A Novel by Kawika A. Stafford

Chapter 38

Police Chief Shane Edwards was a pertinacious speaker. Even so, Shane had not anticipated the circus like atmosphere of this current officer Fritz incident. Evidently the news media down in Phoenix had gotten wind of Nadia Titla’s exposé on Jesse Coyote, and the Antelope Springs Police Department.

Small town USA found itself glutted with news trucks, vans, and miles of thick black cables invading the generally uneventful mountain town.

News stations from across the state were there. Phoenix, Mesa, and Tucson stations were present, as other smaller markets began trickling in. Every reporter worth his or her weight was in Antelope Springs, trying to get the scoop on the small town redneck perspective on why a police officer would break the bones of the indigenous college student from White River, Arizona.

Chief Edwards came out of City Hall and stood quietly at the podium at the top of the stairs.

Nadia and Natalia had worked their way through the shark invested waters of TV land. “Good afternoon ladies and gentlemen. The Antelope Springs Police Department would like to officially confirm that there is an active police investigation being conducted with one of it’s police officers.” Shane adjusted his glasses. He turned his mouth away from the microphone, and nervously cleared his throat.

“As of now the officer in question has been placed on administrative leave until a complete and full investigation has been conducted. My office is working in close cooperation with the Mayor’s office, and with the City Council as well.”

Nadia had heard enough.

“Chief Edwards is it or is it not true that a group of college students were filming a class documentary at the time of the unprovoked attack on Jesse Coyote? And is it not also true that this same police officer over the course of the last several years, under your tenure has been investigated repeatedly, and has been involved in several cases of police misconduct, more specifically, the violation of the civil liberties of those in the indigenous community in the region?”

Nadia was on a slow burn but fought fiercely to keep her emotions in check.

“Well Ms. Titla, I don’t presently have that information in front of me, but if I’m being honest I’m not sure if those few incidents from the past are relevant to the case that we are presently investigating at this time.” The Police Chief wore a smug look on his face.

“Chief Edwards surely you must be aware that one of your officers has built a reputation, and has set a clear pattern of abuse here in this community, and in outlying communities here in the state of Arizona.” Nadia knew she should have brought her waders. “Well Ms. Titla, as you know Antelope Springs has experienced a tremendous amount of growth in the last couple of years. With this growth, of course the department has grown as well. I cannot possibly be privy to every alleged instance of abuse and or misconduct on the part of any member of my team.”

Before Nadia could point out that he only had a total of ten officers employed by the Antelope Springs Police Department, Chief Edwards continued, “While it has been established that there were eyewitnesses to this unfortunate incident surrounding officer Fritz, and the young native college student; I would like to announce that those who initially came forward and reported that they had filmed the entire alleged incident, have left our small town university and relocated, I presume out of the state of Arizona.

Without the film students footage, a piece of crucial evidence and the crux of our investigation; I’m afraid that it really boils down to the arresting officer’s recollection of the incident, and of course the word of our young Native American student.

However, in the spirit of liberty and justice for all, I would like to announce that Officer Bob Fritz, will be placed on administrative leave, and he will be immediately placed into a mandatory class for anger management, as well as an additional course on good community relations.

The City of Antelope Springs has also agreed to pay Mr. Coyote’s doctor bills, which includes I might add, any and all physical therapy needed to rehabilitate Mr. Coyote’s arm.

The City will be formulating a reasonable figure to offer him in order to compensate him for his pain and suffering. That’s all I have for now, thank you.”

The master of the white wash had struck again. Nadia had put in alot of effort for this first installment of her two part exposé.

Nonetheless, Nadia and Natalia were undeterred as they now waited for Dwayne and Sonny Ray to return from New Mexico.

For now they would head back to the war room and begin to put the framework together for the second story of their exposé. Only then would Nadia have an opportunity at removing this cancer from the community.

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