First, Officer Ethan Ward would remain removed from public-facing security duties while the investigation continued.
Second, all outstanding complaints involving Ward would be reviewed independently.
Third, the department would preserve relevant records, communications, and recordings.
Fourth, employees and witnesses would be protected against retaliation.
Finally, the Professional Standards Division would undergo a wider review of its complaint-handling procedures.
The announcements were distributed to all department personnel before the end of the evening.
By the following morning, news of the investigation had spread throughout Harbor Point.
Some employees welcomed the new chief's actions.
Others were anxious about what the review might uncover.
A few senior officers privately questioned whether Darius was moving too quickly.
But among the staff who worked directly with the public, a different conversation had begun.
For years, some had believed that certain officers were difficult to challenge because of their relationships with senior commanders.
Now, for the first time, they were being told that they could provide information without automatically putting their careers at risk.
Captain Brooks began receiving messages from employees who wanted to report previous incidents.
She instructed each person to submit information through the independent review team.
The first new report came from a civilian employee who described an incident involving a woman seeking assistance after her son had gone missing.
The employee said the woman had been visibly distressed and confused about where to go.
According to the report, Ward had become impatient when she repeatedly asked questions.
A second employee described an argument involving an elderly visitor who had difficulty hearing instructions.
A third report concerned an officer who had allegedly been discouraged from documenting a complaint against Ward.
Each report required verification.
The independent team made it clear that allegations would not automatically be accepted as facts. Every account would be assessed, witnesses would be contacted, and available evidence would be examined.
But the growing number of reports made one thing increasingly difficult to ignore.
The confrontation with Darius had not occurred in isolation.
It had exposed a problem that several people inside the department had been reluctant to discuss.
On the third day of the review, Darius received a request from the investigation team.
They wanted to interview Lieutenant Samuel Price again.
Price had been Ethan Ward's immediate supervisor and had been involved in the handling of several earlier complaints.
Darius approved the request.
Price arrived at the administrative interview room at 10:00 a.m.
He appeared tense.
Investigator: "Lieutenant Price, we have reviewed several complaints involving Officer Ward. Your name appears in the supervisory records."
Price: "I was his supervisor. That's normal."
Investigator: "We understand that. We're interested in the decisions you made."
Price: "I followed the procedures available to me."
Investigator: "Did you interview the complainants?"
Price: "In some cases, yes."
Investigator: "Which cases?"
Price looked through the documents.
Price: "I'd need to check."
Investigator: "Did you document those interviews?"
Price: "I believe so."
Investigator: "We haven't located those records."
Price shifted in his chair.
Price: "Then they may have been stored elsewhere."
Investigator: "Did you ever receive instructions from Deputy Chief Langley regarding how to handle complaints involving Officer Ward?"
Price paused.
Price: "We had general discussions about keeping administrative matters proportionate."
Investigator: "What does that mean?"
Price: "We were encouraged not to turn every disagreement into a formal investigation."
Investigator: "Were you instructed to close complaints involving Ward?"
Price: "No one said that directly."
Investigator: "Did anyone suggest that Ward's complaints should be handled informally?"
Price looked down.
Price: "There were conversations."
Investigator: "With whom?"
Price hesitated.
Price: "Deputy Chief Langley."
The investigator made a note.
Investigator: "What was said?"
Price took a breath.
Price: "He told me that Ward was an experienced officer and that some visitors misunderstood firm communication. He said I should consider whether the complaints were genuine misconduct or simply disagreements about how security procedures were enforced."
Investigator: "Did he tell you to close the complaints?"
Price: "Not in those words."
Investigator: "Did you feel pressure to close them?"
Price remained silent.
Investigator: "Lieutenant, this is an opportunity to provide an accurate account. We are not asking you to guess. We are asking what happened."
Price finally answered.
Price: "Yes. I felt pressure."
Investigator: "From whom?"
Price: "From Langley."
The investigator leaned forward.
Investigator: "Did you communicate that pressure to anyone?"
Price shook his head.
Price: "No."
Investigator: "Why not?"
Price looked exhausted.
Price: "Because I thought it would make things worse. Ward had friends in the department. Langley was one of the most powerful people in the building. I had a family to support, and I didn't want to become the next person everyone considered difficult."
The investigator allowed the silence to continue.
Price: "I should have handled it differently."
Investigator: "What do you mean?"