Chapter Two
Rookie Rescue Reunion
"Hello. I'm Detective Demarcus King. I graduated from the New York City Police Academy in 1998"
"My first winter on the job was cold – very cold. The winter of 1998-into 1999 had so many cold snaps that we lost count, and had six or seven major snowstorms.
"On January 19th, 1999, I had a foot patrol along Bryant Park. It was just before midnight when I came up on the park. I checked the benches for anyone camping out, and found someone sleeping there. With the temperature dropping into the single-digits that night, that was very dangerous. When I woke her up she was incoherent. I called EMS, who took her to the hospital and treated her for hypothermia. From there she was refereed to a homeless shelter.
"My rookie year with the NYPD I helped save one of New York's more vulnerable citizens."
"I'm Commissioner Frank Reagan. Join the NYPD and see what happens in Your Rookie Year."
Sergeant Jamie Reagan typically made it a point to rotate amongst all the patrolmen and women in his platoon at the 2-9. One by one, he'd ride with them all, especially the newer bloods. When there were an odd number of bodies for the tour, that made it easy. When the tour was made up of an even number, Jamie usually drove his RMP solo to a spot not far from a known foot post, and teamed up with the foot sloggers, turning a duet into a troika. Such had been today.
Jamie pulled his RMP into the parking lot of the 29th precinct building, letting out his two passengers, foot patrolmen Bringhurst and Capriotti. The day had been pretty uneventful, the two patrolmen handing out a few summonses for illegally parked cars, and that was pretty much it.
It was the changing of the guard at 1600, and Jamie sauntered into the 29th. He turned in his car keys, radio and microphone set, and Taser, then headed towards the men's locker room.
But he didn't even make it halfway there before he was halted by two familiar faces, which were unfamiliar to this station. His old Training Officer and partner, Anthony Renzuli was waiting for him, in civvies. Renzuli was backed up by Deputy Commissioner of Public Information Garret Moore.
Renzuli and Jamie's faces lit up with recognition of each other. "Sarge!" Jamie exclaimed.
"Sarge!" Renzuli said to his former newbie, now a newly minted sergeant. "You wear the stripes well"
"You taught me how" Jamie said. "in fact, when it's nice outside like this, I do what you taught me – park the car and take my rookie out for a stroll to meet the faces."
"Hey," Tony "it's like I said. 'You don't meet the people from behind –"
"-from behind 2000 pounds of steel" The quote was finished not by Jamie but by Eddie, who had just arrived, already changed into her street clothes. "So, you're where he got that line." Eddie said, smiling knowingly at Renzuli. "I should have known. He used that on me like the first or second time we rode out together"
"It's a good line" Jamie said with a shrug and a smile.
"You let me think that you'd thought that one up yourself" Eddie said with faux annoyance.
"I had to. TOs are supposed to be clever like that" Jamie defended.
"Hey" Tony began again. "Good TOs borrow from their own TOs. Great TOs steal from their own TOs!"
"What's up?" Jamie asked. "Do you miss us? Because we're not going back to the Twelve."
Tony shook his head "Nah. I'm here for you, but not because of that. We've got a play date this Thursday morning at Sunrise New York. We're gonna be on TV – Along with your niece."
"Nicky?" Jamie asked in surprise.
"What? You got more nieces? Yeah. Nicky"
Garrett now spoke up. "Sunrise New York wants to do a real quick interview on Nicky's NYPD recruitment project. Your commercial is going to be one of the interviewer's exhibits. They want to ask you and Tony a few questions. It looks like a perfect PR coup d'é·tat. You saved a life, no controversies, and you're a walking talking high five for the PCs office. And I'm not the type to turn down a quick and easy victory lap."
"Oh. OK." Jamie said. "That's pretty short notice."
"That's why I'm here" Garrett said. "Your lieutenant's new job is to free you up for this Thursday. Whatever he needs to do that, I'm here to tell him that he'll have it."
With that, Renzuli and Jamie shook hands again, and Garrett made his way to the sergeants desk.
Eddie turned towards Jamie with a certain glitter in her eyes. "Woooow" she purred. "You and Nicky. I'm marrying into a family of TV stars."
Leaning in towards her ever so slightly – Jamie was of course still in uniform and thus couldn't be overly affectionate without scandalizing the entire precinct- he quipped "Don't worry, you get used to the glamorous lifestyle".
Eddie overcame the temptation to laugh out loud and throw her arms around her fiancé, but not the temptation to toss Jamie and ear-to-ear grin as she headed out the door of the precinct.
xxxx xxxx
"Hello I'm Sergeant Jameson Reagan. I graduated from the New York City Police Academy in 2010.
"In my first year as a patrolman, my partner and I were sent to an apartment in response to a noise complaint. When we got there, the was a big loud party in full swing. I thought we were just going to be there for a few minutes to ask everyone to turn down the music. But while we were there, four kids overdosed on drugs.
"Things happened fast. Very fast. My partner and I each grabbed a victim, and then pressed two more of the kids to attempt CPR on the other two.
"The girl I was working on was very lucky. She survived. The other three victims weren't as lucky.
"In my rookie year with the NYPD I saved someone's life for the first time.
"I'm commissioner Frank Reagan. Join the NYPD and see what happens in Your Rookie Year."
It turned out to be Eddie's Regular Day Off -RDO in NYPD parlance- and she had little difficulty getting a seat in the audience of WRRU's Sunrise New York.
Although Eddie couldn't see them, Jamie and Tony Renzuli stood in the stage left wing of the studio, waiting to come onto the set. Since Nicky was the brain-mother of the advertising/ recruitment project – or at least the face of it- she began the segment. None of reporter Diane Piper's questions were particularly hardball, but there was a medium strength question that Nicky deftly handled.
"Ms Reagan, what would you say to critics of this recruitment ad who say that these police stories say nothing about the more controversial aspects of police work, such as allegations of excessive force, discrimination, or corruption?" Diane asked.
"Well, Diane," said Nicky "I'd politely point out to them that this is a recruitment drive, and practically no recruitment drive for any organization takes the time to acknowledge any controversies that the organization's confronted. Universities like Penn State and Duke have both confronted controversies in the past, and so has our MTA. Diane, even our well known and loved WRRU station has confronted a sexual harassment scandal. I'm quite sure that none of these controversies are placed front and center in any of these organizations' recruiting drives." During the entire little speech she never lost the twinkle in her eyes, and her smile was always sweet, but never condescending.
"I'll tell ya, kid. That niece of yours is something!" Renzuli whispered with admiration. Jamie had to admit, his niece was wasn't becoming yet another formidable woman in the Reagan clan. She already was one.
"Now one of your uncles is here with us today" Diane Piper said, changing topic. "And he was one of the testimonials for this project."
"Yes he is" Nicky said, the twinkle in her eye flashing with pride "And as much as I enjoy bragging on him, what happened that night is his story to tell" she said.
Diane's smile now flashed as brightly as Nicky's did, at being prompted by her guest. "Well then, lets bring him in. Please give a Sunrise New York welcome for Sergeants Jamie Reagan and Anthony Renzuli of the NYPD!"
Despite the reporter's encouragement, the applause and cheering was only at around 60% intensity, Eddie estimated. Not everyone in the audience was interested in cheering for cops… But Eddie did notice that a few more female voices were audible cheering when Jamie made himself visible. To retaliate against those nameless women who were eyeing her fiancé, Eddie put her two little fingers in her mouth and let loose a boisterous tweeting whistle, quickly becoming the loudest man or women in the audience.
The two NYPD Sergeants took their seats next to Nicky and opposite Diane Piper. Both men had their friendly smiles on.
"So then, you're both sergeants with the NYPD." Diane quizzed.
Renzuli pounced on the question "That's true" he said. "Former officer Reagan got his hard earned promotion just last year, while I've had the stripes for quite a bit longer"
"So you were officer Reagan's Training Officer then." Diane asked.
