Nolan fails his firearms re-certification exam due to his mother coming to visit him. His mother has left her fiance for supposedly cheating but is possibly just interested in pawning his ring. Nolan also stumbles on a plot to assassinate a businesswoman.
Meanwhile, West witnesses Officer Stanton arresting an entire family and decides he has to report him despite Sergeant Grey advising against it. West is also infuriated that Stanton is only assigned administrative duty for the complaint. Sergeant Grey speaks with his wife about how he needs to work against Stanton despite the danger to his crew.
- Amazingly Embarrassing Parents: Mrs. Nolan is a flighty possible con woman and definite hustler who doesn't take his police career seriously.
- Ambiguous Situation: Did Mrs. Nolan set up her fiance solely to hock his ring or did she actually believe he was cheating?
- Contrived Coincidence: Nolan spots a major crime in progress just by identifying a guy at the range in scuba gear. It turns out to be an assassination plot.
- Police Brutality: Stanton reacts to a family objecting to his harsh treatment of their son by arresting them all.
- Rabid Cop: Stanton reacts to any perceived questioning of his authority with brutality and violence.
- Unishment: Stanton's gross misconduct is given only a transfer from the streets as punishment. This infuriates West due to the fact he grew up as the son of an IA investigator and is a black man.
- What You Are in the Dark: Sergeant Grey can't deal with the guilt of looking the other way for Stanton, even though he's completely protected from any consequences if he does and it will cost his career if he chooses to intervene. He chooses to intervene.
