Southland

- Get up! Stand back! Stand back! - Got him? Get back!

Officer Ben Sherman is halfway

through his one-year probationary period as an LAPD officer.

The job hasn't turned out to be exactly what he'd expected.

Cathleen Kerik calls me last night here at the house.

And she tells me attendance for the press conference is mandatory.

Can you believe that? Like I'm some kid,

and I'm gonna skip school the next day.

- It won't be so bad. - Won't be so bad?

Come on, Russ. What am I...

the poster child for the entire department now?

Come on. You love it.

I do not, Russ.

Well, you can't blame them. I mean, you look great on TV.

They probably want me to pose with the damn shotgun.

What are you gonna wear?

What?

You know what? You should wear that black jacket.

Shut up.

You're gonna be on the news. You might as well look good.

How are you doing?

Great.

Thinking about running an Iron Man this weekend.

Hey, I got to go.

I'm gonna stop by later on, all right?

Okay... Sure.

Take care, partner.

Listen up.

We live in the digital age.

You are always being recorded.

If it isn't a citizen with a camcorder,

it's a security camera down the street or a banger with an iPhone.

There's no place to hide. You will be on TV.

Spoke to Dewey in rehab yesterday.

He's at Malcolm's House in Palm Springs if any of you want to visit.

I'm passing around a card if you want to sign.

Lucky bastard.

Wish I had a drinking problem.

We have a gang abatement press conference today.

The process does work,

so if you see dealing at any of the dope houses, document it.

DA's office is pressing hard again. Here's the stolen cars for today.

All right, Brown, you're with Ferguson, A35.

Cooper and Sherman are working A43.

- Salazar and Chavez... - He's sticking her with the Slug.

Slug?

Sherman. Captain wants to see you end of shift. That's it.

Good luck.

Wait a minute. Who are you?

I'm Rene Cordero, your new partner.

Stop doing that.

Detective Fernandez,

there's a guy out there who seems to think he's my new partner.

He is your new partner.

You said I could work alone until Russ gets back.

We're not sure Russ is coming back.

- Who says? - His doctor, apparently.

He's coming back?

Give Cordero... a few weeks.

I'm sorry about your partner.

- I know this must be rough for you. - I've got this... excuse me.

Captain wants to talk about completing Phase 2 of your probationary training.

He'll ask you some questions... he'll look at your book,

and he'll stamp your pass to Phase Three.

That means...

you get to ride in the car by yourself.

But just because the department says you're ready

doesn't mean I think you're ready.

Phase Three, you drive.

Cool.

We'll find out if it's cool.

Those suspects who are not dead or in jail will be in custody soon.

This is ground zero, and we'll not be going away.

Freaking dog-and-pony show.

You have the right to be safe in your beds.

You have the right to be safe in the streets,

and we're not gonna tolerate gang violence any longer.

We cut the head off of one of the gangs today.

And you all know what it's like when a chicken gets its head cut off?

It runs around a little bit.

And we're gonna chase these headless chickens

for as long as it takes.

It's very simple.

You use a gun,

you go to jail.

You sell drugs from your house,

we will knock it down.

We are here to stay...

for as long as it takes.

Now, knock it down!

Do we handle Missing Persons?

Excuse me?

This call, it's an old missing guy, right?

I thought all missing reports went downtown.

Patrol must think there's something more to it.

Oh, yeah? Like what?

- Are you married? - No

What?!

Why is a fine woman like you not married?

You know, let's stop with the "fine woman" talk. I really hate that.

- I'm just trying to be friendly. - Don't.

- How you doing? Detective Moretta. - Good.

Somebody pissed somebody off.

- Who's this guy? - He only has Mexican I.D.

- Looks like a day worker. - Day worker? In a Bentley?

God bless America.

Who's the car registered to?

Platinum Motorsports on La Brea.

Oh, yeah? That's Trinny Day's place.

I put him away back in the '80s... a huge dealer, banger.

- Was it reported stolen? - No, we checked.

This is some south-of-the-border shit.

Sinaloa shoot-out.

Phase Two... used to be nine months.

Nine.

Now it's six.

Pretty soon, they'll be sending you boots straight

from Academy graduation to raiding ganghouses by yourself in Watts.

So, what's the deal with Chickie and that Ferguson guy... The Slug?

They pissed at Chickie for turning Dewey in?

He was drinking on the job. She shouldn't report that?

You got to be able to trust who you work with.

She rode with Dewey for years.

She knew he needed help.

She waits until he flips a car to say something?

Your partner's in trouble, you find way to help before it gets out of control.

Yellow does not mean stop.

Okay? You almost caused an accident.

- You got something to be nervous about? - No, no.

- Yes, I mean... No, I'm sorry. Yes. - Are you sure?

Get the hell out of here.

Hey! When it is green.

Both hands on the wheel... it's not your daddy's jag.

Go!

Go! Come on!

There's no way he'd leave his tools out here like this. And his cane?

- Your brother lives alone? - Yes.

At 82?

He's very independent.

I come by to check on him every morning.

- That was last time you saw him? - Yes. I...

I help him to monitor his sugar, and I give him his shot, he's diabetic.

Has he ever wandered off before?

He hasn't wandered off! Something's happened to him!

Does he have any history of Alzheimer's, dementia,

never disappeared overnight or for a couple of hours?

No! Never.

Anything missing from inside?

Nope. Just his car.

His car?

He drives?

Can somebody tell me when he's on the road, I can be at home watching TV?

Canvass the neighborhood. Find out if anybody saw him leave.

You know, we should call this in. Let Missing Persons handle it.

You got someplace else you need to be, then go.

I'm sure Fernandez will find somebody else for you to work with.

Turn right. Turn right! Turn right!

What'd you see?

I can't believe this guy. I'm telling you, Russ, you would die.

He's got a little hanky in his jacket pocket.

He was interrogating this poor woman like he was Sherlock Holmes

with these penetrating questions.

Well, he is a detective, Lydia.

I know, but I'm telling you you'd hate him.

He just wants to hang out downtown and wait for something sexy or like

a double homicide or a beheading.

Hey... I gotta go.

You want me to bring you something by later?

No. You know what? Dina's coming by in a little bit.

You know I have your back, partner... right?

Detective!

You're driving too fast. Slow down.

You pass Driver Training at the Academy?

Yeah, I did, with flying colors.

- How's your back? - What?

Your back... how is it?

Look at this.

Dummy!

Look like a public urinal to you? Stop... Now.

What's your name?

Alan Gaylord.

- What's in the bag? - Beer.

Cite him.

What for?

Forty five-six-twenty eight, Open container.

May I see your I.D., sir?

Your I.D.

Hands.

I'm on parole.

This gonna violate me?

Turn around and face the fence. Hands behind your head.

I don't know, Alan.

If I search your pockets, am I gonna find anything?

No.

How about when I put your name in my computer?

We gonna come back with any warrants?

- No, sir. - All right.

You know what, Alan? It's your lucky day.

You're just gonna get a ticket and be on your way.

Why don't you have a seat.