Collins nodded to a nearby officer and gave the instruction.
Briggs remained beside the wall, watched by two uniformed officers. He had stopped wiping his mouth. His right cheek was beginning to swell, and a thin line of blood ran from the corner of his lip to his chin.
He looked as though he wanted to say something.
Marcus did not invite him to speak.
Instead, he turned to Collins.
“Who is the on-duty watch commander?”
“Deputy Chief Wallace, sir. She's upstairs.”
“Tell her there has been an incident involving a sworn officer and a member of command staff. She should take responsibility for the immediate operational response. Internal Investigations should handle the misconduct inquiry.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Also, I want the incident logged immediately. No informal notes, no verbal-only report, and no delay until the end of shift.”
“Understood.”
Marcus looked toward the building's side entrance.
Before he could move, Briggs spoke again.
“Commander, please.”
Marcus stopped.
Briggs took a cautious step forward, but Collins immediately raised a hand to keep him at a distance.
“Stay where you are.”
Briggs stopped.
“Sir, I was having a bad morning. I didn't mean for things to get out of hand.”
Marcus looked at him.
“You took a cup out of my hand and poured hot coffee on me.”
“I know.”
“You told me I didn't belong here.”
Briggs's face tightened.
“I shouldn't have said that.”
“You grabbed my collar and pushed me against the wall.”
“I was trying to—”
“You raised your hand to strike me.”
Briggs fell silent.
Marcus continued.
“None of those things happened by accident. You made several decisions. You made them in front of witnesses, under security cameras, and while wearing a badge that tells the public you have a duty to protect them.”
Briggs's eyes glistened, though Marcus could not tell whether it was fear, anger, or the beginnings of genuine regret.
“I didn't know who you were.”
Marcus's answer came immediately.
“That is exactly why this must be investigated.”
Briggs frowned.
“I don't understand.”
“If you had recognized me, you might have treated me differently because of my position. That would not make your conduct acceptable. It would make the question even more serious.”
Briggs stared at him.
Marcus continued.
“Every person who walks through those doors deserves to be treated according to the law, not according to whether you recognize their face or know their title.”
For a moment, Briggs seemed unable to look at him.
Then Marcus turned away.
The side door opened, and he entered the building.
The lobby was quieter than usual.
A receptionist stood behind the front desk, looking as though she had just witnessed a car crash. Two officers near the elevator pretended to examine a bulletin board while watching Marcus from the corners of their eyes.
His wet jacket left a dark trail on the floor.
Marcus noticed none of them for long.
He walked to a small conference room on the ground floor, where the medical team arrived a few minutes later. A paramedic examined the skin around his eyes, cheek, and neck. Most of the coffee had cooled before it could cause a serious burn, but the left side of his face was red, and a patch of skin near his collarbone was irritated.
The paramedic recommended that he rinse the affected areas thoroughly and have the burns checked again later.
Marcus followed the instructions.
While a nurse photographed the injuries, he asked for the time to be recorded and the photographs stored with the incident documentation.
He also asked that the images not be circulated through informal department channels.
The nurse gave him a puzzled look.
“Sir, I don't think anyone would—”
“I know people will be curious,” Marcus said. “That's why I want this handled properly.”
She nodded.
When the examination was finished, Marcus changed into a clean shirt from the emergency clothing cabinet used by personnel whose uniforms became damaged during duty. He left the stained jacket in a paper evidence bag, following the instructions of the investigator who had just arrived.
Then he sat down in the conference room and waited.
He did not call the chief to demand Briggs's immediate dismissal.
He did not send a message to every deputy chief in the department.
He did not ask anyone to find out whether Briggs had friends in high places.
He waited for the people responsible for the investigation to arrive.
At 8:52 a.m., Deputy Chief Evelyn Wallace entered the room.
She was fifty-three, with thirty years of service and a reputation for being difficult to impress. Her hair was cut short, her uniform was immaculate, and she carried a thin folder beneath one arm.
She looked at Marcus's face.
Then she looked at the stained jacket inside the evidence bag.
“Marcus,” she said quietly. “Are you all right?”
“I will be.”
“I'm sorry this happened.”
“Thank you.”
Wallace sat opposite him.
“I've been briefed on the initial report. Collins says Briggs poured coffee on you, grabbed you, and attempted to strike you. He also says you punched him after he swung.”
“That is accurate, with one qualification.”
“What qualification?”
“I pushed him away when he grabbed me. He then swung. I blocked the first contact and struck him when he came forward again.”
Wallace wrote that down.
“Do you believe the punch was necessary to protect yourself?”
“At the moment, yes. I believed he was about to strike me again. The footage and witness statements should be reviewed before anyone reaches a conclusion.”
Wallace studied him.
“You know the department will have to review your use of force, too.”
“I expect that.”
“Even though he attacked you first?”
“Especially because I am a commander. The rules cannot change depending on who is involved.”
Wallace nodded slowly.
“That answer will make some people unhappy.”
“Then they can explain why they want different rules for different officers.”
She closed the folder.
“Internal Investigations is taking the case. I have asked the inspector general's office to provide an investigator who does not report through this command. The city attorney's office will be notified because the incident occurred on department property and involves a potential criminal offense.”
“Good.”
“Briggs has been removed from field duty pending the initial review. His firearm has been secured in accordance with department policy, and he has been directed to remain available for questioning.”