3 am on a Monday in Greenlake, Michigan I had already been on patrol since 6 pm and my supervisor was not letting me go home until I reached my quota of arrests. I was already extremely tired but my Lieutenant was tired of being over the zone with the highest crime rate but lowest arrests. Lt told all the officers they had to have at least 10 arrests before they got off duty. I only had 9, being the rookie on the night shift I guess he had to make an example out of me. All I could think about was warm my bed was as I started to doze off in the parking lot of the Gate gas station. I snapped out of it and finally went inside to get the largest cup of coffee they had. Although it was beyond overpriced, I needed something to keep me up for at least 3 more hours.
The clerk greeted me with the usual "Good Morning Officer" and then yawned loudly. I chuckled and said that I felt the same way. Checking out, I drank over half of the cup before I even left the parking lot. I shook off the sudden sugar rush and drove south on whatever street this was, too tired to notice. I made a left on Hardey Street as dispatch started calling out information. "Any two available units please respond, Burglary alarm, possible weapons involved. 1396 West Main Street. Any two available units please respond code 2." Hesitating, I thought about if I had the energy to effectively search for a suspect or did I feel like going and falling asleep in an empty parking lot. Interrupting my thoughts, the radio came back on, "13 Bravo-Charlie 10 responding code 2, 1396 West Main Street." It was then decided, one of the sexiest officers in the department, my closest friend was responding. I figured if anyone could keep me up she could."13 Adam 6 responding code 2, 1396 West Main Street" I said quickly before anyone else could respond. "Copy that 13 Adam 6, 13 Bravo-Charlie 10. Proceed with caution." I turned on the lights and sirens, made a quick U-turn, and sped to the address. Me and Kendra, well Officer Jamison arrived at the newly built Apple Store at the same time.
The Apple district manager beat us there. He told us that he didn't see anything suspicious and that all the doors were still locked. Department protocol required us to still make entry and verify that everything was secure. After doing a perimeter search, we got the manager to unlock the door to secure the inside. After the thorough search, we both agreed that nothing was disturbed. It was most likely a system error with the alarm. The manager agreed and drove away, informing us that if anything was missing, he would file a report during normal business hours.
Kendra and I drove to an empty parking lot and talked a little since we haven't seen each other in forever. Talking about everything from supervisor changes to different calls we got to new restaurants in town, it seemed as if we were there for hours. I had started to flirt when both of our radios went off. Interrupting our conversation, dispatch said "13 Adam 6 Trespassing 1147 Avis drive. Do you copy?" "I copy dispatch," I responded quickly. "Teenage black male holding unknown object on Michelle Obama High School football field, proceed with caution." "Copy dispatch, 1147 Avis Drive, suspicious male on the field, responding no code." I gave Kendra a hug stealing a quick kiss before walking away to my car. Smiling as she stood there stunned. "Next time you do that, I will taze you," she yelled out after me, snapping out of her daze.
I could feel the adrenaline rush that came from searching the Apple store running out as I got to the high school. It was now 7 am, and I could see someone running up and down the football field. I drank the last of my coffee like a shot of Whiskey. Stepping out of the car, I told dispatch I had arrived. Walking towards the subject, I could see that he was wearing jogging pants, a plain t-shirt, and the new Nike running shoes. Carrying a brown object that I could only identify as a small version of Stewie Griffin's head. I couldn't help but think that I was too tired for this shit as I rubbed the sleep out of my eyes. Its 7 in the morning, why is this kid not in bed like this isn't the worst part of town. "Hey kid, come here let me talk to you for a minute," I called out. Apparently, I was too far away for the kid to hear me because he kept running away. Watching him, I realized he wasn't running toward the end zone anymore. He was running toward the exit gate on the other end of the field. Is this mother fucker really about to make me chase him? Son of a bih- "13 Adam 6, I need backup and a supervisor to 1147 Avis drive. I got one black teen male wearing gray jogging pants, plain white tee, and gray and white running shoes running from me." Dispatch repeated all the right information to me and told me that help was on the way. Adrenaline coursed through my body and I took off full speed after the subject. He really wasn't that fast, I could tell he needed to train more because I caught up quickly. "GREENLAKE POLICE DEPARTMENT, STOP RUNNING!" He must've thought this was a game because he continued to run. Was he gaining speed or was it that I was getting tired? Fuck, I can feel the coffee making me cramp up. I fought through the pain and fell back from the subject a little. He had just crossed the 30-yard line, but I was only 15 feet away. "POLICE, STOP WHERE YOU ARE, IM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU AGAIN!"
He slowed down, but started reaching into his pocket and pulled out something black. I was too far away to tell what it was, but it kind of looked like a .... My facial expression turned to that of surprise and shock. "Gun!" I exclaimed out of habit. Instinct made the pistol on my hip appear in my hand. I aimed it towards the boy. "DROP IT, DROP IT, DROP IT!" He stopped to look back at me as he crossed into the end zone. Raising his arms to aim the gun at me, I fired off two quick rounds without even thinking. Hitting him in his abdomen killing him before he hit the ground. Touchdown.
