“We are not here to take over local police authority. We are here because a member of our coordination team appears to have been injured, and there are serious questions about the conduct of this stop.”
The younger officer looked toward the Black woman.
“She punched me.”
The commander met his gaze.
“And every moment leading up to that is relevant.”
He opened his mouth to argue.
The adviser continued before he could.
“Let's identify the appropriate local supervisor and request an independent review. Nobody benefits from another confrontation.”
The older officer nodded quickly.
“I can call a sergeant.”
“Please do.”
The younger officer stared at his partner.
“You're taking their side?”
The older man looked at him.
“I'm trying to keep this from getting worse.”
The commander almost laughed.
The situation had already gone far beyond anything that should have occurred during an ordinary traffic stop.
But she remained silent.
The medical pain was becoming more noticeable now that her immediate adrenaline had begun to fade. She could feel tenderness around her waist and a deep ache in the shoulder the older officer had gripped. Her heels were uncomfortable on the gravel, and the heavy coat hung unevenly around her body.
The liaison noticed.
“Would you like to sit?”
She considered the offer.
Then she nodded.
“Yes.”
He helped her move toward a safe position near her SUV without touching her unnecessarily.
The legal adviser retrieved the handbag after obtaining the commander's permission.
She placed it carefully beside her.
The commander thanked her.
Then she removed her enormous black visor sunglasses.
For the first time, the officers saw her eyes clearly.
They were deep brown, focused, and still visibly wet from pain.
The younger officer looked away.
He had spent the past fifteen minutes describing her as an arrogant woman who thought she was too important to follow instructions.
Now, faced with the possibility of explaining his actions to multiple investigators, he seemed desperate to believe the entire event had somehow been her fault.
He turned toward the older officer.
“Tell them she was resisting.”
The older officer did not answer.
“Tell them!”
The older man looked toward the witness's phone.
Then toward the Taser lying on the gravel.
His expression changed.