“Do you know what this is?”
Adams stared.
“No.”
Robert opened it.
On the front page was a printed agenda.
BRIAR RIDGE POLICE DEPARTMENT
SUPERVISORY LEADERSHIP WORKSHOP
USE OF FORCE, ESCALATION AND PROFESSIONAL DECISION-MAKING
Below:
FACILITATOR: MARCUS REED
Adams stared.
His expression changed so completely that Susan whispered:
“Oh my God.”
Robert turned the page.
A photograph.
Marcus.
Suit jacket.
Professional biography.
Adams looked from the photograph to the man he had just forced to his knees.
Marcus watched him understand.
Robert said:
“Marcus Reed is the outside instructor retained by the city to conduct today’s mandatory command and field-training workshop.”
Adams did not move.
Robert continued:
“He spent twenty-two years in law enforcement.”
Marcus looked toward him.
Robert corrected.
“Twenty-three.”
“Sorry.”
Then:
“He served as a major-crimes investigator, field-training supervisor, academy instructor, and use-of-force review consultant.”
Adams stared.
Robert turned another page.
“Today’s session was scheduled to cover unnecessary escalation during low-information citizen contacts.”
Nobody in the driveway moved.
The irony had become too large to react to.
Marcus looked toward Adams.
The officer’s face was pale.
Robert closed the folder.
“And you are scheduled to attend the afternoon block.”
Adams whispered:
“What?”
Marcus’s expression changed slightly.
He had not known that part.
Robert looked toward him.
“Adams was moved onto the list yesterday after Lieutenant Crowley recommended remedial supervisory observation.”
Marcus slowly looked back toward the officer.
Interesting.
Very interesting.
Adams swallowed.
“Captain—”
Robert cut him off.
“No.”
Not angry now.
Worse.
Professional.
“You will not explain anything to me while my body camera is not the investigating camera and while you have not spoken with representation.”
Adams stared.
Robert pointed toward Moss.
“Officer Moss.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Is your camera active?”
“Yes.”
“Did you witness the entire encounter?”
Moss hesitated.
That hesitation answered something.
Robert saw it.
Marcus saw it.
Adams saw it too.
“Most of it,” Moss said.
“Did you intervene?”
Moss’s face tightened.
“No, sir.”
Robert nodded.
“We will discuss that separately.”
Moss looked down.
Robert addressed Adams.
“You will secure your Taser and firearm in your patrol vehicle.”
Adams’s eyes widened.
“Captain?”
“Now.”
“You're disarming me?”
“Temporarily.”
“In front of civilians?”
Marcus’s expression changed.
There it was again.
Humiliation mattered now.
Robert looked at him.
“Do you want privacy?”
Adams said nothing.
Robert continued:
“Marcus wanted dignity five minutes ago.”
“You did not provide it.”
The officer’s jaw tightened.
Robert immediately adjusted.
“That was unnecessary.”
He took a breath.
“We are not going to reproduce bad conduct while addressing bad conduct.”
Marcus looked at him.
Good correction.
Robert continued: