Chapter 104-105 - The Lawyer and Policeman

Chapter 104 – "Logic and Madness in the 99th"

8:55 AM – Brooklyn, New York | 99th Precinct

The sun beat down lazily on the brown bricks and rectangular windows of the 99th. It was a clear day, the kind of morning when Brooklyn seemed even more vibrant. Inside the station, familiar sounds echoed: phones ringing, hurried footsteps, Boyle's voice narrating irrelevant details about homemade sausage.

At the center of it all, Captain Raymond Holt, impeccably dressed in his navy blue uniform, stood in the center of the briefing room. His expression was serene, as always. Rational, collected, and precise.

Beside him, Sergeant Terry Jeffords—arms crossed, shoulders as broad as the doorframe.

—"Attention, detectives. I need your complete concentration for a few minutes."

The 99th team already assembled—Jake Peralta, Amy Santiago, Rosa Diaz, Charles Boyle, Hitchcock, and Scully—stopped what they were doing. Jake was chewing on a donut, Amy was adjusting her notebook, Rosa was leaning against the wall, Boyle was as alert as a rescue dog.

Holt cleared his throat.

"Today we'll be visiting Officer Gustavo Silva of the LAPD. For those who don't know, he's one of the most decorated officers on the West Coast. He serves in the Mild-Wilshire division, is an active member of the 20-David SWAT team, has a law degree from Harvard, and is a legal and tactical consultant for the Department of Defense and, occasionally, other government agencies."

Jake almost spat out the donut.

"Wait, the guy's a cop, a lawyer, a tactician, and... like a secret agent?"

Terry interjected seriously.

"He also managed to modernize much of the LAPD's weaponry, based on field studies and operational testing."

Amy was already furiously taking notes.

"That's so incredible! An officer with that background... Holt, can you repeat that part about Harvard? I only managed to write down to 'Master of Laws' before Peralta started eating."

"Sure: 'Master of Laws from Harvard,'" Holt repeated in his impeccably monotone voice.

Rosa raised an eyebrow.

"He's like a legal John Wick."

Jake was already bouncing with excitement.

"Captain, can I escort you personally? I promise, no stupid questions."

Holt looked at him impassively.

"You just asked one."

Scully, from the back of the room, asked thickly:

"Is he bringing donuts?"

Hitchcock added:

"Or croissants? Those ham puffs are top notch."

Holt solemnly ignored him.

"Officer Silva will be here in fifteen minutes. Be professional."

9:17 AM – Entrance to the 99th Precinct

The black rental car pulled up smoothly in front of the precinct. Gustavo stepped out of the backseat with a firm stance. He wore a neatly pressed light blue shirt, a dark gray blazer, and black pants. His Glock 19 was hidden in a holster under the blazer. A simple watch was on his left wrist. His watchful eyes scanned the surroundings, as was his habit.

Terry came down the stairs to greet him personally.

"Officer Silva, welcome to the 99th. Sergeant Terry Jeffords."

Gustavo shook his hand.

"Nice to meet you, Sergeant. I've heard a lot about your team. It's an honor."

—"The honor is ours. Captain Holt is waiting for you to begin."

As he walked up, Gustavo crossed the main hall. He noticed the stares—curious, some admiring. It was natural. He himself, upon arriving at SWAT for the first time, felt a little out of place.

9:21 AM – 99th Briefing Room

Everyone was already in their seats. Gustavo entered with Terry at his side, and Captain Holt made the formal introduction.

—"Detectives, this is Officer Gustavo Silva. LAPD. Consultant. Master of Laws from Harvard. And above all, a police officer dedicated to the modernization and efficiency of our forces."

Gustavo walked to the center of the room.

— "Good morning. First of all, I want to say it's a pleasure to be here. I know the work of the 99th. And I know you have one of the most efficient and unique teams in the country. I didn't come here to tell you how to do your job. I came to share what worked in Los Angeles. And maybe, together, we can find ways to adapt it to your reality."

Jake raised his hand immediately.

— "First question! Is it true you operated with the Secret Service Counter Assault Team?"

