Chapter 13 - The police department
Michael was not fired the afternoon of the incident.
His town council placed him on administrative leave.
His service weapon and credentials were secured according to department policy.
An acting chief took over.
Some officers defended him privately.
He had hired them.
Promoted them.
Attended their weddings.
Buried one officer’s father.
Institutions are made of relationships before they are made of policies.
Others were furious.
Not because I was a general.
Because a police chief entered a family home with his weapon drawn during a dispute that did not require an armed response.
One sergeant told investigators:
“If he thought she was committing impersonation, why didn’t he send patrol officers and verify?”
Exactly.
Michael had bypassed his own department.
He went personally.
That decision suggested the encounter was family first, law enforcement second.
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Or law enforcement used as family power.
That distinction became central.
