A Crime to Remember (2013–…): Season 5, Episode 5 - Beast With A Badge - full transcript

LIVING IN LOS ANGELES
IN THE 1950s,

THIS GIRL AND I,
WE WEREN'T SO DIFFERENT,

JUST LIKE THE THOUSANDS
OF OTHER GIRLS

WHO MOVED HERE WITH DREAMS
OF BECOMING SOMEBODY.

WE ALL BELIEVED IN
THE HOLLYWOOD FAIRY TALE

THAT ANYTHING
WAS POSSIBLE HERE.

BRYAN, YOU SCARED ME.

SO JUMPY TONIGHT.

IT IS 12:30 A.M.
IN LOS ANGELES,

AND YOU'RE LISTENING
TO KFAX NIGHT MUSIC.

BUT THE BEST PART
OF THE WEEK --



SATURDAY NIGHT
OUT IN YOUR BOYFRIEND'S CAR

PARKED ON LOVERS' LANE

WATCHING THOSE
TWINKLING LIGHTS.

FOR A MOMENT, YOU FELT
LIKE A LEADING LADY,

BUT IN A BIG CITY, YOU NEVER
KNOW WHO MIGHT BE WATCHING.

LAPD VICE SQUAD.

YOU TWO ARE COMMITTING
A MORALS VIOLATION.

PLEASE, OFFICER, WE WEREN'T
DOING ANYTHING WRONG.

THAT'S NOT WHAT I SAW.

OFFICER,
WE WERE JUST KISSING.

GET OUT THE CAR, MISS.

YOUNG MAN,
YOU STAY RIGHT HERE.

YES, SIR.

COME WITH ME.



WAIT.
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

AIN'T NO USE IN FUSSING.

NO!

IN THE EARLY
MORNING HOURS OF MAY 20, 1956,

A YOUNG COUPLE WENT INTO

THE LOS ANGELES
CENTRAL POLICE STATION

TO REPORT A VERY HIDEOUS CRIME.

I'M GOING TO BE ASKING YOU
SOME QUESTIONS.

NOW, I'M GOING TO NEED YOU
TO BE HONEST WITH ME.

I DON'T CARE WHY
YOU WERE UP THERE.

THAT'S NOT WHY WE'RE HERE.

SO WE'RE GOING TO START
FROM THE BEGINNING.

THERE WAS A POLICE OFFICER.

HE CAME UP TO OUR CAR,

AND HE SHOWED HIS BADGE,

AND THEN HE ESCORTED ME

TO THE BACK SEAT
OF HIS CAR.

OKAY.

THEN WHAT HAPPENED?

AND THEN HE WAS ON TOP OF ME.

HE SAID,

"I THINK YOU'RE
GONNA LIKE THIS."

HE TOLD HER THAT THIS IS
SOMETHING THAT SHE'S GOING TO

BE ABLE TO BRAG ABOUT FOR
A VERY LONG TIME TO HER FRIENDS

AS THE BEST 15 MINUTES
OF HER LIFE.

WERE YOU ABLE TO GET
A LOOK AT THE ASSAILANT?

IT WAS TOO DARK TO GET
A GOOD LOOK AT HIS FACE,

BUT HE WAS A TALL,
LARGE, BLACK MAN.

YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER,
THIS IS 1950s AMERICA.

AN AFRICAN-AMERICAN MAN
RAPING A WHITE WOMAN

WOULD HAVE BEEN
PRETTY EXPLOSIVE.

YOU SURE HE WAS BLACK,
BLACK POLICE OFFICER

PATROLLING IN THAT AREA?

AND THE LAPD AT THE TIME DID
NOT HAVE A LOT OF BLACK COPS.

BLACK COPS TYPICALLY PATROLLED
IN THE BLACK NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHITE COPS PATROLLED
IN THE WHITE NEIGHBORHOODS.

WHAT ABOUT A LICENSE PLATE?
DID YOU SEE ONE?

HE HAD HIS HIGH-BEAMS ON,

SO IT WAS DIFFICULT
TO SEE THE PLATE,

BUT I THINK HE WAS
DRIVING A DeSoto.

DeSoto, OKAY.

ANY IDEA WHAT COLOR IT WAS?

A DARK COLOR,
I COULDN'T REALLY TELL.

CAROLINE,
GOING TO BE OKAY?

I'M GOING TO DO EVERYTHING I CAN
TO FIND THIS GUY, OKAY?

OKAY.

VERY BRAVE OF YOU TO COME HERE
AND SPEAK UP ABOUT THIS.

THERE'S NO LICENSE PLATE NUMBER,

AND IT WAS TOO DARK TO GET
A GOOD LOOK AT THE PERPETRATOR.

FINDING THIS GUY WOULD BE
VERY DIFFICULT ANYWHERE,

LET ALONE IN LOS ANGELES.

IN 1956,

LOS ANGELES IS 469 SQUARE MILES.

IT'S HUGE.

