Despite an occasional break in political correctness, CBS’s Blue Bloods usually takes the rare stance of defending the police in the media. Fortunately, the latest episode continues that trend with the show fighting back allegations of “systemic racism” in the NYPD at the height of anti-copaganda. Christmas time is really the time for miracles.
At the premiere of the December 4th season “Triumph Over Trauma”, Commissioner Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) argue with the spokeswoman for the city council, Regina Thomas (Whoopi Goldberg), about “systemic racism and oppression” in the police. Instead of turning around and taking it like any other networking show, Frank stands up for his officers and shows no fear of telling the spokesman to stop belittling the police.
Frank: Please take a seat.
Regina: Thank you. Look, I … You may have gone a little overboard today. I don’t want you to think I’m trying to start a fight with you.
Frank: Hey, we are good.
Regina: Are we?
Frank: Yeah. The truth is, I like to fight with you. But, Regina, what exactly are we arguing at this time?
Regina: About – and you won’t like that – the NYPD is going to trial.
Frank: Well, because you’re taking it to court. Incidentally, everyone has the right to an energetic defense, including my people.
Regina: Don’t you really see what’s going on here?
Frank: I do. Every single policeman is painted with the same brush. And if someone in my base behaves in a way that is not worthy of the uniform, they will be treated.
Regina: Every policeman wears the same uniform. So if you stop running while black, how do you know which one is walking towards you?
Frank: Okay, how can a cop know what he’s getting at? See, that fuse goes on both ways. At least we can agree on that.
Regina: You have to keep your cops in check.
Frank: Good, as long as we can keep the criminals at bay. Do you have a way to do both?
Regina: You have criminals in your ranks.
Frank: Boy … Regina, you have to get your head out of your ass.
Regina: Don’t talk to me like that.
Frank: Okay.
Frank himself admits that this wasn’t his best behavior, but given the weeks of endless surrender to BLM, this televised confrontation was badly needed. If Black Lives Matter activists weren’t also making arguments that all police officers are racist, police and community reform would actually do something.
Fortunately, Frank and Regina later have a quieter conversation without resorting to language. While this still leads to disagreement, Frank clearly denies that “cops are part of the problem and not part of the solution.” Even better, it’s more of a quiet discussion than the usual scream match.
Frank: If you don’t like the answers you get, check your premises.
Regina: Which one?
Frank: These cops are part of the problem, not part of the solution.
Regina: Frank, good cops can be part of the solution. But if you have a bad cop, it would be nice if you could get out or someone like you could get out and say, “Hey, that’s not great behavior from our department.”
Frank: I am not afraid of it.
Regina: Well, you know, a little empathy could go a long way towards de-escalation.
Frank: On both sides. Uh, Regina … I came here to try to rewind and start over. We’ve always had a pretty good relationship.
Regina: Yeah, it’s a transaction, but I mean, it’s not personal.
Frank: Okay, whatever you want.
Regina: It’s not my way; it’s a fact.
Frank: The fact is, this city is divided into two camps that just yell past each other.
Regina: Frank, you have to get your boys to de-escalate.
Frank: I think you do too.
Regina: Really?
Frank: Just because you say something doesn’t make it that way.
Regina: Tell me you don’t pretend you don’t know your boys are going over the line.
Frank: I have a well-documented history of firing those who do this.
Regina: Well, you should share that with people of color.
Frank: I don’t think they’re going to listen to me.
After Frank acknowledges that the anti-police crowd would not listen to him, he considers resigning from the force to ease tension. However, Deputy Commissioner Garrett Moore (Gregory Jbara) reminds him that the courage to “tell the unpopular or inconvenient truth is essential to effective leadership”. If only our political leaders could be so brave.
Garrett: In a nutshell, as you asked. “To: Mayor Peter H. Chase …”
Frank: I know this part.
Garrett: Dear Mayor Chase, please accept this letter as a notice of my resignation. As a New York Police Department Commissioner, effective from noon on the last Friday of this month. Sincerely, Francis X. Reagan. “PS …”
Frank: Cancellation letters have no PS
Garrett: It does. “I take this action with a heavy heart and with deep regret. It has always been clear to me that the person who holds this office must protect our citizens and with the same vigilance the men and women of this department. But lately it is closed It has become an impossible balancing act. To serve one is to betray the other. Unfortunately, I have always found that being willing to tell the unpopular or inconvenient truth is less essential to effective leadership. “
Frank stays true to form and even agrees to a radio interview with Regina. The episode never shows the outcome of that interview, but the fact that Frank opts for his department is proof that he doesn’t back down.
It shouldn’t be bold enough for a television cop to defend his own profession, but after Chicago PD and Law & Order: SVU both surrendered to the anti-cop narrative, Frank Reagan is clearly the exception rather than the rule for cops in the Year 2020 television. Let’s hope he can remain exceptional for the rest of this season.
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