Disclaimer:
I hereby incorporate all disclaimers as previously set forth in my prior stories.
THE END OF EMPIRE
CHAPTER 1: ALL GOOD THINGS MUST COME TO AN END
December 31, 2020: 11:30 p.m.
Police Commissioner Francis Xavier Reagan stood at his window atop the 14th Floor of One Police Plaza, staring out at the city he had sworn to serve and protect for the past 45 years, 12 of those as the Commissioner of the NYPD. In 30 minutes his service to this great and vibrant city would come to an abrupt end.
Mayor Poole had not been reelected to a third term. He was no longer the popular and polarizing man he had once been since the assassination attempt years earlier had left him in a wheelchair. Many felt the only reason he had been elected for a second term was out of sympathy for that incident.
The Police Commissioner is a political appointee who serves at the pleasure of the Mayor and the incoming CEO of New York City made it abundantly clear during his election campaign, that the number one agenda on his hit list was the NYPD and its present Commissioner. The Mayor-Elect had already announced that he was bringing back a former commissioner to replace Frank, a man who had worked for six different police departments nationwide. A man whose loyalty was to his paymasters whereas Frank's loyalty had always been to his city.
Frank had been invited to the swearing in ceremony but had refused to attend. He had no use for politics and certainly didn't feel like commenting on his successor or what his own plans were now that he had been forced out.
Frank Reagan was 68 years old and he wasn't ready to retire but more poignantly, tonight formally ended the Reagan name and era within New York City law enforcement and this saddened Frank deeply.
He continued to watch the fun and frolic going on below him to the northwest as hundreds of thousands of people, both tourists and locals, gathered around Times Square to usher in the New Year. He felt a deep sense of pride that his force provided the security necessary for these people to feel safe in today's world and that they could enjoy themselves to the full extent permitted by law.
At 11:55 p.m. he sat down at his desk for the final time and hand wrote his formal Letter of Resignation as was the custom, signed it Francis Xavier Reagan, sealed it in an envelope, addressed it to the incoming mayor and then placed it in the center of his desk. He then sat back in his chair for the final time and watched as the clock on the wall slowly wound its way to 11:59 p.m. and the end of his career.
Frank then stood up, put on his coat, scarf and gloves and as the famous gilded red apple signaled in a new year in Time's Square, he walked to the office door and took one last look around his professional home for the past 12 years. He then squared his shoulders, saluted the American and NYPD flags, executed a perfect 180 degree about face, and departed the Office of the Police Commissioner for the final time.
-30-
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