Editor’s Be aware: The next incorporates spoilers for The Rookie Season 7, Episode 7.Like many dramas on tv proper now, The Rookie is not afraid to deal with well timed points. In its first seven seasons, the collection has broached all the pieces from the hazards of drug cartels to the fallout from somebody combating habit. The newest episode, which aired on February 18, even delves into the complexities of being a home abuse survivor when Bailey (Jenna Dewan) realizes that she must by some means come to phrases with the trauma she skilled when she was married to Jason (Steve Kazee). However there’s one main space that the ABC drama has failed to totally discover to this point.

Season 3 of ‘The Rookie’ Solely Touches on the Subject of Racist Cops

There are all kinds of significant issues present inside the world of legislation enforcement at present. Points corresponding to police brutality and systemic racism have to this point solely been broached by The Rookie in a major storyline as soon as. In Season 3, Jackson West (Titus Makin Jr.) is assigned a brand new coaching officer named Doug Stanton (Brandon Routh) after Angela Lopez (Alyssa Diaz) will get promoted to detective. Instantly, Jackson notices that Doug tends to interact in racial profiling when he is out on the streets. He stereotypes individuals merely due to the colour of their pores and skin, and sometimes stops and interrogates individuals as a result of they match a profile Doug has constructed in his head.

Within the “Lockdown” episode, Doug and Jackson comply with a suspected stolen automobile into an condominium complicated that’s identified for legal exercise. They break up up, and Jackson is ambushed and receives a horrific beating from a number of males. Doug sees the beating going down from afar, however as an alternative of rescuing Jackson, he backs away, and pretends that he hasn’t seen the assault in any respect. Seems, Doug nonetheless had his physique cam on, and it is clearly revealed later that Doug was a witness to Jackson being in peril and did nothing to assist him.

At first, it looks as if Doug will get his comeuppance. He’s positioned on administrative depart and has to undergo an Inside Affairs investigation. Nonetheless, in a future episode, Doug has appealed his termination and received. He’s reinstated by the Los Angeles Police Division and simply has to switch to a different division. Jackson and Sergeant Wade Gray (Richard T. Jones) are decided to out Doug’s racism, they usually present the body-cam footage to his new sergeant, who finally ends up utilizing the video as a coaching support. Doug is knocked down a number of pegs by this motion, and loses the respect of his fellow officers. However he is nonetheless allowed to proceed being a cop (along with his racism doubtless impacting much more harmless civilians sooner or later).

However as upsetting and offensive as Doug’s actions are, there is not actually quite a lot of in-depth exploration into how his conduct illustrates the very significant issue of racist policing in the true world. As a result of the collection type of brushes the entire incident beneath the rug (and tries to tie it up in a neat bow), it nearly appears as if that is simply an remoted incident. However most individuals perceive that these systemic issues go all the best way to the roots of legislation enforcement organizations, and this is not essentially a case of only one unhealthy apple on the drive.

Nyla Harper Is Taking a Stand Towards Problematic Policing in ‘The Rookie’

Nyla Harper (Mekia Cox) has all the time been somebody who will arise for what’s proper. And now in Season 7, The Rookie is permitting her to tackle these points in a extra concrete means. Her husband, James (Arjay Smith), is a group organizer who frequently finds himself at odds along with his spouse’s stance on issues. James hopes for sweeping adjustments inside the police drive, and Harper has to stroll the road of sticking up for herself and her fellow officers, whereas additionally being attentive to the place progress might truly be made inside the division. Nyla would by no means wish to alienate her colleagues, however as a lady of shade with integrity, she additionally is aware of that one thing have to be completed to handle the issue of racist and corrupt cops.

Within the newest episode, Nyla reaches a degree the place she is aware of she must take motion. She decides to provoke a program inside the division to research the failings inside the system. This system would doubtless discover something from extreme drive to racial profiling of suspects. She’s additionally appointed her husband as a group liaison, which implies he might assist tackle the issues of on a regular basis civilians who’re affected by the actions of the police. It is potential that Nyla might earn herself some enemies inside the precinct (not each cop will need her wanting into their actions), nevertheless it’s an indication that this character (and the collection itself) is dedicated to taking a better take a look at these necessary matters.

This New Program Will Assist ‘The Rookie’ Confront Actual-Life Points

The Rookie actually shines when it is analyzing storylines which are each relatable and genuine. For the reason that loss of life of George Floyd in 2020, there was much more of a spotlight on this nation on police brutality and misconduct. For a collection that’s set within the present-day, it has been a noticeable elephant within the room that The Rookie has sidestepped having their police characters cope with all these issues. Showcasing these widespread and recurring abuses could be sensible and charming to look at.

Nyla’s program is a brilliant option to pay attention to real-life issues that have an effect on Individuals, in addition to to include fascinating storylines for lots of the completely different characters. This program might assist a number of the core officers deliver tales of racism or of different corrupt cops to the forefront, or the writers might introduce brand-new characters, which might open the door for much more compelling plots in future episodes. There’s additionally the truth that Nyla and James have been on type of a rocky highway with their differing views. Maybe this group might assist them bridge the hole of their marriage and change into a safer, more healthy couple. Regardless of the place the writers determine to move subsequent with the implementation of Nyla’s program, it is a optimistic signal that the collection is prepared to take a extra complete take a look at a significant blindspot that is existed for the reason that starting of the present. As a substitute of constant to push racism and damaging police practices beneath the rug, Nyla (and The Rookie itself) at the moment are stepping as much as tackle this troubling factor that has infiltrated our legal justice system.

New episodes of The Rookie air on Tuesday nights on ABC, with episodes accessible to stream on Hulu within the U.S.