AND LOS ANGELES ONLY HAS
AROUND 4,000 POLICE OFFICERS

IN A CITY THAT IS
GROWING RAPIDLY.

WHEN I MOVED HERE,

I THOUGHT L.A. WAS THE CITY
OF DREAMS,

A LAND OF MAKE-BELIEVE WHERE
YOU COULD REINVENT YOURSELF,

BUT WORKING IN
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT,

I QUICKLY LEARNED THERE
WAS SOMETHING UGLY

HIDING BENEATH
THAT PRETTY FACADE.

ANOTHER 261,
YOU KNOW WHERE IT GOES.

I WAS IN CHARGE OF SORTING
AND FILING THE 261s.

THAT WAS THE COP TERM FOR RAPE,

A WAY TO TALK ABOUT SOME
WOMAN'S UNTHINKABLE EXPERIENCE

AS JUST ANOTHER NUMBER.

IT WAS ONE OF THOSE CRIMES
THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

PREFERRED TO KEEP OUT
OF THE PUBLIC EYE.

GOT THE 261 FILES
YOU REQUESTED.

ANOTHER ONE
CAME IN LAST NIGHT.

THANK YOU, SHIRLEY.

IN 1956, THERE WAS
A HORRIBLE INCREASE IN RAPES.

STATISTICALLY, THERE WAS
A MORE THAN 20% INCREASE

OVER THE YEAR BEFORE.

PLEASE, HAVE A SEAT.

WHAT CAN I DO FOR YOU?

WELL, WE WERE
PARKED OVER ON VALENCIA,

AND THIS MAN CAME OVER

TO OUR VEHICLE AND...

GO ON. WHAT?
DID HE ROB YOU?

NO, NOT THAT.

THIS COUPLE
HAD BEEN PARKED IN A CAR

ON A LOVERS' LANE WHEN THEY
HEAR A RAP ON THE WINDOW,

AND A MAN WITH A FLASHLIGHT

TELLS THEM TO GET OUT
OF THE CAR,

WHICH THEY COMPLY WITH.

HE WAS
SHOVING MARGIE IN THE BACK

OF HIS CAR, AND THAT'S
WHEN I YANKED HER AWAY.

I GOT READY TO FIGHT HIM,

AND HE WAS BIG,
INTIMIDATING.

I WAS READY FOR HIM,

AND HE GOT IN HIS CAR
AND LEFT.

HE SAID HE WAS LAPD.

WAS HE IN UNIFORM?

NO, BUT HE DID HAVE
A FLASHLIGHT AND A BADGE.

WELL, WAIT A SECOND. HE SAID
HE WAS LAPD AND HAD A FLASHLIGHT

AND A BADGE?
YES.

HE DID.

DID IT LOOK LIKE THIS ONE?

YES, SIR.

SO HE WAS A COP.

IT WAS HARD TO TELL,
HONESTLY.

SOMETHING JUST DIDN'T
SEEM, RIGHT.

WHAT DO YOU MEAN?

WELL, FOR ONE,
WHERE I'M FROM,

WE DON'T HAVE COLOREDS
PATROLLING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

HE WAS A COLORED
POLICE OFFICER?

THIS IS THE SECOND TIME
VICTIMS ARE COMING IN SAYING,

"HEY, IT'S THIS GUY THAT GOT
A BADGE AND A FLASHLIGHT.

WE THOUGHT HE WAS A COP."

ALL RIGHT. LISTEN,
WE JUST HAD ANOTHER REPORT

OF SOME SICKO POSING AS LAPD,

AND IF IT TURNS OUT
TO TRULY BE ONE OF OURS,

I AM GOING TO BLOW MY TOP.

THERE'S NO WAY THAT
THIS GUY IS LAPD.

YEAH, WELL,
YOU BETTER BE RIGHT,

BUT WE BOTH KNOW
HOW THESE BOYS OPERATE.

RIGHT, GALINDO?

I'M GOING TO HAVE TO START
SENDING YOU OUT THERE

TO POLICE THOSE
LOVERS' LANES?

YOU KNOW HOW MANY LOVERS' LANES
THERE ARE IN THIS CITY?

YOU MIGHT HAVE TO
TAG ALONG.

YOU DON'T WANT HIM
TO GO ALONE, JONES.

HE MIGHT START
TO GET SOME IDEAS.

ALL RIGHT. BACK TO WORK.

DETECTIVE DANNY GALINDO

WAS ONE OF THE FEW
HISPANIC MEMBERS

OF THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

HE'S A DECORATED
WORLD WAR II VETERAN,

AND HE'S DAILY TASKED
WITH SOLVING DIFFICULT CRIMES.

THE FACT IS THERE
ARE NUMEROUS LOVERS' LANES

IN LOS ANGELES IN THE MID-1950s.

AND THESE WERE SPREAD OUT
THROUGH THE METROPOLITAN AREA,

SO THEY KNOW THAT THIS IS
GOING TO BE PRETTY DIFFICULT.

