In front of the precinct stood a row of black-and-whites, the beautiful cruisers washed and polished to a high shine. The precinct had seen better days, the brick was stained by the elements, and the roof had lost a few tiles over the years. When it rained hard, the detectives had to turn their trash cans into buckets to staunch the flood. But the patrol cars provided a row of order on the perimeter. Cleaned and refueled after every shift, they passed through the city like a silent reminder of what a policeman could be: bright, hard, visible, stoic, and beautiful. Central City Police Department, the words embossed above a silhouette of the skyline, and below, Protect and Serve.
