"To Protect and to Serve" is the fifteenth episode of the sixth season in the remake version of S.W.A.T., and the one-hundred-twenty-first episode overall, which was aired on March 3, 2023.
Summary[]
When Hicks insists SWAT participate in Patrol Day in an effort to engage more meaningfully with the community, Hondo and Deacon have their hands full mentoring the newest members of the team. Also, a suspended Tan investigates a mystery close to home.
Recap[]
Tan was still serving his suspension. Street was out on personal leave. Hicks decides to assign Hondo, Powell, Deacon, Luca, and Alfaro to a patrol day, paying their dues in basic blues and normal squad cars. As they get dressed, Alfaro explains that Long Beach SWAT did not have a patrol requirement. To him, having the highly-trained SWAT officers respond to regular dispatch calls was a waste of resources. Deacon and Luca explain it's about reconnecting with the core aspects of policing, before revealing they're just quoting Hicks' routine Patrol Day speech.
Before Hicks meets with the squad, he notices Tan and reminds him not to be a headquarters during his suspension. Tan claims he just forgot his gym bag and needed to pick it up, but is otherwise doing fine. Hicks assigns Deacon and Miguel to one area, Luca and a patrol cop "Coburn" to a patrol route close to Tan's home with instructions to check on him, and Powell to patrol with Hondo in his home territory in South LA. As they head outside, Luca learns that Eva Durant chose to swap with Coburn to take Luca up on his offer to try having a half-brother.
Meanwhile, Hondo compliments Powell on making changes to fit in with SWAT under Street's tutelage, but notices something is bothering her. Powell explains that she transferred to the LAPD in 2020, right as George Floyd’s murder had sparked nationwide protests. She hated the way that people on the street looked at patrol cops in blue uniform as the enemy. Powell prefers being with SWAT because they get called in when people were in trouble and were grateful for their presence. Hondo sympathizes as a black officer but explains that he uses this as an opportunity to change how people feel about the uniform by showing one that cares.
Hondo and Powell: Derek Moore[]
Powell and Hondo eventually get called to a homicide of a black male in a poor neighborhood. The Robbery and Homicide ("RHD") Detectives say they are unable to get there and ask patrol to keep the scene preserved. Powell blames this response on being in a poor neighborhood, saying that if the murder had happened in the wealthier neighborhoods, there would have been a slew of detectives quick on the scene. Hondo admits that was probably true. The incensed crowd spurs Powell and Hondo to give them the response they deserve, and find out who killed the kid themselves.
Back at headquarters, Hicks confirms RHD has approved Hondo and Powell's request to work the case. They brief him on the victim, Derrick Moore, a local boy attempting to become a rapper. He was using a gun for sound effects while recording a rap video. He specialized in a subgenre called "drill rap" focusing on real conflicts between individuals - in this case, a rapper called "Lo-Dog" who lived in the Noble Gardens. The alias was not in LAPD's database, and Hicks notes that the police don't have a good relationship with people in that area. Hondo speculates he still might have a contact there who can tell them more about Lo Dog.
The contact proves to be an elderly woman, Ms. Bernard, living in an apartment where her neighbors are protective of her when Powell and Hondo first arrive. Bernard waves them in, though a little indignant that Hondo only visits now with another officer to obtain information. She knows Lo Dog's identity but refuses at first to say, explaining that it doesn't count as help after the person is already dead. Hondo explains that Ms. Bernard thinks the LAPD only comes after the worst has happened. Bernard confirms that it's all she's seen, but Hondo says he'll keep trying to show her it can be better. He recognizes that her protecting Lo Dog must mean he's innocent, but explains the LAPD can't drop him as a suspect until he comes in himself to talk on the record.
Lucas "Lo-Dog" Gibbs arrives at SWAT HQ, initially composed but distressed upon learning that the shooting victim was Derek Moore. He explains that the two of them were actually close friends, faking the conflict between them to build their reputation in drill rap. He cannot think of anyone who would kill Derek, who never was in a real fight before. At most, some people complained about him shooting rap videos with the gun in front of their properties. Believing Lo Dog innocent, Hondo tells him to go find anyone in the Noble Gardens that can confirm his alibi.
Luca and Eva: Tan[]
The two help an elderly woman whom Luca calls "Ma'am." As they leave, Eva points out she finds the term a little ageist. They then discover their radio tastes are vastly different, with Eva preferring podcasts like "Sqawkbox" over any music.
Per Hicks' orders, the two visit Tan's apartment during their lunch break, bringing some extra food from Guatemama's/Xiamara. They discover that Tan had lied about visiting headquarters to pick up his gym bag, having instead gone there to run a search for the man Bonnie cheated on him with. Now looking at his social media, Tan has discovered he has his own oblivious wife and children, and angrily asks Luca why Tan's the only one who loses in all this. Luca responds (in front of Eva) that Tan's a good person while Bonnie and the affair partner are garbage for homewrecking each other.
Luca and Eva ride in silence after lunch for a while before Eva asks Luca if he meant what he said about homewreckers being garbage. After Luca confirms it, Eva points out her mother Sophia was also a homewrecker - she had an affair with the married Luca Sr. Although Eva doesn't blame Luca for his feelings, she does point out the two of them have not said much to each other all day. She suggests that being half-siblings isn't enough to create a bond between them.
Meanwhile, although Tan promised Luca to let it go, he decided to warn this man’s wife. He tracked her down at a coffee shop she owns and identifies himself as Bonnie’s husband. The wife didn’t seem surprised, as she knew about the affair. She even said that she has done too much to let a little b***h like his wife win. The wife was going to fight for her man, and she has every belief that she’ll quickly send Bonnie on her way. She had no interest in being part of a "pity party" with Tan.
Deacon and Alfaro: Zachary Thompson and the OVPs[]
Deacon and Alfaro first pull over Eric Mac, a businessman with a history of speeding tickets but no warrant because he always pays them. As they finally pull over Mac, he's indignant and asks them to just hurry up with issuing the ticket. Alfaro scorns how after all the training they receive to make SWAT, and even with Deacon having earned the Police Star, they have to deal with entitled jerks. Deacon responds that at the end of the day, a police officer's job is to protect and to serve, even the most entitled of LA's citizens.
Later that day, they investigate a snatch and grab. A woman named Becca Green had a necklace ripped right off her neck and was hit in the face when she fought back. Alfaro comments on how "the best of the best" are on the case and promises to get the necklace back. As they leave, Deacon notes that Alfaro shouldn't promise results. Alfaro explains that because the circumstances suggest the crime isn't premeditated, the thief will be looking to pawn the necklace off quickly. Deacon agrees to search a few local pawnshops for the necklace and anyone matching the suspect's description.
As the two discuss whether Alfaro should take Becca out for sushi after this case is over, they see the mugger walking out of the last pawn shop of the day with a gun. A smug Alfaro gives chase on foot but gets caught trying to hop a fence. As he tells the mugger to stop, he responds "I can't! They took her!" After Deacon helps Alfaro down, Alfaro tells Deacon he suspects more is going on.
Deacon and Alfaro asked the pawnshop owner if he recognized the guy that came in with a ruby necklace, pointing out that his cooperation keeps them from focusing on how he's dealing in stolen goods. The owner identifies the guy as Zack Thompson, a man who moved here with his high school sweetheart Sally to make it big in Hollywood. Their plan did not work out, so Zack eventually took to stealing.
A few weeks ago, Zack came in with $5,000 cash, buying an engagement ring from the store owner. Zack mentioned a local gang, the Olvera Street Players ("OVPs"), which led the store owner to suspect Zack stole the money from them. Zack had come in asking for the $5,000 back in exchange for the ruby necklace. When the store owner refused, Zack instead traded it for the gun.
Deacon and Alfaro recover the necklace from the store owner before looking Thompson up from the squad car. They discover a missing persons report for Sally and piece together what happened. After Zack had stolen the money from the OVPs, they kidnapped Sally as a hostage to demand their money back. Now that the attempt to get that money back by stealing the necklace has failed, Zack is planning to use the gun to confront the OVPs head-on and demand her return. Finding him before that led to bloodshed was critical.
SWAT vs. OVPs[]
Deacon and Alfaro patrol the OVP's hangout with two patrol officers, eventually seeing Zack in a standoff with the OVPs. Although they all have guns drawn, the OVPs are confident Zack does not have the courage to shoot them. They shoot him twice and flee before Deacon and Alfaro can move in. Deacon has the patrol officers stay with the wounded Zack while he and Alfaro give chase and call for backup.
Luca and Eva respond as the chase moves to Union Station. They identify the direction the OVPs will go, Eva saying they need to "move where the puck's going." Luca has a moment of relief as he realizes Eva shares his love of hockey before the two find one of the members. Eva breaks off to sneak behind a service counter while the OVP grabs a hostage. Although the two men are in a standoff, Luca calls for the hostage to "DUCK!" allowing Eva to tackle and handcuff the OVP.