HEY, HANSON, GIVE ME A LIST
OF EVERY BLACK MAN

THAT'S EVER WORKED
FOR THE LAPD,

PAST, PRESENT,
RETIRED, FIRED, DEAD.

I WANT THEM ALL.

YES, SIR.

SARGE, DON'T MEAN
TO HOLD YOU UP,

BUT WE NEED TO GET
THE PRESS ON THIS, SIR.

WITH YOUR PERMISSION,
I CAN CONTACT

THE PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICER.

WHAT FOR?

THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW
WHAT'S HAPPENING

AT LOVERS' LANES.

NOBODY IS TOUCHING THAT.

WHY NOT?

"BLACK COP RAPES GIRL
AT LOVERS' LANE,"

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

IT MAKES US ALL LOOK BAD.

HERE, YOU WANT TO
SEE THE STORIES

THEY'RE REALLY PRINTING?

READ THE PAPER.

IN THOSE DAYS,
THE PAPERS HAD A VESTED INTEREST

IN MAINTAINING THE FICTION
THAT LOS ANGELES WAS PARADISE.

LIKE I SAID, THIS WAS
THE CITY OF MAKE-BELIEVE,

AND IT SEEMED LIKE
THE POLICE DEPARTMENT

WANTED TO PRETEND THIS CASE
NEVER EVEN HAPPENED.

I STOPPED GOING OUT MYSELF,

BUT THERE WERE STILL
THOUSANDS OF YOUNG LOVERS

PARKING AT NIGHT,
AND NONE OF THEM EVEN KNEW

THEY WERE BEING HUNTED.

WHAT ARE YOU DOING?

I SAID NO HANDS,
JUST KISSING.

I KNOW. I'M SORRY.

LAPD VICE SQUAD.
ROLL DOWN YOUR WINDOW.

YOU'RE COMMITTING A CRIME.

WHAT?

LEWD MISCONDUCT.
STEP OUT THE CAR.

HELLO.

I'M DETECTIVE GALINDO.

I'M HERE TO TAKE
YOUR REPORT.

CAN YOU TELL ME
WHAT HAPPENED?

SOMETHING TERRIBLE
HAPPENED.

ON JULY 23, 1956,

A JAPANESE-AMERICAN COUPLE
COMES IN TO THE POLICE STATION

TO REPORT A RAPE.

WE WERE JUST HAVING
A NIGHT OUT,

AND THIS CAR PULLED UP,

AND THIS MAN CAME UP TO US
AND KNOCKED ON THE WINDOWS,

AND HE SAID
HE WAS LAPD VICE SQUAD.

THE JAPANESE COUPLE
DESCRIBES A LARGE BLACK MAN

FLASHING A BADGE,
ORDERING THEM OUT OF THE CAR.

HE FORCED ME INTO HIS CAR.

NEXT THING I KNEW,
HE WAS ON TOP OF ME.

I'M SORRY.
I CAN'T DO THIS.

IT'S ALL MY FAULT.
IT'S ALL MY FAULT.

I REALLY FELT
FOR THAT POOR GIRL,

AND NONE OF US IN THE
DEPARTMENT COULD STOP

ASKING OURSELVES,

"WHAT IF THIS CREEP ACTUALLY
WAS ONE OF OUR OWN?"

THIS IS ALL OF OUR CURRENT
AND FORMER BLACK LAPD.

ANYBODY STAND OUT?

YES, REMEMBER ROARK?

- YEAH, TODD ROARK, RIGHT?
- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.

AND HE LEFT THE FORCE
ABOUT A YEAR AGO?

HE WAS FIRED.

DETECTIVES REMEMBER
THIS FORMER COP.

TODD ROARK
HAD BEEN LET GO

FOR SUPPOSEDLY BOUNCING CHECKS.

YOU KNOW
THE REAL REASON THOUGH.

NO.

HE GOT CAUGHT...

DOING SOMETHING
UNMENTIONABLE.

HOWEVER, IN THE WHISPERS,

THERE ALLEGED TO BE
SOME OTHER REASONS.

YOU KNOW THIS WHOLE
LOVERS' LANE DEAL?

IT WOULDN'T SURPRISE ME IF WE
CAUGHT HIM IN THE ACT, YOU KNOW?

WOULD YOU BE ABLE
TO IDENTIFY THE MAN

IF WE SHOWED YOU
A FEW PHOTOS?

I CAN TRY.

JUST TAKE A LOOK
AT THESE FOR ME.

LET ME KNOW IF ANYONE
SEEMS FAMILIAR.

THE COUPLE FLIPPED
THROUGH PAGE OF PERP PHOTOS...

NO.

...BUT THERE'S NO FACE
THAT THEY RECOGNIZE.

GALINDO. HOLD ON.

COULD THIS BE THE GUY?

HIS FACE... LOOKS FAMILIAR.

AT THAT POINT, THEY BRING
TODD ROARK INTO THE STATION,

AND THEY PUT HIM IN A LINEUP.

YOU TAKE YOUR TIME.
GET A GOOD LOOK AT ALL OF THEM.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE
WE GET THE RIGHT GUY.

