Angela Lopez glanced over at her new rookie, Lucy Chen, seated beside her in the patrol car. The two had been working together for a few weeks now, and while Lucy had shown promise, the job was never easy. It was a learning curve that tested even the most capable boots.
"Okay, Chen," Angela said, breaking the comfortable silence between them. "What's the number one rule on a call?"
"Don't die," Lucy answered quickly, a hint of humor in her voice.
Angela smiled but kept her eyes on the road. "Well, that's a good start. But I'm serious—what's the first thing you need to think about before you get out of this car?"
"Safety," Lucy replied more thoughtfully. "For us and for everyone else."
"Exactly." Angela nodded, pleased. "You need to remember that every time you step out there, you're stepping into a situation you can't fully control. Doesn't matter if it's a traffic stop or a domestic disturbance—anything can happen. Always be prepared."
Lucy sat up straighter, absorbing the advice. She had come to admire Angela Lopez as her TO. Angela had this calm, no-nonsense demeanor that was somehow reassuring and intimidating at the same time. She didn't sugarcoat anything, but Lucy appreciated that. She needed to be prepared for the realities of the job.
The radio crackled to life, dispatch calling out a 415—disturbing the peace—at a local neighborhood. Angela picked up the radio and responded, "7-Adam-15, en route."
"You ready for this?" Angela asked, her tone casual but eyes sharp as she flipped on the sirens.
Lucy nodded. "Yeah, let's do this."
When they arrived on the scene, a group of neighbors had gathered around two men in the middle of the street, yelling at each other. It was clear the situation had been escalating for a while. One man, tall and burly, was pointing aggressively at the other, a wiry figure who stood his ground but looked frazzled. They both seemed seconds away from coming to blows.
Angela stepped out first, radiating authority as she spoke with a commanding voice. "Hey, hey! Let's keep it calm, everyone." She motioned for Lucy to follow, a silent signal to back her up. "LAPD, what's going on here?"
The larger man turned to Angela; his face flushed with anger. "This guy won't stop parking his car in front of my driveway! I've told him a hundred times, but he just won't listen!"
"I'm not doing it on purpose!" the other man shot back, his voice rising. "The street's full of cars, there's nowhere else to park!"
Lucy watched, her heart racing as the tension continued to build between them. She glanced at Angela, who was still calm, assessing the situation. It was like watching a master class in de-escalation. Angela didn't get caught up in the emotions swirling around her; she remained steady, and that steadiness began to bleed into the situation.
Angela stepped between the two men, creating a barrier without appearing confrontational. "Okay, I get it. Parking around here is a nightmare. But let's not do something we'll regret over a spot on the curb."
The larger man huffed; his fists still clenched. Lucy took a step forward, unsure if she should intervene, but Angela shot her a quick look—a silent message to stay back, to wait for the right moment.
Angela kept her tone measured, but firm. "Sir, you've got two options here. You can keep yelling and probably end up in handcuffs, or you can walk away, and we'll figure out a solution that doesn't involve jail time. It's up to you."
There was a beat of silence. Lucy could almost see the man weighing his options, his shoulders slowly losing their tension.
"Fine," he muttered, stepping back. "But if it happens again..."
Angela raised a hand, cutting him off. "I'll take care of it. Now, go cool off."
As the man stormed back to his house, Lucy exhaled a breath she didn't even realize she was holding. Angela turned to her and gave her a small nod, as if to say, that's how it's done.
"Chen, why don't you go talk to the other guy, make sure he understands the situation," Angela said, signaling Lucy to step in.
Lucy approached the wiry man, feeling more confident after watching her TO. "Sir, I get that it's tough to find parking, but you have to make sure you're not blocking anyone's driveway. Next time, try to find a spot that's not going to cause issues."
The man sighed. "I'll try. It's just—this neighborhood, you know?"
Lucy smiled, sympathetic but firm. "I get it. But let's avoid any more confrontations, okay?"
He nodded and walked off, grateful that the situation hadn't escalated further.
Back in the patrol car, Lucy felt a surge of adrenaline mixed with relief. She looked over at Angela, who was already filling out her report like it was just another day.
"Not bad, Chen," Angela said without looking up. "But next time, don't be afraid to jump in a little earlier. You've got good instincts—trust them."
Lucy smiled, feeling a sense of pride. "Thanks, Lopez. I'll remember that."
Angela gave her a rare smile, glancing over before starting the engine. "Good. Because in this job, instincts can be the difference between life and death."
As they drove off, Lucy realized how far she still had to go, but for the first time, she felt like she was on the right path. With Angela Lopez guiding her, she knew she could handle whatever came next.