Gustavo laughed lightly.

— "That's true. For a short time, collaborating on a joint operation involving the vice president."

Jake punched the air silently, celebrating.

Amy was excited too.

— "And you really graduated from Harvard? What was it like balancing academia with practical work?"

— "Long nights. Too much coffee. But above all, focus. And good mentors. I had supervisors in the police force who supported me from the beginning."

Boyle, enchanted, whispered to Jake:

"He's like a superhero, Jake."

"He's Batman with a Harvard degree," Jake replied, fascinated.

Rosa watched, with her typical unreadable expression.

"How many guys have you taken down without using a weapon?"

Gustavo looked at her thoughtfully.

"With immobilizations, about 27. With as few injuries as possible."

"Respect," she replied, dryly but genuinely.

9:40 AM to 11:50 AM – Seminar with Gustavo Silva

Gustavo began the seminar with projections and videos of real operations—all declassified—where the correct use of Safariland ALS holsters, Glock 19 pistols, and MCX rifles made a difference.

He showed statistics: reduced response time, fewer accidental discharges, operations completed without shots fired thanks to more intuitive equipment.

Terry was focused on the graphs; Amy was obsessively writing everything down.

Jake interrupted from time to time with questions.

"If you had to choose just one weapon: Glock 17 or Glock 19?"

"It depends on the operator. But personally, I prefer the 19. Compact, reliable, accurate."

Scully dozed with her eyes open. Hitchcock discreetly nibbled on a package of cookies.

Gustavo also demonstrated maintenance protocols and addressed aspects of ergonomics, rapid transition, tactical use, and self-defense.

He concluded with an inspiring speech:

"What makes a police officer effective isn't just what they carry, but how they use it. When they feel prepared, they choose better and better protect those in need."

12:10 PM – Main Hall | 99th Precinct

The seminar was over. Rosa approached Gustavo discreetly.

"Where do you fight?"

"Krav Maga and Jiu-Jitsu. I train every week."

"Do you train with the SWAT team?"

"With them, with the DOD people, and sometimes with the FBI. They invite me to joint sessions."

"Cool. If you ever want to train... let me know."

"Deal."

Boyle brought a homemade sandwich.

"I made this with smoked pastrami and Dijon mustard. A gift from the 99th for you."

Gustavo accepted, surprised.

"Thank you, Detective. It smells great."

Jake and Amy approached.

"Gustavo," Amy began, "if you write a book, please let me know. I want it signed."

"I promise."

"And if there's a movie about your life," Jake said, "I'll play you."

"You're blond, Jake," Rosa retorted.

"Then I'll be the sidekick!"

1:00 PM – Farewell

Captain Holt walked Gustavo to the door.

"You made a good impression, officer. Including on me. Which isn't easy."

Gustavo smiled.

"Thank you very much, Captain Holt. Your team's hospitality was... unique."

"Yes. They are... unique. But dedicated. And now, better informed."

"If you need anything else, I'll be in New York for two more days. I'm contacting Sergeant Terry."

Holt shook his hand.

"I hope you return someday."

Gustavo nodded.

"I'll be back with pleasure."

2:10 PM – Hotel in Brooklyn | Room 1104

Back in his room, Gustavo slumped into the chair by the window. The sun streamed through the buildings, creating long shadows on the asphalt. He took off his blazer, opened his laptop, and began his report to Captain Anderson and Commander Hicks.

Subject: 99th Precinct Seminar – Implementation and Culture

"The 99th has an absolutely competent team. Unique, but competent. They demonstrated genuine interest in Los Angeles' technologies and protocols. I recommend keeping the dialogue open between our departments. The mutual benefits can be immense."

His phone vibrated. It was a message from Cris:

"Have you conquered New York yet?"

He replied:

"Maybe... but I still haven't found better pizza than LA."

She typed:

"Liar. Enjoy. I'm proud of you."

He smiled. He closed his laptop and looked out the window.

New York listened to him. And he still had more to say.