ONE, STEP UP.

DOES HE LOOK FAMILIAR?

TWO, STEP UP.

HOW ABOUT HIM?
DOES HE LOOK FAMILIAR?

THREE, STEP UP.

GET A GOOD LOOK AT HIM.

CONCENTRATE.

IS THAT THE MAN
WHO ATTACKED YOU?

YES, THAT'S --
THAT'S HIM.

ARE YOU SURE?

- YES.
- OKAY. GOOD JOB.

GET HIM BOOKED.

ON IT.

I STILL REMEMBER
THE CHILL FROM THAT DAY.

FOR THOSE OF US
WHO KNEW TODD ROARK,

IT WAS VERY HARD TO BELIEVE.

HE WAS A GOOD MAN.

COULD HE REALLY HAVE
DONE SOMETHING SO AWFUL?

MY ONLY CONSOLATION
WAS THAT DETECTIVE GALINDO

WAS THE KIND OF COP WHO
WOULD GET TO THE BOTTOM OF IT.

GALINDO IS KNOWN AS BEING
A PERSON WHO KIND OF DIGS.

AND HE HAD KNOWN
ROARK A LITTLE BIT.

SO DANNY VISITS
TODD ROARK IN THE JAIL.

ROARK, YOU GOT TO BE
STRAIGHT WITH ME.

DID YOU DO THIS?

THEN JUST TELL ME WHERE YOU
WERE ON THE NIGHT OF JULY 23rd.

I CAN'T TELL YOU THAT.

WHY NOT?

BECAUSE IT DON'T MATTER
NOTHING.

ROARK, TALK TO ME.

I GOT NOTHING TO DO
WITH ANY OF THIS.

THEN TELL ME WHERE
YOU WERE THAT NIGHT.

I WAS WITH MY OLD LADY, OKAY?
ALL NIGHT.

OKAY,

AND WHAT THE HELL
IS WRONG WITH THAT?

I'M NOT BRINGING HER
INTO THIS.

WHY NOT?

YOU OF ALL PEOPLE
SHOULD KNOW HOW THIS WORKS.

THEY'LL DRAG HER NAME
THROUGH THE MUD.

NAH, IT'S OVER.

THEY ALREADY DECIDED.

WHO'S THEY?

WHO DO YOU THINK?

THE ENTIRE LAPD.

THAT'S NOT TRUE.

YEAH.

A COUPLE WEEKS BEFORE
THEY LET ME GO,

I WAS IN THE PARK
WITH THIS GIRL...

...A WHITE GIRL...

AND YOU KNOW WHO JUST
SO HAPPENS TO BE

IN THE PARK
AT THAT RIGHT TIME?

HANSON.

AND THEY SAW ME,

WALKED RIGHT PAST US.

I JUST KNEW...

IT WAS OVER, MAN.

ROARK TELLS GALINDO
HE WASN'T FIRED FOR CHECK FRAUD.

THAT WAS JUST A COVER.

ROARK WAS REALLY FIRED
FOR BEING OUT

AND BEING SEEN
WITH A WHITE WOMAN.

GALINDO IS NOT A PERSON
WHO JUMPS TO CONCLUSIONS.

SEE YOU LATER.

DANNY WILL GO WHERE
THE EVIDENCE TAKES HIM.

JUST CAME BACK
FROM THE DMV.

AND...?

THERE'S NO RECORD THAT SHOWS
THAT ROARK OWNS A DeSoto.

HE ACTUALLY DOESN'T
OWN A CAR, PERIOD.

WELL, HE PROBABLY
BORROWED IT, THEN.

DID YOU SEE WHAT HANSON
DUG UP ON THE MURDER CASE?

DANNY, YOU LISTENING?

SPACE CADET.

WAKE UP, AMIGO.

I'LL TAKE A LOOK AT IT.

SOMETHING WAS DEFINITELY OFF
ABOUT THIS CASE.

BUT ONE THING DETECTIVE
GALINDO TAUGHT ME --

THE PD WAS A FAMILY,

AND TO THROW A COP
OUT LIKE THAT

WAS TO TURN YOUR BACK
ON A BROTHER,

AND IF ROARK WAS INNOCENT,

THAT MEANT THE REAL RAPIST
WAS STILL OUT THERE,

LURKING IN THE SHADOWS,
WAITING TO STRIKE.

- NO! NO!
- COME ON!

WE CAN TALK ABOUT THIS.

HELLO?

YES, THIS IS HIM.

WHERE?

A FEW DAYS AFTER
ROARK'S ARREST...

YEAH, KEEP HER THERE.

...ANOTHER RAPE IS REPORTED,
THIS TIME IN ANOTHER DIVISION.

HE ASKED ME TO FOLLOW HIM
TO HIS CAR, SO I DID.

I THOUGHT HE WAS A COP.

HE HAD A BADGE.

THAT, IN AND OF ITSELF,
REMOVES ALL DOUBT IN HIS MIND.