"I was" Renzuli nodded. "We rode together for about two years. And I'd love to take the opportunity to point out, that as much as this lovely lady on my left likes to brag on her uncle, Jamie loves bragging on her every bit as much. Always has"
"Is that right?" Diane asked, amused buy the fact that Nicky was beginning to blush.
"Oh yeah. In our two years, I learned about Nicky the 8th grade Science Fair star, Nicky the honors student, Nicky the basketball star, and a dozen or so other accolades"
Nicky was now mostly off camera, but Cameraman No 3 was sure to catch her hiding her face in her hand.
In the audience, Eddie noticed this on the TV monitors which were set up for the audience's benefit. It was then that she noticed that they were probably watching the version that was airing on TV, as the edits and camera jumps seemed to be in the style of a live airing.
"Like he said" Jamie interjected, fishing for a way to change the subject. "We rode together for two years. Nicky can pile on a lot of accomplishments in that time."
"Obviously it's quite an accomplished family" Diane said. "Which brings us to one of your first accomplishments as a police officer. The night of November 7th 2010."
"It was a bad night in a lot of ways" Jamie began.
"We had no way of knowing it at the time," Renzuli said "But it seems that someone had poisoned a designer drug called 'M-Cat' in order to target someone in particular. They ended up seriously poisoning four people at a party."
"It was pretty bad." Jamie continued. "All three stopped breathing and went into cardiac arrest. And they did it just as Tony and I were arriving on-scene to -believe it or not- inform the party that they were being too loud. The victims started collapsing right there in the room."
"So what happened?" Diane asked.
"Tony radioed for ambulances right away. It was clear that we needed at least four of them." Jamie said.
"Jamie went right for the nearest victim, a teenage girl" Tony continued. "I went for one of the guys. As I began CPR on my guy, I asked around for who knew CPR. Two other partygoers stepped up and began to work on them."
"Of the four, was it only one who responded to the CPR?" Diane inquired.
Both men were silent for just a moment. Tony broke the silence "At various points, all four began to respond the CPR. All four pulses and respiration came and went. Then came again and went again. It was like that for however many minutes it took for the paramedics to get there."
"We were both happy that any of them survived." Jamie said somberly. "And we were both pretty torn up that three didn't. All four of us, that is -us, and the two kids who stepped up to help us tried our best."
"And yet the girl you saved" Diane said gently. "In the midst of all that tragedy, saving her counts as a big moment in your life, isn't that true?"
"Oh yes." Jamie responded. "I'm pretty sure that every rookie cop, firefighter or EMT has a series of such big moments, and their first one can't be but memorable. No matter what happens in their career, they'll always remember they were able to help someone who needed it, when they needed it"
"The name of the young woman who survived, Sergeant Reagan. Do you remember who she was?"
"Her name was Alyson Duvitz." Jamie said. "I remember the kids telling me her name when we tried to wake her up, and then later on when I and other officers tried to look her up in the hospital ICU."
Jamie and Tony noticed a collective soft gasp coming from the audience. They couldn't see the audience for all the head and foot lights – from their points of view, the crowd was a shapeless black mass. Not sure what – if indeed anything – was going on, they patiently waited for Diane's next question.
Eddie Janko was one of the audience members who was gasping. The TV monitors over the audience's heads were showing the broadcast version of the interview. As the camera focused on Jamie, and as he worked on remembering Alyson Duvitz's name, a banner flashed across the screen.
Alyson now works for WRRU Studios.
She is on the sound crew of Sunrise New York.
She is now backstage and on her way to the set … with her son.
"Oh, my God…" Eddie whispered to herself. She felt her hands fly to her mouth in excitement. It was nice not to be in uniform for this, with people expecting her badge and bag to be pillars of stoic calmness.
"Sergeant Reagan, do you believe Alyson would have any memory of you that night?" Diane asked.
"Oh, Jeeez. I don't know." Jamie said. "It was as while ago. Eight, almost nine years ago. In a way I hope she doesn't. It was a pretty horrible night for pretty much everyone."
"She does" came a soft voice from behind Jamie. He had to turn around in his chair to see the source, coming as it did from his blind spot.
There stood Alyson in a pink flowered sun dress, with a wide smile. At her side, holding her hand was a young boy, also well dressed. He looked to be three or four.
