Nothing to fear

Chapter 3

Chief Bogo's nose wrinkled enough to almost put a permanent sneer on the Cape Buffalo's face as Hopps and Wilde stood before his desk. "This conversation is being recorded for departmental purposes, do both of you understand that?"

"Yes, sir," Judy said as she jerked her chin a little higher.

Nick nodded. "Understood, Chief."

"Officer Judith Laverne Hopps, ZPD."

"Officer Nicholas Piberius Wilde, Zootopia Police Department."

Bogo nodded. "State the reason for your report."

"At eleven forty nine I, Officer Wilde, spotted the suspect, Arthur Ferris of eight nineteen South Pickett Street give a small package to a group of five minors in exchange for cash. When we approached to inquire about the witnessed transaction the suspect fled giving us probable cause for pursuit," Nick repeated almost word for word his written report. "We gave chase on foot before Officer Hopps took a different route to intercept while I continued to give chase along the same route the suspect took. The suspect attempted to flee through the alley between Ninth Avenue and Thirty First Street when he drew a shotgun and opened fire. My protective vest has been photographed as visual evidence and corroboration. I was able to dive for cover and returned fire, striking the suspect twice. At the same time, unknown to Officer Hopps that I had discharged my weapon, she, too, fired twice, also striking the suspect. As per design the suspect was immediately rendered unconscious and back-up officers McHorn and Fangmeyer took the suspect into custody for transport to central booking for processing and to await trial."

Bogo nodded again. "Officer Hopps, is this statement true to the best of your knowledge?"

Judy nodded as she spoke. "Yes, sir, it is."

"Officer Hopps, Officer Wilde, I have your statements recorded and they are now considered property of the Municipality and City of Zootopia and can be accessed at any time as evidence. Is this also understood?"

Both Nick and Judy answered yes and gave each other curious looks for the deviation from standard procedure before turning their eyes back to the Chief.

"Do you also consent to blood, fur and-or saliva samples to be tested for foreign substances, intoxicants, drugs, and-or alcohol?"

Both the officers agreed to which Bogo stepped to Hopps and uncapped the little pen that would use a spring to deliver a small prick to her finger and take a blood sample before it was sealed. She didn't even wince and Bogo wrote her name and ID number on the tube then showed it to her. "This information regarding your blood sample is correct?"

"Yes, sir," Judy replied.

Bogo did the same for Nick and had him verbally verify the pen held his blood after Chief Bogo added his name and badge number to the recording before shutting off the device attached to his desk computer. He sighed wearily and rubbed at his head between his eyes. "I'm sorry about that," the bull told the two cops. "We're spread thin right now without the numbers to follow the normal procedure of having everything verified by forensics. The DA said that this will do in a pinch at the discretion of the ranking officer and is legal, so I have to go with it. I just can't afford to have you give me your pistols then bench either of you for the standard period. I just don't have the mammals to fill in."

"Wow," Nick said. "Catch-and-release for us blue suits, huh?"

"Pretty much. I can give you until roll call the day after tomorrow, though. Darting a perp is a little strenuous. It was even worse when the cops in this city carried firearms. Most shootings meant either a dead suspect or a dead cop." Bogo sneezed and rubbed his nose. "I'm sorry, Wilde. I can't take the smell of whatever you've got all over you. Get showered, get clean clothes, I don't care in what order, just get out of my office. It's going to take a week to get the smell out of here!".