TODD ROARK CAN'T HAVE
COMMITTED THIS RAPE

AND BE IN JAIL AT THE SAME TIME.

ANOTHER RAPE, VICTIM I.D.'ed
THE PERP THE SAME WAY --

TALL BLACK MAN WITH A BADGE.

ROARK IS LOCKED UP,
SO IT CAN'T BE HIM.

DON'T BE NAIVE, GALINDO.

ROARK PROBABLY CALLED ONE OF
HIS BUDDIES FROM THE INSIDE,

AND NOW HE'S FILLING IN FOR HIM.

IT'S THE OLDEST TRICK
IN THE BOOK.

AT THAT POINT, DANNY GALINDO
KNOWS HE'S ALONE ON THIS.

AND HE REALIZES THAT HE HAS
TO WALK A FINE LINE.

HERE HE IS, A LATINO DETECTIVE

IN A ALMOST ENTIRELY
WHITE DEPARTMENT

WHERE LITERALLY EVERYBODY ELSE
BELIEVES

THAT THIS BLACK FORMER COP
COMMITTED THIS CRIME.

- COME ON, ROARK!
- COME ON, ROARK!

LET'S GO, BUD.

HEY!
DON'T STRIKE OUT, ROARK.

IF WE LOSE, IT'LL BE ON YOU.

- COME ON, BUD.
- ALL RIGHT. HERE WE GO.

HERE WE GO.

WHOO!

YOU KNOW THOSE MOMENTS
WHEN YOU LOOK BACK ON THINGS

WITH A NEW EYE?

WELL, DETECTIVE GALINDO'S EYES
WERE WIDE OPEN NOW.

YEAH. NOW, THAT'S THE WAY
TO DO IT. YEAH?

HEY, MAN, YOU COULD
PLAY FOR THE MAJORS.

- YEAH, THAT'S RIGHT.
- RIGHT?

'CAUSE NO MATTER HOW MUCH
WE WANTED TO BELIEVE

WE WERE PART OF THAT FAMILY,

THAT WAS JUST MORE
OF THAT MAKE-BELIEVE.

IF THIS WAS A PLACE WHERE
A COP COULD BE TORN DOWN

AND THROWN OUT JUST
BECAUSE OF HIS COLOR,

THEN WHAT WAS HAPPENING
TO ROARK

COULD HAPPEN TO ANY OF US,

AND IT WAS OBVIOUS
DETECTIVE GALINDO

WASN'T GOING TO GET ANY HELP

FROM ANYONE ELSE
IN THE DEPARTMENT.

ROARK, I'M GOING TO
GET YOU OUT OF HERE.

YOU HEAR ME?

THIS ISN'T RIGHT.

SURE.

IT'S VERY MUCH
A LOSE-LOSE SITUATION.

THE WAY TO GET ROARK
OUT OF PRISON

IS TO CATCH THE TRUE CULPRIT
IN THESE CRIMES,

BUT IN ORDER TO DO THAT,
MORE RAPES HAVE GOT TO OCCUR,

AND THE LAPD JUST DOESN'T
HAVE THE RESOURCES

TO ASSIST DANNY
WITH THIS INVESTIGATION.

ANOTHER ONE, SIR,
LAST NIGHT.

THANK YOU, SHIRLEY.

SHE WAS 17.

NOTED, GALINDO.

WHILE ROARK IS IN JAIL,

SEVERAL OTHER RAPES
ARE REPORTED.

DID YOU GET
A LICENSE PLATE NUMBER?

NO, IT JUST ALL
HAPPENED SO FAST.

IT'S THREE WOMEN NOW,
THE SAME GUY POSING AS A COP.

SARGE, WE NEED TO
STEP IT UP ON THIS.

THIS ATTACK HAPPENED
DURING THE WEEK.

- LOOK.
- HE'S GETTING BOLD.

I CAN'T TALK ABOUT THIS
RIGHT NOW, OKAY?!

DANNY GALINDO
ENJOYS NO SUCCESS WHATSOEVER

IN TRYING TO CONVINCE
HIS COLLEAGUES THAT THEY HAVE

INCARCERATED THE WRONG PERSON.

WHO ARE YOU HERE TO SEE?

DETECTIVE GALINDO.

HE REQUESTED THAT
I BRING HER OVER HERE.

ALL RIGHT.
HAVE HER WAIT RIGHT HERE.

IN EARLY AUGUST,
A BLACK WAITRESS

BY THE NAME OF JOSEPHINE JOHNSON

GOES INTO THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

JOSEPHINE?
HI, I'M DETECTIVE GALINDO.

JOSEPHINE, IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND
TELLING ME WHAT HAPPENED?

I HAD JUST FINISHED WORKING
A DOUBLE AT THE RESTAURANT,

AND I WAS WAITING
AT THE BUS STOP,

JUST TRYING TO GET HOME,

A-AND THIS CAR PULLS UP.

HELLO, MISS. LAPD.