"Dispatch, shots fired by the police. Suspect down. Send me rescue a supervisor and cancel my backup unit please." "Copy that," dispatch said in a quick response. I walked over to the boy to retrieve the gun, adrenaline starting to die down and the cramp getting worse. Where the gun should've landed, there was nothing but a black galaxy s7. Standing there confused for two seconds. I walked back to the boy and looked for a gun that I could not find. Sergeant Cody Daniels jogged over and asked me what I was doing since I wasn't roping off what was now a crime scene. I looked up at him with a face as white as snow. "Sarge, I could've sworn he had a gun," I managed to say, stuttering more than ever. "So where is the gun then Edwards?" "Sarge... I could've sworn I saw a gun." He took a good look at me, then down at the body and realized what I was saying. "There's nothing here but a football and a smartphone Edwards," he stated as he got on the radio and requested internal affairs, a CSI, and two more officers. The ambulance arrived shortly after and pronounced the boy officially dead. It was then, that I realized that it wasn't cramps that I was feeling. It was my stomach tightening telling me something bad was about to happen.
By the time all the units got there, it was about 8:30 and students started to arrive for school. Among the crowd, you could hear whispers that the star running back was laying on the field dead. A white cop shot another unarmed black man in the projects. When internal affairs arrived, they sat me down to the side until they could come and get an official statement. It took just under an hour for the whole scene to get processed and for Internal Affairs to take my weapon as evidence. Then they put me in handcuffs to take me to the same place where the criminals go. Then it hit me. I was now a criminal.
After interrogating me for what felt like hours, they read me my rights, arresting me for the murder of Ahmad Simmons. The feeling in my stomach returned as they took me to a holding cell and told me I had court in two days. I closed my eyes and started to pray. "God I don't deserve this. You know it was an honest mistake. I'm sorry. Father, I can't go to prison. I don't belong in there with real criminals. Please, I don't know what, but I need your help. Father God I know I never pray unless I need something, but I NEED your help. Whatever it is you want me to do, I'll do it, but you know I can't do prison. Prison is full of the same animals that I put away. As soon as they see me, they're going to go crazy. Father you and I both know that they will kill me. Please just, please. I'll do anything, just please don't let me go. Please. Amen." Tears helplessly soaked the pillow as I lay down and stared at the ceiling. After a few silent sobs, my imagination started to run during a few nightmares.
The sound of my cell door opening jarred me out of my sleep. It was Captain Sexton in her department issued dress uniform. Automatically I stood up to acknowledge her and show respect. She laughed, telling me to sit down and relax.
"Captain Sexton, what's wrong? Did something happen with the case?
"No Edwards that's not really why I'm here. And call me Veronica. You know there's a lot stacked against you on this case right?
"Sadly, I can't do anything and it makes me feel so helpless. I don't even know how this could happen. If I go to prison, then it was just meant to happen."
"Every officer goes through something like this. Maybe not this big, but rookies always make mistakes. You want to hear a story about a rookie officer Sexton seven months out of the academy?"
"Go ahead, nothing beats time more than a good story."
"March 3rd, 2003, rookie Officer Sexton responds to a suspicious person call at a local corner store. I get there and this homeless guy is sitting around the back of the store wacking off. As a female, I'm instantly disgusted and already made up my mind that this guy is going to lock up. Not even wanting to get close, I tell his stupid ass to get the fuck up and get against the wall. And you know what this fucker does, he looks up at me, stares me dead in the eye and goes harder. You know those moments when you can feel the anger rising and you need to step back and think about what you should do next before you make a big mistake? Yea this was one of those times. I don't know the first thing I could think of to get him to stop was the taser. So I draw down on him and I aim it at him thinking he would stop and I wouldn't have to use it. But apparently, he felt bold and kept staring at me. As a rookie, in my head, I wasn't going to put it away knowing I shouldn't tase him for something so small, but since I pulled it on him I couldn't let him know that I was about my word. Long story short I tased the homeless man and got suspended for a long time. But somebody in the chain came and talked to me and gave me a second chance."
" So they just let you slide? That's not how the department is supposed to work. What happened to Protect and Serve?"
"So you don't think everyone deserves a second chance when they make mistakes? What about you, you don't want a second chance?
"I can't even lie to you. I need something right now. I seriously don't want to have to watch my back for shank attacks for the next few years."
"This is your second chance opportunity. You can either take your chances in prison, or you can walk free. I need someone with a drive like yours who knows how to get the job done even if it breaks all the rules. These gangs are starting to run the city and its time to take them back. I need someone who doesn't mind getting a little dirty and doesn't have to worry about getting in trouble later. You get what I'm saying?"
Wait. Am I dreaming or is Captain seriously saying that she can get me out of going to prison as long as I go dirty? "Captain, are you really asking me what I think you're asking me?"
"If from now on you look out for me, and do what you're told, ill look out for you when you go to trial tomorrow. You don't have to, I understand you might not be ready especially since this is such a big responsibility, but I do need your answer right now. Its time for me to go, I have to go give a speech about corruption in the city."
I could feel my stomach turning, whether it was because of the disgusting jail food or thinking of the decision I was about to make, I wanted to throw up. "Captain... I got your back if you got mine." She walked away without saying another word leaving me there restless and unable to fall back asleep. I really don't know what I just got myself into. I've heard the news stories about bad cops getting the death chair for the crazy things they got off the books. It seems like the only options I have right now are death chair or getting shanked to death. Too late now, I already told her that I would play ball.