It became important later.
Because when the senior officer began acting strangely near the park, the rookie noticed.
First, his partner checked his personal phone repeatedly.
Then he changed their walking route without explaining why.
He seemed interested in a particular pathway near a wooden picnic table.
And when the rookie asked whether they had received a call for service, the older man brushed him off.
"Just keep your eyes open."
The younger officer looked around.
Families were walking through the park.
Tourists took photographs.
A group of runners passed along the path.
Nothing appeared unusual.
Then the senior officer stopped.
He looked toward a woman in a spectacular olive-green gown standing beside the picnic table.
His expression changed.
"There."
The rookie frowned.
"What?"
The senior officer began walking toward her.
"Come on."
The younger man followed.
He didn't understand why they were approaching.
But as they drew closer, the woman looked up.
She was holding her handbag.
She appeared to be waiting for somebody.
The senior officer stepped directly in front of her.
"Ma'am, I need to speak with you."
She looked toward his badge.
"Of course, Officer."
His voice became sharp.
"Put the bag down."
The woman frowned.
"May I ask why?"
"Because I told you to."
She remained calm.
"Is this a voluntary conversation?"
The officer's jaw tightened.
"Are you refusing?"
"I'm asking whether I'm free to leave."
He looked toward the rookie.
"See? This is how people start trouble."
The younger man felt uncomfortable.
He hadn't seen the woman do anything suspicious.
He hadn't received information explaining why she needed to be detained.
And he didn't understand why his senior partner seemed so determined to seize her bag.
The woman looked toward him.
"Officer, have I been accused of anything?"
The rookie opened his mouth.
But his partner interrupted.
"You're being detained while I investigate."
She looked back.
"Investigate what?"
The older officer stepped closer.
"Possible possession of stolen property."
She blinked.
"What property?"
"The contents of that bag."
Her expression hardened slightly.
"Who made the complaint?"
He laughed.
"You don't get to interrogate me."
The woman slowly lowered her handbag onto the table.
Then said something the rookie would remember for the rest of his career.
"Officer, I recommend that you document the reason for this stop before you take another step."
The senior officer's face reddened.
He interpreted the calm advice as an insult.
He grabbed her wrist.
The rookie moved forward.
"Sirβ"
"Stay back."
The woman kept her voice controlled.
"Don't pull my arm."
The officer twisted her hands behind her back.
She didn't fight.
But she clearly stated that she wasn't consenting to the search.