THIS MAN SAYS HE'S A COP

AND TELLS ME THAT I NEED
TO GET INTO THE CAR

BECAUSE I COMMITTED
SOME CRIME.

T-THERE'S BEEN
SOME KIND OF MISTAKE.

I DIDN'T DO NOTHING, SIR.

WELL, WE JUST HAVE
TO VERIFY THAT.

AAH!

GET IN THE CAR.

HE PUT A GUN TO MY HEAD.

JOSEPHINE IS FORCED AT GUNPOINT
TO PERFORM ORAL SEX

ON THE DRIVER OF THE CAR.

AND I WAS SO DISGUSTED,
I VOMITED ON HIM

AND CAUSED HIM TO DROP
HIS GUN.

AND WHEN SHE SEES THE GUN
ON THE FLOORBOARD,

SHE IMMEDIATELY JUMPS OUT
OF THE CAR AND RUNS OUTSIDE.

SO NOW THE GUY IS USING A GUN.

THE VIOLENCE HAS ESCALATED.

- SARGE.
- WHAT NOW?

THIS BETTER BE GOOD,
GALINDO.

THE GUY HAS GOT A GUN NOW.

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT, SERGEANT,

THIS IS SERIOUS.

I UNDERSTAND.

NOW, THIS IS
AN OFFICER-SAFETY HAZARD.

"GOD FORBID ONE OF OUR OFFICERS
WALKS UP ON THIS AND GETS SHOT."

LET ME TAKE A CRACK
AT IT, SIR.

PLEASE.

FINE. WHAT DO YOU NEED?

MORE MEN.
WE NEED A PAIR AT EACH SPOT.

DON'T MAKE ME REGRET THIS.

YOU WON'T.

HE MANAGES TO GET HIMSELF
MADE THE HEAD OF A TASK FORCE

COMMITTED TO FINDING THIS GUY.

BUT WHAT ABOUT ROARK?

HE'S STAYING PUT.

BUT WE KNOW IT'S NOT HIM.

THAT'LL BE ALL, GALINDO.

SIR, HE'S ONE OF OUR OWN!

I SAID, "THAT'LL BE ALL."

FOR ALL OF US WHO WANTED TO SEE
TODD ROARK SET FREE,

IT SEEMED LIKE
THE ONLY WAY OUT

WAS FOR DETECTIVE GALINDO
TO CATCH THE PERP RED-HANDED.

AT LEAST NOW HE FINALLY
HAD THE MEN HE NEEDED,

BUT IT DIDN'T MEAN
HE COULD PICK WHO THEY WERE,

AND WE ALL KNEW THAT NOT
EVERYBODY IN THE DEPARTMENT

WAS AS DEDICATED AS GALINDO
WAS TO SOLVING THIS CASE.

GALINDO THINKS
THAT THE ONLY WAY

HE CAN CATCH THE GUY
IS TO FIND THE CAR,

BUT THAT'S LIKE LOOKING FOR
A NEEDLE IN A HAYSTACK.

YOU STILL
MR. HOLLYWOOD, GALINDO?

IT'S ONLY A HOBBY.

IT'S KINDA --
KIND OF WILD.

THEY SHOULD HAVE SOMEBODY
LIKE ME ON THAT SHOW.

YEAH.
YEAH, THEY SHOULD.

THE BARTENDER SAYS,
"HOW THE HELL SHOULD I KNOW?

MY WIFE LEFT ME."

I'M GOING TO NEED
MORE RESOURCES.

WHAT FOR?

WITH THIS
SERIAL RAPIST ON THE LOOSE,

DETECTIVE GALINDO REALIZED
THAT THE ONLY WAY TO NAB HIM

WAS TO LAY A TRAP, AND IF WHAT
THIS CREEP WANTED WAS GIRLS,

THEN IT WAS TIME TO DO
WHAT WE DO BEST HERE IN L.A. --

PUT ON A SHOW.

DANNY PERSUADES THE LAPD BRASS

THAT THEY HAVE TO DO
AN UNDERCOVER STAKEOUT.

THE PROBLEM IS THAT THERE
AREN'T ENOUGH FEMALE OFFICERS

ON THE POLICE FORCE,

SO 10 MALE COPS
GO TO THE MAKEUP WIZARDS

AT UNIVERSAL INTERNATIONAL
STUDIOS.

THANKS AGAIN
FOR DOING THIS, JACK.

COME ON.
ANYTIME, BUDDY.

SO THIS HERE IS
DETECTIVE DANNY GALINDO, LAPD.

NICE TO MEET
THE REAL GALINDO.

DANNY WAS FRIENDS
WITH JACK WEBB,

WHO PLAYED SERGEANT JOE FRIDAY
ON THE VERY POPULAR

TELEVISION SERIES "DRAGNET"...

NOW, ABOUT THIS
ELIZABETH HAUGHTON,

MRS. MILLER,
DID YOU KNOW HER AT ALL?

WELL, YES.
NOT VERY WELL, THOUGH.

