Raymond it always had been by the time. Angela finished. Lisa's phone was buzzing nonstop messages from people who had seen the video and wanted to tell their stories too others asking how they could help the fight was growing meanwhile across the city. Nia Caldwell sat in a conference room with representatives from several civil rights organizations the energy in the room was tense but determined we have momentum one of the activists said setting a stack of petitions onto the table people are rallying behind behind. Raymond's case but we need to push harder the da is stalling because they think this will die down.
Nia said flipping through her notes we need to show them that it won't one of the lawyers an older man with graying hair nodded we've already filed motions demanding an expedited review of. Raymond Carter's case if they don't act soon we take it higher. Nia leaned forward her tone sharp and what about. Internal Affairs a woman sitting at the far end of the table a former prosecutor turned activist folded her hands together they're investigating but they're not moving fast enough they're being careful which means they're being hesitant they're still hoping the pressure will die down. Nia exhaled through her nose then we make sure it doesn't a younger activist scrolling through their phone suddenly spoke up the protests are getting bigger they're shutting down streets downtown people are chanting.
Raymond's name demanding the officers be fired but they hesitated I'm also seeing counter-protests forming. Nia's expression darkened figures the police Union supporters are coming out. Lisa had warned them this would happen it was the same pattern every time whenever there was push back against police misconduct there would be people rushing to defend the system no matter how damning the evidence. Nia sat back collecting her thoughts all right we keep the legal pressure up we push for more Community testimonies the da wants this to go away we make sure it's the only thing anyone is talking about back in the small office. Lisa closed her laptop looking over at.
King people are coming forward faster than we expected. King nodded that's good but it also means we need to move smart the cops still have power they're not going down without a fight. Lisa's jaw tightened neither are we the movement was growing the truth was spreading and soon the people who thought they could silence it would have to face the consequences the sound of protest chants echoed through the streets outside the Police Department headquarters as. Susan Calder sat at her desk her eyes scanning the latest batch of documents in front of her the case against. Officer hail and his unit had been unraveling for days but now she had something that changed everything real undeniable evidence she pushed back from her desk and stood clutching the folder in her hands as.
She stepped into the main internal affairs briefing room several officers and investigators were already gathered murmuring among themselves tension thick in the air the protests outside hadn't stopped growing and neither had the pressure from the media at the front of the room stood Captain Reas head of internal affairs. He looked up as. Susan walked in his expression unreadable called her you have something. Susan nodded I do she dropped the folder onto the table flipping it open we just uncovered sealed complaints filed against. Officer hail that date back 10 years some were formally dismissed but others they were conveniently lost before reaching disciplinary hearings the murmurs in the room grew louder.
Reyes frowned flipping through the documents how did we not know about this before. Susan's jaw clenched because it was buried someone higher up made sure of it she reached into her bag and pulled out another file and it gets worse some of the old reports connect hail to previous cases involving the same pattern false arrests excessive force targeting black men in wealthier neighborhoods this isn't just about. Raymond Carter it's about a system that let hail operate without consequences for years an older investigator detective Jimenez leaned forward are we talking about cases where people served time because of his actions. Susan nodded at least five that we can confirm. She turned the page to reveal a highlighted case one of them a young man named Elijah Reigns arrested on trumped up charges of resisting arrest the officer on duty she tapped the name at the top of the document hail Jimenez exhaled sharply I remember that case kid swore up and down he didn't do anything but the department backed hail it ruined that boy's life.