Chapter 105 – "Elite of the City That Never Sleeps"

6:42 AM – Manhattan, NY | Hotel where Gustavo is staying

The alarm on his cell phone rang with a soft guitar sound. Gustavo was already awake. He had a habit of getting up before the alarm. The night was peaceful, but his body felt the weight of the previous day's long presentations and technical talks. He got up and did a quick series of push-ups and stretches—a disciplined routine he'd cultivated for years, since his early days on patrol.

In the mirror, he adjusted the collar of the black tactical shirt he would wear under his training vest. Spread out on the bed were: a Safariland ALS QLS holster, a Ka-Bar tactical blade knife, his high-cut helmet with an NVG (night vision goggle) mount, ballistic goggles, and a replica of his personal Glock 19, adapted for demonstrations.

He smiled, taking his badge and hanging it around his neck.

"Let's get to work," he muttered, grabbing his tactical bag and leaving.

8:05 AM – NYPD Emergency Service Unit (ESU) Base | Precinct 7, Brooklyn

The NYPD's ESU unit had a different atmosphere. The more robust building exuded history. Thick brick walls, battle-scarred tactical trucks, and operators training in the yard with military precision. Gustavo parked his rental vehicle in the designated area. He was greeted by a tall, bald officer wearing a dark ESU uniform with insignia indicating years of operation.

"Officer Gustavo Silva? Welcome. I'm Lieutenant Mike Torres, ESU supervisor."

"Nice to meet you, Lieutenant. A privilege to be with you today."

"I've heard a lot about you. We've been impressed with how you've implemented testing and implementations at the LAPD. We're always open to improvement here. Come, let me introduce you to the team."

As they entered, they passed a briefing room. There, twenty ESU operators were already gathered. Some were adjusting holsters, others were assembling equipment. The atmosphere was focused but welcoming. Gustavo positioned himself next to a digital whiteboard. On the table in front of him, lined up, were the equipment he had brought for demonstration.

8:20 AM – ESU Instruction Room

Torres took the lead:

"Team, this is Officer Gustavo Silva. LAPD. Besides being an active SWAT member and a legal expert, he is a consultant for the Department of Defense. Today, he will share some technical knowledge about weapons, equipment, and tactical protocols. Pay attention. This is gold."

Gustavo approached, confident but humble. He observed the attentive faces of the operators—men and women with thousands of hours in the field.

— "Thank you, Lieutenant. Good morning, everyone. It's an honor to be with you. ESU is a benchmark. I'm not here to teach you anything you don't already do with excellence. My goal is to share adjustments we made in LA that yielded real results. And to hear from you, too."

He approached the table and lifted the first piece.

— "Let's start with the basic, but essential: the holster."

He held up the Safariland ALS model with QLS (Quick Locking System).

— "This is the holster we started implementing two years ago in the LAPD. The ALS system prevents the holster from being pulled by someone trying to disarm the officer. And with the QLS, you can switch holsters between vests and belts in seconds. In operations where the operator needs to change loadouts, this saves time and maintains consistency."

He demonstrated the lock in action. The operators began approaching, touching and handling it.

— "I use it on my SWAT belt, and also on my vest when I'm in tactical gear. The transition is natural, with training. The idea is that your weapon is always exactly where your hand expects it."

An operator, Sergeant Tom D'Angelo, asked:

— "What's the failure rate of this system in the field?"

— "Almost zero. Since implementation, we haven't had any hostile disarming incidents. And all accidental discharges have dropped dramatically."

9:15 AM – Glock 19 and Glock 17 Pistols

Gustavo picked up a training replica of the Glock 19.

— "You're familiar with this one. The Glock 19 Gen 5 with MOS and a flashlight rail. Lightweight, reliable, and ideal for urban environments. In LA, we've adopted it as the standard for most SWAT operators and advanced patrol officers."

He disassembled the weapon smoothly, exposing the internal components.

— "Easy maintenance, fewer moving parts than most competitors. Which reduces failures. With tritium sights and, for those who prefer, there's a MOS mount for red dots."

D'Angelo commented:

— "We use the Glock 17 a lot here. What's your opinion?"