...WHICH WAS BASED ON
THE REAL DAY-TO-DAY OPERATIONS

OF THE LOS ANGELES
POLICE DEPARTMENT.

DETECTIVE GALINDO PITCHED
HIS REAL-LIFE EXPERIENCES

TO THE SHOW.

THEY LIKED THEM SO MUCH,

THEY NAMED A CHARACTER
AFTER HIM

AND TURNED HIS STORIES
INTO EPISODES.

WE NEED YOU ON SET.

THANKS, AGAIN.

OFFICER HALL.

WHAT HAVE YOU ALL DONE?

DORIS HALL WAS
THE ACTUAL ONE FEMALE

WHO WAS GOING TO BE PART
OF THIS STING OPERATION,

AND SHE'S DANNY'S PARTNER.

ALL RIGHT.
LISTEN UP, MEN.

IF WE'RE GOING TO
GET THIS GUY,

WE'RE GOING TO
GET HIM IN THE ACT.

IF HE APPROACHES YOUR VEHICLE,
BE PREPARED TO TAKE HIM DOWN.

RIGHT?

ALL RIGHT.

LET'S GET HIM.

THE STING OPERATION BEGINS
ON AUGUST 6, 1956

WITH 10 TEAMS OF COUPLES
GOING UNDERCOVER

AT STRATEGIC LOVERS' LANES
AROUND LOS ANGELES.

WE'RE MAKING SOME PROGRESS.

I'VE GOT MEN POSTED UP AT
LOVERS' LANES AROUND THE CITY.

WE'LL GET HIM.

YEAH. THANKS.

NEXT TIME I'M BACK HERE,

IT'S GOING TO BE
WITH GOOD NEWS.

BUT NIGHT AFTER NIGHT,
NOTHING HAPPENS.

THE PRESSURE STARTS
TO BUILD FOR DANNY.

HERE IS THE FIRST TIME
HE'S EVER LED A TASK FORCE,

AND IT APPEARS THAT
IT'S NOT GOING TO WORK.

WE FOLLOWED THIS GUY'S PATTERN.

IF WE STICK WITH IT,
WE'RE BOUND TO GET HIM.

IT'S TIME TO PACK THIS THING IN.
DON'T YOU THINK?

IT'S COSTING THE DEPARTMENT
A FORTUNE.

JUST GIVE ME A LITTLE
MORE TIME, SIR.

THIS IS A GIGANTIC
ALLOCATION OF RESOURCES,

MEN PULLED OFF OF OTHER SHIFTS,

AND LOS ANGELES IS ALREADY
AN UNDERPOLICED CITY.

DANNY GALINDO HAS A REAL FEAR

THAT THE TRUE SUSPECT IN
THE CASE HAS GONE UNDERGROUND,

AND ULTIMATELY, THESE CRIMES
MAY NEVER BE SOLVED.

SOMEONE IS WATCHING US,
7:00.

IT LOOKS LIKE A DeSoto.

YEP. THAT'S A DeSoto.

COME HERE.

HE'S COMING.

ON AUGUST 26, 1956,

AFTER THREE WEEKS OF RUNNING
THIS OPERATION,

SOMETHING FINALLY HAPPENS.

THEY SEE THE FIGURE
IS HOLDING SOMETHING -- A GUN.

NOTIFY THE OTHER UNITS.

LAPD! FREEZE!

CALLING ALL UNITS.

BUT THE MAN DOESN'T DROP
THE GUN.

DANNY FIRES A SHOT.
HE HEARS A YELP.

HE'S DEFINITELY HIT THE GUY.

- FREEZE!
- AAH!

SUSPECT IS RUNNING SOUTH
ON GRIFFITH STREET.

DETECTIVE GALINDO
IS IN PURSUIT.

LAPD.
STAY IN THE CAR.

AND ON AND ON THE CHASE GOES,

DOWN THE STREET
AND AROUND ANOTHER CORNER.

POLICE!

PUT YOUR WEAPON DOWN!

HE HEARS THE CLICK OF A TRIGGER.

HE HEARS IT AGAIN.

HE SHOULD BE DEAD,

BUT THE GUN
HAS OBVIOUSLY MISFIRED.

DANNY HAS A SHORT NIGHTSTICK
IN HIS BACK POCKET.

DANNY RUNS THE WAY HE CAME...

BUT BY THE TIME HE GETS BACK,
THE DeSoto WAS GONE.

THE GUY WAS GONE.

COME ON!

HE'S MADE HIS GETAWAY.

DANNY IS THINKING HE MAY
NEVER SEE THE SUSPECT AGAIN,

AND TODD ROARK IS NEVER
GOING TO GET OUT OF PRISON.

DAMN!

WHAT HAPPENED?

I LOST HIM.

THE SERIAL RAPIST
HAS MADE HIS GETAWAY.

GALINDO'S THINKING HIS OPERATION

MAY BE COMPLETELY
CALLED TO AN END.

DON'T BEAT YOURSELF UP,
GALINDO.

THIS IS 1047.

WE HAVE A SUSPECT FITTING
THE ASSAILANT'S DESCRIPTION.