Alfaro and Deacon capture a second OVP and rendezvous with Luca and Eva. Deacon explains the situation, but one of the captured OVPs says "No body, no crime." The cops realize the remaining OVP plans to go to wherever they hid Sally, kill her, and dispose of her body. They see this OVP flee, and Alfaro and Deacon give chase while Eva and Luca take the others to the squad car for booking.
The remaining OVP manages to slip through a locked gate, forcing Alfaro to call for backup. Powell and Hondo respond, pulling into a railyard a quarter mile from Union Station. As the two search the yard, they find the last OVP climbing one of the boxcars. He attempts to shoot Hondo until he runs out of bullets. Hondo gives chase on the boxcars while Powell follows from below. As they reach the end, Hondo demands the OVP say where Sally is. The OVP refuses to say or to let himself get arrested, saying Hondo will have to kill him. Hondo refuses, and orders Powell to taze the OVP from her position. This causes the OVP to fall onto a makeshift cushion.
Powell calls Code 4 as Deacon and Alfaro arrive. Although the OVP refused to say where Sally was, his decision to climb the boxcars confirmed she was in one of them. They eventually find the right one, break it open, and rescue her.
Epilogue[]
Zack and Sally are reunited at SWAT headquarters. While Deacon is still upset Alfaro promised Becca to get her necklace back, he acknowledges they saved the Thompsons because they followed that lead. He notes Alfaro can't give Becca her necklace back during the sushi date. Alfaro jokes about how it'll give him an excuse to ask for a second date before sincerely thanking Deacon for spending the day with him. Patrol day really helped him remember that at its core, being an officer meant serving the people.
In the motor pool, Eva apologizes to Luca for overthinking their situation. Luca explains that growing up with a brother as different as Terry taught him that siblings don't need to agree on everything or even anything - family just needs to keep choosing each other. The two agree to catch the evening's hockey game.
They watch it at Tan's apartment, where he explained the day's events and said it gave him clarity. The homewrecker was not the one who destroyed Tan's marriage; Bonnie was. At the end of the day, Bonnie wanted to leave Tan, not just leave Tan for this guy. Eva commends him for coming to terms with that so quickly while Luca praises Tan for being ready to move on. They joke about how the alternative is hearing Luca talk more about his numerous breakup stories, before Eva reveals she has one or two or her own.
Returning to Moore's case, Powell searches the history of noise complaints based on his recording sessions. One was for a "Mr. Hudson" whose store was also vandalized several times. On one occasion, he fired a gun with the same caliber bullet as the one used to kill Moore. Hicks comments how it's thin, but upon seeing Powell's resolve allows her to go with Hondo to see the store owner.
When Powell and Hondo meet Hudson, he admits he killed Derek, but not intentionally. The weeks of vandals and other incidents in the area, combined with seeing Derek's gun, left him scared. He confronts the officers with the question "We've been on our own far too long. Where the hell have y'all been?" As they arrest him, Powell admits to Hondo she feels worse about closing the case, not better. Hondo reminds her at the end of the day, Derek was gunned down for making music, and Powell did the uniform proud by getting him justice. Sometimes, that's all they can do.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Shemar Moore - Daniel Harrelson
- Alex Russell - Jim Street (credit only)
- Kenny Johnson - Dominique Luca
- David Lim - Victor Tan
- Patrick St. Esprit - Robert Hicks
- Rochelle Aytes - Nichelle Carmichael (credit only)
- Jay Harrington - David Kay
Recurring[]
- Anna Enger Ritch - Officer Zoe Powell
- Niko Pepaj - Officer Miguel Alfaro
- Kelly Overton - LAPD Officer Eva Durant
Guest[]
- Logan Bartholomew - Eric
- Bill Lee Brown - Vargus
- Jason Tobias - Barnes
- Joe Corzo - Edgar
- Noa Drake - Rebecca
- Steve Monroe - Ben Horton
- Katie Walder - Stacey
- Annalisa Plumb - Sally
- Nia Miranda Duckett - Angry Woman
- Ailoan Zimmerman - Mrs. Zimmerman
- Andrew Music - Derek Moore
- Francisco Grey - OVP #2
- Jesus Trujillo - OVP #1
Gallery[]
Photos[]
.jpg "S6E15 (1).jpg (176 KB)")
.jpg "S6E15 (2).jpg (157 KB)")
.jpg "S6E15 (3).jpg (185 KB)")
.jpg "S6E15 (4).jpg (132 KB)")
Video[]
Trivia[]
- Despite being credited Alex Russell and Rochelle Aytes are both do not appear in this episode.
Notes[]
- Bonnie Lonsdale has been mentioned but did not appear in this episode.
- It is the third and final episode in Season 6 to focus on Miguel Alfaro's development as a new SWAT transfer.