Sheriff in conversation.

"No sir." I said as the Chief extended his hand to have me sit down. "Jerome is taking his father through Booking now. I told him to put his father in I-1, and I'll talk to Jonathan there... or bring him to my office."

"I don't get it." said Sheriff Griswold. "Jonathan was so helpful with Charlie that time." (Author's note: 'Fathers and Sons'.) "I thought he was good with the Police, and he and Jerome seemed to have really repaired their relationship."

"Yes sir." I said. "I need to understand Jonathan's thinking."

"What are you planning to do after you talk to him?" asked the Sheriff.

"It'll depend on what he says." I said. "Right now, I'm of a mind to release him, on account of his Navy service and his help with Charlie that time. But I need to know just why he's consorting with Antifa thugs..."

There was a knock on the door, and Lt. Jerome Davis opened the door. "Commander, he's in I-1."

"Come on in, Jerome." I said. I had Jerome sit down next to me, and I said "Did you have any idea your father was going to join this protest."

"No sir." said Jerome. "But I haven't talked with him at all since that day he told me he wanted me to quit the TCPD."

I nodded. "I know this has to be tough for you, Jerome. But due to your being kin to him, you're off the case vis-a-vis his involvement. Say nothing to him, at all."

"Sir," said Jerome, "I want to make sure full charges are pressed."

"I'm sure you do." I said. "But we're letting a lot of first-time offenders go, and have been. We don't have that much room in our jails nor time on the Courts's dockets. I'm going to talk to him, and then I'll decide what to do. And if I do let him go, I expect you to understand, even if you don't agree."

"Yes sir." Jerome said.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * *

I went into I-1. Corporal Hicks was the Uniformed Presence. I asked Hicks to escort Mr. Davis through the anteroom and down the hallway to my office. Being 'Blood Orange' as well as a good and loyal Police Officer, Hicks did so, then stood watch in the anteroom while I talked to Jonathan Davis.

Remembering he was retired from the Navy as a Senior Chief Petty Officer, I said "Chief, do you think I'm a racist?"

Jonathan seemed surprised at the question; his eyes widened. "No, Commander." he replied. "I know you well enough to know you're not."

I asked "Do you think the TCPD is institutionally racist?"