APPROACHING THEIR VEHICLE.

GALINDO THEN RECEIVES
AN ABSOLUTELY UNBELIEVABLE

RADIO TRANSMISSION
FROM TWO OF THE OTHER OFFICERS

THAT ARE PART OF THIS
UNDERCOVER OPERATION.

REPEAT, SUSPECT GOT
OUT OF A DeSoto.

HOW CAN THAT BE?

EVEN AFTER
HAVING BEEN SHOT BY GALINDO,

INSTEAD OF ESCAPING, HE TRIES
TO GO TO ANOTHER LOVERS' LANE.

THE SUSPECT IS APPREHENDED

AND IS IN THE CUSTODY OF THE
LOS ANGELES POLICE DEPARTMENT.

THE SUSPECT'S NAME
IS WILLY FIELDS.

HE WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER.

HE'S TALL, AND HE'S BLACK.

OTHERWISE, HE LOOKS
NOTHING LIKE TODD ROARK.

HE WASN'T A COP.

HE HAD USED A TIN
SHERIFF'S BADGE,

THE KIND SOLD AT THE
FIVE-AND-DIME STORE.

HERE'S THE GUN.

YOU GOT LUCKY.

IT JAMMED.

THE GUN IS A LUGER.

DANNY GOT LUCKY.

IT HAD THE WRONG AMMO IN IT.

YOU'RE FREE TO GO.

THANKS.

WITH THE REAL SUSPECT
IN CUSTODY,

TODD ROARK IS FINALLY RELEASED.

WHAT GETS ME AFTER
ALL THESE YEARS

IS THE WAY HE GOT PUT
THERE IN THE FIRST PLACE.

IT STARTED AS NOTHING MORE
THAN A SNAP JUDGMENT

THAT TOOK ON A LIFE OF ITS OWN.

RACISM IS THE BELIEF THAT
THE STEREOTYPES THAT WE CREATE

THAT ARE NEGATIVE
ABOUT PEOPLE OF COLOR

ARE TRUE, AND, SO, IF YOU
HAVE A PREDISPOSITION

TO THINK THAT HE IS
GOING TO BE GUILTY,

THEN HE WILL ALWAYS
REMAIN GUILTY.

IT WAS A FICTION PASSED
FROM ONE PERSON TO ANOTHER

UNTIL SOMETHING SO WRONG
SOMEHOW BECAME A BELIEF,

AND THAT BELIEF CLOUDED
EVERYONE'S EYES.

ONCE ONE DETECTIVE
WAS ALL IN ON ROARK'S GUILT,

IT TOOK ON A MOMENTUM
OF ITS OWN,

AND THE WHOLE THING
SNOWBALLED FROM THERE,

AND IT WOULD HAVE CONTINUED
TO SNOWBALL IF NOT FOR

DANNY GALINDO'S KNOWING THAT
SOMETHING WAS WRONG ABOUT THIS.

WILLY FIELDS,
WHO HAD COMMITTED THESE CRIMES,

SERVED ONLY 11 YEARS,

CAME OUT WITH A CARPENTRY SKILL

THAT HE LEARNED IN SAN QUENTIN,

WAS IMMEDIATELY HIRED GAINFULLY

AND HAD A WONDERFUL LIFE.

THE IRONY IS THAT TODD ROARK
WAS A BROKEN MAN.

IT STILL MAKES ME SAD
THAT DETECTIVE GALINDO,

FOR EVERYTHING HE DID,

COULDN'T SAVE ROARK
FROM BEING LABELED,

FROM BEING STAINED BY
THESE CRIMES HE DIDN'T COMMIT.

EVEN THOUGH HE WAS FREED,
TODD ROARK'S LIFE IS RUINED.

WHEN HE GETS OUT,
HE'S STAMPED WITH STIGMA

THAT HE'S ESSENTIALLY
A CRIMINAL.

HE CAN'T GET A JOB,

AND HE PAYS A PRICE
FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO.

HE LITERALLY
JUST MOVES TO FRESNO

AND LIVES ON A FAMILY FARM,
THEN DIES.

I USED TO THINK OF LOS ANGELES
AS THE CITY OF DREAMS.

THERE WAS NO LIMIT ON WHO
YOU COULD BECOME THERE.

A CRIMINAL COULD DRESS UP
LIKE A COP.

A MAN COULD DRESS UP
LIKE A WOMAN.

YOU JUST HAD TO PRETEND.

BUT THE TRUTH IS
THE RULES WEREN'T THE SAME

FOR PEOPLE LIKE ME
OR DETECTIVE GALINDO,

AND THEY CERTAINLY WEREN'T
THE SAME FOR TODD ROARK.

SOMETIMES IT DIDN'T MATTER

IF YOU WERE PLAYING IT
STRAIGHT.

PEOPLE ARE GOING TO MAKE UP
THEIR MINDS ABOUT YOU

BASED ON ONLY ONE THING --

THE COLOR OF YOUR SKIN.