“Center City is an arts and cultural hub with a symphony orchestra, art museum, art galleries, library, theaters, and festivals.”
“Center City is a vibrant center for artistic expression, intellectual discourse, and social interaction.”
“Center City serves as a powerful engine for economic development and social cohesion.”
Sarge dropped the city hall brochure on my desk.
“So much for the highlights of our fair city, Roy. There are two incidents involving juveniles.
“Last night, a 14-year-old boy and a 15-year-old girl beat up a delivery man. According to Officer Markham’s incident report, when asked ‘What’s this about?’ the boy said he was disrespected – the victim called him a “bitch” and told him to get out of the way. This could not be verified.
“The boy said he would not tolerate disrespect from anyone, so the two followed the victim a couple of blocks to confront him.
“A witness stated that the boy told the delivery guy that he was a member of a street gang and “I should kill you. A video shows them punching and kicking the man and taking him to the ground. The female is kicking him in the head. They ran off and were picked up about a mile away.
“Talk about in-your-face. They did this, Roy, directly across the street from the West Precinct station. These kids knew they could do this right there. We have cultural hub policies that teach consequences are optional and accountability is “oppression.” The ends they justify end up with these means.”
“Did you give the kids any of your sage advice, Il filosofo di strada?”
“I had a little chat with them before they were booked into juvenile detention for Felony Harassment and Misdemeanor Assault. I told them that someone with a whole lot more street smarts said that ‘Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves.’”
“How did the delivery guy make out?”
“He suffered minor injuries.”
“You said there were two incidents.”
“Four juveniles – three 12-year-olds and one 11-year-old -brutally attacked a 51-year-old man. Lachance is taking statements from the witnesses. Head over there. We need to find the animals who did this in our fair city.”
~~~
I drive over to Mercado Mía, the store-front business where the incident occurred. Patrol Officer Lachance had secured the area around the medium velocity blood impact spatter on the sidewalk, evidence of blunt force used on the victim.
“Roy, witnesses are saying that they saw several young people assault a man, knock him to the ground and repeatedly kick and punch him before running off down Howard Street. The victim was shouting “¿De qué va esto? No te conozco.” The owner of Mercado Mía came out and started yelling and pulling them away from the victim. The kids took off down Howard Street. I’ll do a video canvas.”
“Did you take a statement from the owner of Mercado Mía?
“Not yet. He had customers.”
“I’ll go in and talk to the owner, Lachance, and find out what he knows. Laci and I know him.”
My friend Gustavo Hernandez is more than flustered. He is ready to explode.
“¿Cómo estás? Gus. What can you tell me?”
“Four kids come into my store, Roy. They’re talking and goofing around. I’m keep my eye on them. They look like trouble.”
“Can you describe them?”
“They were boys, maybe eleven or twelve. Middle school kids. Three of them were wearing grey Georgetown Hoya hats.”
He said he heard the names Chico, Tyrell, and Shanice. These weren’t gangbanger nicknames like O Dog, Smoke, and Fat Boy. These are names mothers give their children before they send them out into the world. I called in the descriptions and the names to the Gang Intelligence Unit just in case it generated a lead so I could put a leash on the four rabid animals.
“What else can you tell me?”
“One of them pointed at some guy walking by and said “C’mon!” The four go out and start beating on the man. I went out to stop them and they ran off. Did the man make it?”
“He’s in bad shape.”
“Ay, Dios mío!“
“We need more people like you Gus. You stopped the beating.”
“Por el amor de Dios! I wish I could stop another pack of wolves.” He pointed to media mob behind the yellow tape. “How will my business survive if people see this? They won’t feel safe walking down the street to my store. Qué mierda!”
I walked back to my car, avoiding the media mongrels salivating for bloody bits for their ten PM news broadcast. I wasn’t going to give it to them. It was not in anyone’s best interest and certainly not for the victim’s loved ones. I wanted to talk to them before the ugly details came out on the TV.
