"Veritas Vincint" is the eighteenth episode of the fourth season finale in the remake version of S.W.A.T., and the eighty-fourth episode overall, which was aired on May 26, 2021.
Summary[]
The bombing of a Los Angeles police station puts the city on edge, leading the team to a final showdown with a group of domestic extremists. Also, Hondo faces the fallout from a bold decision that threatens his future, and Tan takes a big step in his personal life.
Recap[]
Hondo torched his career. He went public about the racist cops. He named names and he also revealed how flawed internal investigations were because those things were supposed to handle everything. They were supposed to rule out the bad cops from the good cops. Otherwise, what’s the purpose for them if they can’t do a simple job like that. Hondo started something by talking to the press.
He revealed the deep issues that the good cops are struggling with and he stirred up trouble while he was at it. There was a new group in town that was swearing they’ll protect their own. They didn’t want cop involvement and they were threatening reprisals if the cops do come around. Hondo saw it in the news.
Hondo’s boss Hicks also showed it to him. Hicks and his bosses believed these new extremist groups are only going to get worse and they were proven right. Someone released a bomb inside of LAPD’s front office. The person who dropped off the bomb was wearing a signature coat that identified him as Kevin Hillard. Hillard was one of the extremists pushing the anti-police agenda.
Not even the racists cops getting fired was enough to calm down Hillard. The racist cops that Hondo spoke about to the press had all been fired and the police were willing to admit they were wrong for keeping those men on the payroll for as long as they did. But this wasn’t enough for Hillard. Hillard was now bombing police stations and so he was arrested.
Hillard’s arrest was very public. He informed everyone that he was being arrested and a video of the arrest went viral. People were going to come out to protest it and some of those people will be gangbangers who’ve made an alliance with Hillard. Hillard’s arrest stirred the pot. The team did their best to work the case like they normally do and there was just one problem. Hillard wasn’t their guy.
He would never be dumb enough to work signature jacket to a bombing and a bombing wasn’t the kind of change he wants to be a part of. Hillard said the men that were following him could be his alibi. Only the LAPD didn’t have anyone following Hillard. It had to be someone else and so the team went back into the field. They looked for leads and they found a Hillard impersonator.
The impersonator looked like Hillard. He wore the same jacket and he drove the same car, but the impersonator had been killed once his usefulness was over and it was clear the bombers aren’t stopping. The team had found their bomb den. They found a list of targets and the targets were police. Who could be after the police?
The Imperial Dukes. They left their signature behind near the bombs and so the Imperial Dukes are back in town and they wanted revenge for their fallen men. They were going to kill cops. They also wanted cops to turn on the black protestors and so the Imperial Dukes were all about the maximum amount of damage. They were racists. They didn’t care if people get hurt or if cops get hurt. The Imperial Dukes only care about their favorite white people and screw everyone else.
But SWAT was fighting back. They identified how the Imperial Dukes were able to hide their online presence and who might be calling the shots. Hondo and his team went sweeping through another bomb den. They found out the Imperial Dukes were heading to another protest for the BLACK NOW Organization but this time they’ll be dressed as police officers. The Imperial Dukes wanted to kick off a race war.
It’s what they’ve wanted from the beginning and the current climate has provided the best time for that. Hondo and his team were going to stop things from their end. Leroy was also helping out. He spoke with his fellow gangbangers. He got them to back down and that helped ease things for a while. It was still tense out on the street. The cops were being targeted. Someone bombed one of their cars. And lesser cop would have used that to justify going after the protestors.
Except for this time the protestors, as well as cops, had been warned. Hondo and his team issued a warning about the Imperial Dukes. They asked people to stay calm no matter what and not to give in to violence and it seemed to be working. It was working up until the LAPD car exploded.
Everyone chose to run away after that and too civilians meant the cops couldn’t keep shooting at the Imperial Dukes. One got away on a motorcycle. Street went after him on a borrowed motorcycle. Street caught up to the bad guy. He kept the bad guy busy while Hondo came up in front of him and knocked him off his bike. The team took down the Imperial Dukes. It seemed only fitting that it happened before Erika’s farewell ceremony.
Later, the team arranged for Tan to meet his fiancé and he was finally getting married after months of delays.
Street and Chris also discussed their relationship and, while they don’t have a solution, for now, they’ve both said they can work it out and they finally kissed. Their last kiss didn’t count because they were both drunk at the time. This kiss counts because they were telling each other they love you.
As for Hondo, he was being demoted. The inner police powers that be wants to force him to quit and so forcing him to take a demotion is how they do that.
Cast[]
Main[]
- Shemar Moore - Daniel Harrelson
- Alex Russell - Jim Street
- Lina Esco - Christina Alonso
- Kenny Johnson - Dominic Luca
- David Lim - Victor Tan
- Patrick St. Esprit - Robert Hicks
- Jay Harrington - David Kay
Recurring[]
- Amy Farrington - Piper Lynch
- DeShae Frost - Darryl Henderson
- Michael Beach - Leroy Henderson
- Rochelle Aytes - Nichelle Carmichael
- Otis "Odie" Gallop - Sergeant Stevens
- Karissa Lee Staples - Bonnie Lonsdale
Guest[]
- Ace Anderson - Amrahu
- Jeff Denton - Kane
- W. Tre Davis - Kevin Hilliard
- Karina Noelle Castillo - Sergeant Plumb
- Xavier Avila - Tatum
- Antino Crowley-Kamenwati - LeShaun
- Jamal Akakpo - Young BJN Member
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- This is the final appearance of Amy Farrington (played as Piper Lynch) in this episode.
- This is also the final appearance of DeShae Frost (played as Darryl Henderson) in this episode.
Notes[]
- At 28:45 a graphical glitch can be seen on the door in the hallway as the image switches between cameras following the SWAT officers.
- Tan is expected travel to Bali for his wedding with fiancée Bonnie.
- Hondo will honor Erika Rogers to her partner and friend Chris.
- It reveals the Chris has finally kissed Jim after they return.
Quotes[]
- Hondo: You don't have to do that for me.
- Nichelle: Trust me, I'm not. I don't need to hear any more of it myself. You still getting flack at work?
- Hondo: People are careful, but I hear the whispers, feel the stares. Not so much from other SWAT officers, but rank and file.
- Nichelle: You know you did the right thing.
- Hondo: Racist cops don't deserve a badge, so yeah, I do. I also knew that going to the press would set off a firestorm. But this...
- Nichelle: The anger in this community goes deeper than one or two incidents.
- Hondo: I grew up listening to my father's rants about the way police in L.A. were used to keep Black neighborhoods in check. That bitterness is old, and it runs deep.
- Nichelle: Exactly. You are speaking out against Durham and the others, it confirmed what a lot of folks already believe, based on their experience and on history, not just your words.