Jamie stared up at the brown brick building he would now call home only as a Sergeant instead of beat cop. Inhaling slowly he started in, taking the dynamics of his new job. Beat cops already started their tour walked past giving him a long stare saying nothing.
The hallways wound like mazes opening up into a larger room holding the front desk. The precinct captain, an older man in his mid fifties looked up from his paperwork at the approaching footsteps.
"Ah Reagan? Captain Rich, welcome to the 2-9 Just to let you know this is a busy area so things are going to get crazy. For today I want you to conduct roll call then ride the neighborhood just to get familiar with it. Talk to the cops and get to know them."
Leaned forward in his desk chair the Steven Rich studied their newest rookie Sergeant who also happen to be the PC's youngest. "Look, I'm going to warn you now there have been a lot of problems in this house which we're trying to rectify so your job is to stand tough and show these guys you mean business copy?"
Jamie shook his offered hand nodding, "Yes sir, thank you but all due respect I like to earn people's trust and have found it worked better."
"That was the old way, here you need to be firm. Go ahead." Shifting the bag in hand Jamie exited quietly with mind swirling until discovering the men's locker room.
The conversation among several beat cops stopped when Jamie appeared inside, looking over them. A taller man in his upper thirties stood with an extended hand. "Reagan right, your our new Sergeant. Welcome, I'm Sanchez. That's Pratt, Turk, Johnson and Billy."
Shaking each hand with a greeting Jamie found his locker on the opposite side, opening it. He stood for a minute staring at the uniform with white stripes on each sleeves signifying a rank of Sergeant with a smile then dressed.
He met other officers stepping out from the locker room, taking time to get their names and shake hands with each one. Few smiles greeted him something Jamie wasn't used to as everyone did in the 12th except on rare occasions. He quietly found the room he would conduct roll call standing to watch officers file in.
Officers formed straight lines right as they entered the room , some off probation while others just started after graduating academy. The conversations they began walking in continued from several in the middle rows not even bothering to keep their voices down. "Line up" Jamie ordered after giving the officers time seeing only sluggish movement.
"I said fall in move!" The officers scrambled together in tight lines facing their new sergeant. "First line step forward for inspection, move " The five standing in front took a step closer at attention in their spots.
Jamie came around to the first officer a large shouldered man with nameplate reading Smith and several commendation bars decorating his chest.
Smith inhaled at Jamie patting his chest for the required bullet proof vest. Smiling at the hollow sound returned Jamie gave Smith a small nod, moving on to the next.
In the middle, shorter then the other officers Eddie stood perfectly still with her eyes straight ahead when Jamie approached. "Officer Janko," he greeted formally while patting her on the side as he did with the other females.
"Yes sir," Eddie replied formally only moving her eyes slightly to meet his.
He moved quickly to keep on schedule so the officers could hit the streets grateful mostly everyone had their vests except one rookie. "See me after," he said, returning to the podium leaving the kid no choice.
Both hands firmly gripped both sides of the desk as Jamie looked out at the cops he'd been entrusted to oversee. "Be safe out there today and come back in one piece. Roll call dismissed." His eyes scanned the room falling on that one rookie without a vest also looking at him as the room cleared.
With no one in between them the rookie walked up front, stopping just in front with both legs together and hands planted firm at his side. "I asked you to stay back because you don't have a vest on. It's not only department policy but could be the difference between life or death. Go put one on and come find me before hitting the street."
"Yes sir." The kid turned, walking out leaving Jamie alone. Leaning against the podium only momentarily to shake the nerves away he went into the large room waiting.
Officers assigned to special cases with the Detective unit or filling out paperwork walked by greeting him formally with sergeant. Ten minutes passed before Jamie went to check the locker room, finding it empty.
Head shaking he started back to the desk only to retrieve a set of car keys and search for his assignment that day. Once settled it would be him who gave out assignments but todays were already set. With a click of the car keys Jamie entered, driving out first to where the rookie was assigned for a little chat.
On his drive Jamie took notice of the new neighborhood they will work in for an unknown amount of time. Stores varied from grocery to small take out restaurants next to pawn shops all connected up very large blocks. Further north a train rattled underground heard through vents on the sidewalk.
Most of the houses were brick apartment buildings or private houses in between with their fences separated by graffiti.