Catching the pack of animals who did this was more important than feeding the frenzied dogs of cultural war. I stay away from TV reporters and let the public information officer give them the city’s brochure lowlights.
I miss the newspaper guys who knew how to report what was going on in our city. TV media is if-it-bleeds-it-leads sensationalist. It can stir up the mob. An op-ed column in a newspaper wouldn’t stir them up. The mob-minded only read what incites them.
My own op-ed would say that what happened to the victim was the creative collaboration of punches and kicks by a young group who thought that the 51-year-old victim needed some cultural exchange. So much for social cohesion.
~~~
I walk to my desk the next morning and find Sarge standing there holding my bag of Black Licorice Twizzlers. He’s twirling one.
He sees me and says “I knew you’d follow your nose.”
“What’s up Sarge?”
“I had to get away from the lobby. It’s a madhouse of unhappy angry people. Any word on the assault case?”
“Lachance’s video canvas paid off. Videos identified the four children involved.”
“I understand only one person got involved to stop the beating?”
“Yeah. The owner of Mercado Mía, Gustavo Hernadez.”
“The mayor says our neighborhoods are designed for informal social control with eyes on the street, but all people do is take videos.” And what good are eyes on the street when heads are filled with policy positions that are pro-criminal and anti-law enforcement?”
“The four were picked up, Sarge, and charged with felony assault and conspiracy related to the incident. They admitted to their involvement with their parents present.”
“The charges will be upgraded to murder and conspiracy to commit felony assault. Alejandro Solis died at the hospital. The medical examiner’s office said blunt force trauma was determined to be the cause of death. The family has already seen the media and talked to the press.
“I’ll go talk to the family. Give them an update.”
~~~
When Isabella Solis and her brother Lorenzo had last seen their brother, he was in a coma. And shortly after, they were told that he had died from his wounds. I told them I was sorry for their loss. I learned that Alejandro Solis was originally from Guatemala and had lived here for thirty years.
I told them that the kids who did this are in custody will be charged murder and conspiracy to commit felony assault.
“They haven’t offered any motive as to why they did this.”
Isabella described her brother as someone who didn’t bother anyone. “He was a quiet man. The children killed him unjustly.”
Lorenzo said “I don’t forgive them. May God forgive them, but I don’t forgive them.”
~~~
Back at the station, Sarge reads another incident report involving juveniles in another big city.
“Three teens beat up a 64-year-old homeless man. When officers arrived at the scene, they found the victim on the ground with deep facial cuts, severe swelling, and a broken nose. He went to the hospital for a traumatic brain injury, fractured ribs, and extensive trauma across his body. He was put on a ventilator and wasn’t able to speak to investigators.
“The State Attorney’s Office said three boys, a 13-year-old, a 14-year-old, and a 16-year-old have been charged as adults with second-degree attempted murder. The teens are also facing six separate charges related to a car burglary investigation. They will be transferred from a juvenile detention center to an adult facility and held without bond.
“When asked “What’s this about?” the three teens admitted to targeting homeless people on July 13 because “they were bored.”
~~~
Patrol Briefing – Friday morning
Sarge writes “What’s This About?” on the white board.
“As you know, there have been incidents of juvenile physical violence. What’s This About?”
“I’ve brought in Dr. Denise Waller. She has a PhD in Behavioral Economics. She will give us ten minutes of her time each Friday briefing so you rookies and slick sleeves get some understanding of the “Why leading to the “How.”
“The judicial system, public policy, and hopefully the home deals with the “Why.” Law enforcement operates at the intersection of the “Why” and “How.” Ma’am, the floor is yours.”
“Thank you. As Sargent Grasso said, I have a background in Behavioral Economics. Behavioral Economics seeks to understand decision-making and situational influences or triggers. It looks at the real choices made that differ from expected rational choices.
“When the juvenile offenders from the three recent incidents were asked “What’s This About?” one said revenge, some said “I dunno”, and another said boredom. They prioritized emotional satisfaction over rational decisions.
