The day before I was ordered to take Jake on a training day ride-along, I had spoken to him on the phone. Because of a highly sensitive case requiring investigation, I told him to meet me at exactly 8:30 in the morning the following day at the Quality Cafe in downtown Los Angeles.
The next morning rolled around, and I found myself sitting at a table alone, waiting on Jake to arrive. Frustrated at his refusal to obey my very first order, I read over the detailed notes I had taken on the case to try to calm myself down. At about 9:25, Jake finally showed up...
It was clear as soon as I met the kid that his attitude was not what it needed to be for this job. I should have walked out right then, but to be perfectly honest, I was worried about going into a meeting with a local drug lord on a $500,000 deal. I was realistic enough to know that if I tried to bust him by myself, his gang would fill my body with lead faster than I could flash my badge. So, I took Jake with me hoping his attitude would quickly change once he understood the circumstances we were under.
I had also mistakenly forgotten my wallet in my car which I parked three blocks away. I politely asked Jake if he could take care of the bill, which was just short of four dollars. Apparently, he resented this because when the movie released, the scene was depicted much differently. I had somehow been portrayed as the bad guy. What in the hell did I do to deserve that?
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Bums in the Alley
Because of Jake's tardiness, we missed our opportunity to bust the drug lord we had on our schedule that day. I didn't have anymore official police business until noon that day, so Jake and I took a ride on patrol, scoping out local gang-harboring neigborhoods. On most days, it's not unusual to run across multiple drug deals going on in the alley ways.
Cruising around the block, we drove up on two suspects tagging their gang affiliation on a nearby garbage receptacle. The element of surprise is key, so we ran up on them as fast as we possibly could. I had intentions of a typical arrest and booking, but Jake had other actions on his mind when one suspect tried to flee the scene.
It was clear, hearing Jake, that he was as crooked as the day was long. I couldn't even believe the department sent this deranged lunatic to be evaluated. Once again, I informed Jake that we would be doing things by the book, the way they are supposed to be done. I then proceeded, with very little cooperation from my "partner" for the day, to arrest and book both suspects for destruction of public property.
When I saw the movie, I knew that Jake must have really had a vendetta to settle. Not only was the incident portrayed wrong, but I was made out to be the bad guy once again while he stood in the background with that innocent look on his pathetic face.
Cruising around the block, we drove up on two suspects tagging their gang affiliation on a nearby garbage receptacle. The element of surprise is key, so we ran up on them as fast as we possibly could. I had intentions of a typical arrest and booking, but Jake had other actions on his mind when one suspect tried to flee the scene.
It was clear, hearing Jake, that he was as crooked as the day was long. I couldn't even believe the department sent this deranged lunatic to be evaluated. Once again, I informed Jake that we would be doing things by the book, the way they are supposed to be done. I then proceeded, with very little cooperation from my "partner" for the day, to arrest and book both suspects for destruction of public property.
When I saw the movie, I knew that Jake must have really had a vendetta to settle. Not only was the incident portrayed wrong, but I was made out to be the bad guy once again while he stood in the background with that innocent look on his pathetic face.
Documenting the Evidence
Not surprisingly, it turned out that one of the gang bangers we had just busted was holding. I frisked him before I put him in the back of the car, and found a small marijuana cigarette in the waistline of his shorts. I know that it seems minor, but all narcotics are considered evidence when pulled from a suspect at the scene of a crime.
Jake and I got in the car, and I informed him of my intentions of taking the joint back to the station, bagging it up and checking it into the evidence locker. Jake had other ideas however, suggesting that we smoke it instead. It was at that point that I made it very clear that we would not be engaging in such activity.
When I got the evidence back from Jake, we drove back to the station and I checked it in. The entire ride was silent. I could tell he was mad at me, but I couldn't have cared less. He was more criminal than the men we chased on a daily basis. I couldn't wait for that day to be over.
Jake's version of the incident was obviously much different. His lies portrayed me as an evil man, recklessly engaging in illegal activity and not caring one bit while I did so. The story he told the filmmakers switched our personalities entirely. When the movie released, I couldn't bare to watch the scene taking place in front of my eyes.
Jake and I got in the car, and I informed him of my intentions of taking the joint back to the station, bagging it up and checking it into the evidence locker. Jake had other ideas however, suggesting that we smoke it instead. It was at that point that I made it very clear that we would not be engaging in such activity.
When I got the evidence back from Jake, we drove back to the station and I checked it in. The entire ride was silent. I could tell he was mad at me, but I couldn't have cared less. He was more criminal than the men we chased on a daily basis. I couldn't wait for that day to be over.
Jake's version of the incident was obviously much different. His lies portrayed me as an evil man, recklessly engaging in illegal activity and not caring one bit while I did so. The story he told the filmmakers switched our personalities entirely. When the movie released, I couldn't bare to watch the scene taking place in front of my eyes.
"This shit's chess, it ain't checkers!"
Later in the afternoon, we finally had some pressing business to attend to. I figured it would be nice to think about something other than the ethic-deficient goon in my passenger seat.
The business was a meeting with an informant connected to a Mexican supplier that was traveling to the city in the next few days. This meeting was of the utmost importance - busting this supplier would get a significant amount of cocaine off the streets of LA. During the meeting however, Jake kept insisting that the informant was lying to us. He became so enraged that he pulled his gun and put it in the mouth of our witness.
It took everything I had to diffuse the situation. I was convinced in that moment that I was going to witness a murder in cold blood. Luckily, I was able to talk Jake down, and he holstered his weapon. Our witness had urinated on himself in sheer terror, and had also decided that he was done talking to us (not surprising in the least). Jake had just blown my only Intel into this case.
When we got back to the car, I decided that I had to set things straight, once and for all. I had no choice but to make it clear that this job is not what he thought it was. Using a quote my training officer had shared with me to convey the seriousness of this job decades ago, I told him, "This shit's chess, it ain't checkers."
After the lecture that I somehow believed would turn this kid around, he exited the car and I never saw him again. In one sense, I was relieved: I would never have to deal with that punk ever again. In another, I was worried about him, and more importantly about others that associated with him. For months after, I couldn't help but wonder if he had taken anything from the quote I shared with him. It turns out, he did. He used my exact quote in his version of the story, but only in making me out to be the villain. I don't deserve this.
The business was a meeting with an informant connected to a Mexican supplier that was traveling to the city in the next few days. This meeting was of the utmost importance - busting this supplier would get a significant amount of cocaine off the streets of LA. During the meeting however, Jake kept insisting that the informant was lying to us. He became so enraged that he pulled his gun and put it in the mouth of our witness.
It took everything I had to diffuse the situation. I was convinced in that moment that I was going to witness a murder in cold blood. Luckily, I was able to talk Jake down, and he holstered his weapon. Our witness had urinated on himself in sheer terror, and had also decided that he was done talking to us (not surprising in the least). Jake had just blown my only Intel into this case.
When we got back to the car, I decided that I had to set things straight, once and for all. I had no choice but to make it clear that this job is not what he thought it was. Using a quote my training officer had shared with me to convey the seriousness of this job decades ago, I told him, "This shit's chess, it ain't checkers."
After the lecture that I somehow believed would turn this kid around, he exited the car and I never saw him again. In one sense, I was relieved: I would never have to deal with that punk ever again. In another, I was worried about him, and more importantly about others that associated with him. For months after, I couldn't help but wonder if he had taken anything from the quote I shared with him. It turns out, he did. He used my exact quote in his version of the story, but only in making me out to be the villain. I don't deserve this.
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