— "Excellent too. The 17 has a longer barrel, which improves accuracy. But the 19 is more compact, which favors CQB. I usually say: if you're a precision shooter, go for the 17. If you get into tight spaces, you'll love the 19."

Another operator, Angela Moreno, asked:

— "What about the flashlights?"

Gustavo suggested:

— "Streamlight TLR-1 HL. 1000 lumens. Strong enough to blind and identify. We've had situations where just the beam avoided shots."

10:10 AM – Tactical Rifles: MCX, MK18, and BCM

Gustavo showed off a SIG MCX he brought back from his last technical visit to the Secret Service's CAT.

"This is the latest favorite. The SIG Sauer MCX. Short 11.5-inch barrel, piston system, folding stock, and easily accepts a suppressor."

He assembled and disassembled the rifle, showing the fittings.

"We used it in Los Angeles for 30 days before purchasing in bulk. The difference in CQB is impressive. It weighs less than the HK416, but has the same robustness. Great for smaller operators too, while maintaining accuracy."

He also talked about the MK18 and BCM.

"MK18 is a classic. Used by the SEAL Team. Excellent for close range. But heavier and gets hotter." The BCM has very well-controlled recoil, fluid ergonomics, and top-quality components. I recommend keeping all three in your arsenal for different situations."

Moreno picked up the MCX carefully.

"It really feels light. And the front grip is intuitive."

Gustavo nodded.

"Exactly. And the fire selector button is ambidextrous. Left-handed operators will appreciate it."

11:00 AM – Helmets and Night Vision Goggles

Gustavo brought a high-cut Ops-Core helmet with a Wilcox mount and PVS-14 monocular night vision goggles.

"This is the configuration we use most. The helmet is lightweight, with side rails and a headset mount. The Wilcox is reliable and allows for quick docking."

He fitted the PVS-14 to the helmet and demonstrated how to use it.

"These NVGs are monocular, which allows you to keep one eye on natural vision. Better perception balance in CQB. The last thing we want is to shoot the wrong guy due to disorientation."

An operator commented:

"We still use ANVIS binoculars. Heavy as hell."

Gustavo laughed.

"I've used them too. You end the mission with a sore neck."

11:30 AM – Tactical Knife and Full Loadout

He picked up the Ka-Bar with a polymer sheath.

"Never underestimate the blade. I've had to cut through vests, open doors, even protect someone at zero distance. Every operator should have one. But never on the same side as the firearm, to avoid confusion under stress."

He demonstrated how he straps the knife vertically to the front of his vest.

"Practice drawing with both hands. And keep it sharp. A dull knife is an anchor."

12:00 PM – End of the first part

Torres returned to the front.

—"Guys, this is the kind of knowledge that changes lives in the field. Gustavo, it was an honor."

Gustavo shook hands with each operator.

—"The honor was mine. Stay safe. And if you need any materials, I can put you in touch with the same suppliers we used in LA."

1:00 PM – ESU Warehouse

Gustavo and Torres went to the warehouse, where they reviewed their current equipment.

—"We want to replace the helmets and update part of the arsenal. Do you think it's worth investing in the MCX?"

—"If your mission is predominantly urban and rapid response, yes. I can give you all the cost-benefit data. And if you'd like, I can talk to the SIG representative who gave us the test batch."

Torres smiled.

—"Let's do it."

3:00 PM – Return to the hotel

Gustavo sat at the room's desk, opened his laptop, and began typing his report.

"The ESU has top-notch operators. The structure is solid. With the right equipment, they will be even more lethal and protected. The NYPD can benefit from the same logic applied in LA: investing in quality, agility, and adaptability."

He received a message from Cris:

"Everything okay there?"

He replied with a photo of the rifles and wrote:

"Yes. The elite here are also hungry for innovation. Reminds me of our early days at 20-David."

She replied:

"Then do your best. As always. Proud of you."

Gustavo smiled. There was still a lot of work ahead. But at that moment, he felt he was making a difference not just in LA, but now in New York as well.

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Chapter 46 - Chapter 104-105