Expert: Loren Stevens - 8/29/2008

Question
Hi--I see you mentioned a metro area department. I was a street kid in Manhattan in the 34th precinct area, during the 30.s and 40's 'til I went into the service. My boyhood friend, an ex-cop, is long gone so I hope you are a source. I'm working on a rather complex novel with several important characters, but my real protagonist is a detective sergeant. I'm placing him in "Midtown North" the 18th precinct on 54th St., and though I knew the city like the back of my hand, I've never actually been to this precinct building. I'm 80 years old and retired in Connecticut. I know what the street and building look like from on line pics, but at the moment I'm mostly interested in the atmosphere of the squad area: is it several floors above street level, does it overlook the street, are desks shared, do most detectives have PCs, is the squad area quite open with arranged or scattered desks, is there a coffee club, are the walls generally painted beige or white or ancient green--fresh or peeling, is the lieutenant in a glassed in (or concealed) office? Whew! And how high up the food chain are the ranks in a busy precinct (captain, chief, etc)? And one more thing: what kinds of databases would the detectives have access to in their squad room? Seems like a lot, I know, and you might be from L.A. But if you're from NY you might be one to provide answers.
Thanks for any info, and especially for your time.

Answer
Hello Martin,
Well sir, I am a west coast law man.
Out west, we had no "precincts", only "sub-stations". But, all that is a difference with little distinction.
In a typical Detective area, you have separations between property crimes and crimes against persons.
There is kind of a pecking order..unwritten, where a person will start in property crimes, like Larceny or Burglary, and nibble their way forward to Robbery, Sex crimes, Homicide, and ultimately, Criminal Intelligence.
If the lay out is semi-usual, there will be a large "Bull-Pen" where the "Grunts" work. Usually desks backed up against each other, or 4 desks in an island. The space available kind of dictates the configuration.
The Sgts. have their own desks, either by the door, or close (shouting distance) from the Lt.'s office or cubicle.
There are computers aplenty. They can access everything except juvenile records, which are a sensitive repository of information.
All the city, county and state records can be accessed, and the big one NCIC (National Crime Information Center), also big are any of the subdivisions of the RISS project.
EPIC is useful on dope cases (El Paso Narc Intell) and, there are many other sources of info as well.
In the "Bull-Pen, there are always Dets with a phone growing out of an ear, a measure of clutch-butt (grab-ass) until the Sgt. or Lt. leans on the grunts to get to work.
Generally, for the working grunt, any rank more than two levels away has little influence in his or her daily work schedule. They become names, with little utilitarian value in case work. And, viewed as "empty suits" by the grunts.
Also, for the cops doing the heavy lifting, they tend to view any other officer who is at a duty function or rank level where they don't drink their coffee out of a throw away cup, as essentially not engaged.
You are right on with the wall colors. Contemporary agencies pay attention to studies on certain colors of rooms used for interviews, that tend to enhance communications....
Probably, there is a difference with little distinction between east and west coast cops. They are all trying to jam a gallon of action into a pint jar, and over loaded with case work, and the attendant matters associated with that.
Plus, all the MANDATORY toro feces in all agencies like "sensitivity" training, annual recertifications, and so on.
Then, the daily load of written directives, and administrative notices.
The REAL police work is great! The required nonsense that goes with the territory, is an aggravated rectal fistula.
Good luck on you effort.
Hope this helps a little.
loren