Darius: "I want to know what kind of training those officers receive. How are visitors identified? What happens when someone has an appointment? Who has authority to question a visitor, and what are the limits of that authority?"
Michael: "We have written procedures for all of those situations."
Darius: "Then I want to see whether the procedures are being followed."
Robert finally took his seat.
Robert: "Chief, I should tell you that the department has been operating under considerable pressure. Staffing shortages, public complaints, and several internal reviews have created a difficult environment."
Darius looked at him.
Darius: "Pressure doesn't give anyone permission to humiliate another person."
Robert: "I agree."
Darius: "And a uniform doesn't give anyone permission to decide that another person is unworthy of basic respect."
Michael lowered his pen.
Darius continued.
Darius: "I understand that officers face difficult situations. They deal with people who are angry, frightened, confused, and sometimes dangerous. They need to make quick decisions. But there is a difference between maintaining security and abusing authority."
Robert: "We need to examine our approach to public interaction."
Darius: "We do. But first, we need the facts."
A knock came at the door.
Robert stood and opened it. Captain Elaine Brooks, the senior officer who had accompanied him from the elevator, was waiting outside with a tablet in her hand.
Captain Brooks: "Commander Hayes, the security team has confirmed that the lobby and hallway recordings are available. They've secured the original files."
Robert: "Good. Has anyone reviewed them?"
Captain Brooks: "The technical supervisor has checked the footage for completeness. He has not made any edits. We also have a recording from the reception desk."
Darius turned toward her.
Darius: "Captain Brooks, I want you to oversee the collection of witness statements. Anyone who was present should have an opportunity to describe what they saw without pressure from supervisors or colleagues."
Captain Brooks: "Understood, Chief."
Darius: "And make sure the officers involved are not told what other witnesses have said before giving their own accounts."
Captain Brooks: "I'll arrange that."
Darius: "Who was working at reception when I arrived?"
Captain Brooks glanced at her tablet.
Captain Brooks: "A receptionist named Laura Mitchell. There were also two civilian employees waiting near the visitor seating area."
Darius: "I want to speak with Ms. Mitchell."
Captain Brooks: "I can bring her here."
Darius: "Not yet. First, let her provide her statement independently. I don't want her to feel that she has to tell us what she thinks we want to hear."
Captain Brooks nodded and stepped back into the corridor.
Meanwhile, Ethan had entered the duty supervisor's office. Lieutenant Samuel Price was standing behind his desk, looking at a report on his computer.
Price: "Close the door, Ward."
Ethan closed it.
Price: "Do you understand why you're here?"
Ethan: "I assume this is about the incident in the lobby."
Price: "You assume correctly."
Ethan crossed his arms.
Ethan: "I was handling a security issue. The visitor refused to follow instructions."
Price looked up.
Price: "What instructions?"
Ethan: "I asked him what he was doing in the building. He became difficult."
Price: "Was he on the visitor schedule?"
Ethan paused.
Ethan: "I didn't see his name."
Price: "Did you check?"
Ethan: "I was trying to maintain control of the entrance."
Price leaned forward.
Price: "That wasn't my question. Did you check the visitor schedule?"
Ethan looked toward the door.
Ethan: "No."
Price: "Did you contact reception to verify his appointment?"
Ethan: "No."
Price: "Did you ask another supervisor to confirm his identity?"
Ethan: "No."
Price closed the report on his screen.
Price: "Then explain why you grabbed him."
Ethan's expression hardened.
Ethan: "He wasn't cooperating."
Price: "And why did you strike him?"
Ethan did not answer immediately.
Ethan: "He was getting in my face."
Price: "The camera footage will show exactly what happened."
Ethan shifted in his chair.
Ethan: "Look, Lieutenant, I didn't know who he was."
Price stared at him.
Price: "That is not a defense."
Ethan: "I didn't know he was the new chief. If I had known, none of this would have happened."
Price remained silent for a moment.
Price: "Listen carefully. Whether that man was the new chief, a civilian employee, a delivery driver, or someone who had come here to ask a question, you were expected to follow department policy."
Ethan rubbed his jaw.
Ethan: "I understand."
Price: "I'm not sure you do."
Back in the executive conference room, Darius was reviewing the first preliminary report from the security team. The report contained a list of camera locations and recording times. It also confirmed that the footage covered the period before his arrival, the confrontation, and the moment the elevator doors opened.
Michael pointed to one of the entries.