“The expressive violence occurring in the recent incidents differs from instrumental violence, which is planned and aimed at achieving a specific goal, as in a robbery or coercion. This distinction is crucial to understanding the “Why” behind violent acts.
“Expressive violence is violence that comes out of emotion, not calculation. It is impulsive and usually driven by anger, rage, and frustration that apparently includes boredom. The juvenile’s violence was not committed rationally, with purpose, and with regard to the consequences. Their acting out stemmed from a mental short cut that bypassed slower deliberate thought, thought which takes effort, with that which feels intuitive and easy.”
Dr. Waller writes on the white board “System 1 and System 2” and “thinking fast and thinking slow.”
“Psychologists speak of two ways of thinking: “System 1 and System 2” and “thinking fast and thinking slow.” There are non-rational and rational motivations or triggers associated with each type of thinking process.”
She continues to write on the white board.
“System 1 is subconscious, fast, automatic pilot, effortless, efficient. It jumps to conclusions. It drives gut feelings, instincts, and snap judgements.
“System 1 depends on stark binaries. It reduces a range of possibilities to a simple yes or no. It focuses more on negative over positive information. It interprets everything through the lens of ‘What does this have to do with me?’ It’s wired for threats. It imagines the worst.
“If the home and schools are not teaching children to solve problems, children will act out of system 1.
“System 2 handles reasoning, problem solving, and decision making. It is slow, deliberate, requires intentional effort. It is reflective and aware of down-the-road consequences.
“I think it is likely that the juvenile seeking revenge catastrophized the situation, making it bigger than it was. He might have thought “There is nothing worse than letting that guy dis me.” He made a decision within ten seconds using a mental short cut that bypassed slower deliberate thought with that which was intuitive and easy. This drove his expressive violence.
“An officer could step in and deescalate the situation and talk the juvenile out of system 1 thinking and a knee jerk response.
“Seasoned officers spend most of their time in this type of collaborative problem-solving so the “Why” gives up on the “How.” They have learned deescalating strategies over time and prevent violence.
“They understand everyone, especially those in areas of low social control, is relying on System 1 to deal with low-stakes, routine situations and they step in and help people realize when high-stakes are involved and what’s in their best interest. They act as a System 2 proxy for the person to bring about a proportional response. With more of these officers on the street, as data suggests, violent crimes go down.
“I am also working with non-profit Community Violence Intervention groups, violence interrupters with street cred who know when trouble is brewing and step in to defuse situations.
“According to research, the likelihood of committing a crime increases until the age of eighteen to twenty, and then decreases. There is a steady decline in criminal offending starting in late adolescence. The decrease has something to do with the risk-taking part of the brain completing development around age twenty-five. Most will stop the reckless impulsive stuff as they grow up and settle down. System 2 is given a bigger role in decisions.
“Today was just a brief introduction. I gave you a lot to take in. I will give examples in the coming weeks to help you defuse violent crime. Thank you.”
“Thank you, Dr. Waller. Alright. You have your assignments. One thing before we dismiss. It’s Detective Winder’s fiftieth birthday. If you are so inclined, meet him and his wife at Hard Right Tavern tonight and buy him a Shirley Temple. Dismissed.”
~~~~~
The above story uses sources reporting recent incidents involving juveniles:
July 12, 2025, Seattle:
Juveniles ‘brutally’ assault man across street from precinct after being ‘disrespected,’ SPD says
January 18, 2026, Providence:
Four Children, Ages 11 and 12, Accused of Beating Rhode Island Man to Death Charged With Murder
July 13, 2026, Tampa:
Three teens charged as adults in brutal beating of homeless man
The three teens admitted to targeting homeless people on July 13 because “they were bored.” Prosecutors said the teens told police that they repeatedly beat the 64-year-old homeless man, who was found outside a Walgreens along Nebraska Avenue.
And Unforgiving Places: The Unexpected Origins of American Gun Violence by Jens Ludwig