Alyson's hair color had changed a little. It was longer and blonder. And Jamie had never really seen her standing up, as she was passed out at that ill-starred party, and laying on her back at the hospital.
But Jamie did remember her eyes from that night, blue and horrified and wracked with self-imposed guilt and shame. Eight years ago, they had been blinking up at him, pleading with him to somehow reverse the night and undo the damage that had been done to her friends by the M-Cat. Jamie had had a bizarre feeling of strength and impotence – strength at having used his skills at saving a life, and powerlessness at he and Tony not being able to save more.
But now those same blue eyes shone towards him, tearing up in joy and gratitude. She still had a cute little beauty mark on her chin. And as pretty as she'd be in any reality, her beauty was enhanced by the adorable kid squeezing her hand.
"Hello" she said "… Sergeant Reagan."
Jamie was on his feet in a flash, and not ready for a surprise of this heft, let his mouth hang open in shock. Tony was also on his feet, grinning in appreciation – but the camera wasn't on him. Neither was it on Nicky, who had a hand up to her mouth in shock and surprise. "Alyson?" Jamie gasped.
Alyson could contain herself no longer. Taking two giant steps in his direction she flung her free arm around him in big sideways hug, which Jamie returned.
"You look great!" Jamie gushed.
"You look really good too" Alyson said. "And this is Thomas James." She said introducing her son. "I had him right after I graduated college"
Jamie sank down in a crouch to shake the youngster's hand. "I'm very happy to meet you" he said with a huge smile.
By now the audience was cheering wildly, and pretty much unanimously. Eddie was clapping as loudly as the rest of them. Everyone in the crowd was charmed at the sight of the police sergeant shaking hands with the toddler, but none were thrilled to the extent that Eddie was watching her soon to be husband with a child.
The interview continued as the crowd calmed down. Alyson had gone on to college, and had gotten a degree in communications. Her internship at WRRU, had turned into a job, and was well on its way toward becoming a career.
Thomas James had come along just a few years ago, although she didn't go into any details about the father. Young Thomas was ever so slightly mis-named – Alyson had been convinced that the first name of the officer who had saved her was short for "James", not "Jameson". And Thomas, like many a three your old was interested in all vehicles that had lights and sirens on them. He was thrilled to death when Jamie offered to let him wear his police hat.
"I'm so happy that things worked out so well for you" Jamie said, as the interview began to wrap up.
"I'm proud of what I've done. But I remember every day that I wouldn't have been able to do any of it if you guys hadn't been there for me". Alyson said.
Diane returned to Nicky "Ms Reagan, is it your hope that stories like your uncle's, when folded into this recruitment campaign will inspire future NYPD recruits"
Nicky nodded "I spent my whole life at a dinner table loaded with cops. I know their stories inspired me to take the NYPD entrance exam. I'm very hopeful that a few dozen of these stories will make the right sort of people want to be police."
"You took the NYPD entrance test?" Diane Piper said with some surprise.
"I did" Nicky said with a smile.
"How do you think you did?"
"We'll have to wait and see." She said as the smile was joined by a coy twinkle in her eyes.
"Hello I'm Officer Nicole Reagan. I graduated from the New York City Police Academy in 2021.
"In my first year as a policewoman, my partner and I were patrolling Central Park. A school had scheduled a class trip on the same day. We were on foot patrol near the Metropolitan Museum of Art when it was discovered that a child was missing. Nobody knew where he was – either somewhere inside the museum or on the surrounding grounds or in the park or in the city.
"We immediately called for an amber alert, and the grounds were flooded with NYPD officers from four precincts. We were assigned to search a section of the Park just off of the museum grounds.
"Before we got to our sector, we located the boy. He had run off to explore one of the walls in the rear of the museum and had fallen and injured himself. He was unconscious, but breathing. I immediately called EMS, who brought him to the hospital where he recovered.
"In my rookie year I found a missing child, and played a part in saving his life.
"I'm commissioner Frank Reagan. Join the NYPD and see what happens in Your Rookie Year."