Music blaring from an open apartment window shook the entire block without any care from its owner that it could be considered disturbing. A car stereo passing by up the block south left a trail of song with heavy bass fighting to be heard over the other noise.
Taking a left turn Jamie passed an empty park that would fill the minute school let out occupied at the moment only by men mostly in their fifties. Sides of buildings guarded by grown men sitting on crates showed more graffiti designs.
He scanned each parked car on his slow drive down the block finding the reason at a corner. A cop car sat parked just beyond the dip in the sidewalk idly waiting for calls. Pulling aside he stepped out, crossing over to the passenger side and gently knocked on the window.
Rookie officer Greg Iris rolled his window down with a pinched face sitting in the passenger seat. "Sergeant."
"I told you to come find me before hitting the streets to make sure you put your vest on. Yet here you are," Jamie reached through the window patting his chest. "And you still don't have a vest which is putting you and your partner in danger."
Greg offered a shrug in response of disobeying order, "I couldn't find you and we have a job to do. My partner can tell me what to do but you just came in so."
"Yeah, not only have I been on the job for eight years I am also your sergeant which means I outrank you. This is about making sure you both come back safe because I am not losing anyone because you think you can do whatever you want."
"Excuse me sir, permission to have a word with my partner while I drive him back to put his vest on," Officer Richard, a senior cop with five years under his belt and multiple commendations for bravery on the job after saving civilians despite risking his own life.
His eyes remained on Greg answering, "That would be a good idea, thank you Richard." Straightening up Jamie watched the car disappear, sighing quietly.
Crossing the street to his car Jamie looked at his phone itching to text Eddie and see if she was okay. Giving in he sent a quick text, Be careful out there today. Lets meet at our usual spot for beer and pretzels after tour.
While waiting for her response Jamie pulled back onto the road in search for more of his cops. He found a pair five blocks away on foot in front of their car, taking in the soft sunshine with temperatures reaching only seventy five.
Partners Jenna and Chris pushed off their car spotting their new sergeant to stand at attention. "No need for all that. How's it going so far?"
"Quiet sir which is odd in this neighborhood so we'll definitely take it. We're usually busy around here and the people don't usually want our help so this is a nice change. What precinct were you in before," Chris answered for his partner who was only on the job two years.
"We'll take it then for sure. I came out of the 12th where I was a beat cop for eight years so this is definitely different," Jamie smiled. "Stay safe out here okay." He searched both directions before crossing back to his car, getting in. Before pulling out he checked his messages, heart jumping finding none from Eddie.
Sighing, setting his phone aside on the seat he pulled out heading back out on the street studying the neighborhood and passing several of his cops. He rode slow through narrow streets passing quiet houses and stores busy with customers.
He reached halfway down the block locking eyes with the green light ahead when his radio came alive. "We have 10-13 at 54-86 East Houston Street "
Jamie picked up the radio with one hand using the other to steer while he responded. "2-9 Sergeant responding as well." Setting the radio aside next to his vibrating phone Jamie flicked the lights and sirens heading southbound to Houston.
He parked sideways in front of a two story building with steps leading up to the front door like other buildings in that neighborhood. Out on the sidewalk a crowd of five guys got together, pushing and shoving with two officers trying to separate them but got lost in the middle.
"Hey, break it up," Jamie shouted, running over with an arm already extended out ready while quickly stepping in between the group. The shouting continued through confusion and chaos of pushing and shoving with Jamie trying to sort out the cause.
Taking another quick step in he looped an arm around a man in his thirties using leverage to push him back off his officer who tumbled to the ground in his effort of breaking up the fight.
Having the extra hand the two officers managed to separate the two offenders allowing for a minute some peace. "Hey it's done let it go. Your both going in for fighting now who knocked the officer down?"
The man Jamie held pulled back, staring past the Sergeant as though he wasn't there at the second man he was fighting with held by Officer Liam. "Okay neither of you are answering your both going in. " Jamie pulled his cuffs out from the waistband to slap on the guy he held.
Handing him off to other arriving officers Jamie offered a hand to his fallen cop. "You good? Need me to call you a bus?"
"No Sergeant, I'm good just outnumbered thanks." Jamie nodded looking him over, their hands held tightly still. "Thank you Sergeant."