Law & Order (TV Series)

On the Ledge (2024)

Mehcad Brooks: Detective Jalen Shaw

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Quotes 

• Detective Jalen Shaw : Cartwright was not in his right mind when he did what he did. That man was past his breaking point. And I get why he did it. Oh, don't get me wrong. I don't agree with what he did, obviously. I just get why he did it. It's the years of being dismissed, and ignored, and mistreated. It does a number on you, man.

  Detective Vincent Riley : I can't even imagine.

  Detective Jalen Shaw : You know last year, this white cop thought I was a murder suspect. So what'd he do? He put his gun to my head. Tells me to get on my knees. And I try to tell him, I'm a detective I'm on the job,. I try to show him my badge. It... Son of a bitch could have killed me. And what's worse is, the department, our department, takes his side.

  Detective Vincent Riley : What?

  Detective Jalen Shaw : Yeah. Disciplines me for failing to submit to his command. I had never felt rage like that in my life. I wanted to hurt somebody. I'm not proud of that. And it's not just the police. It's not just the hospitals. It's everybody, it's everywhere. It's the DMV. It's the hotels, It's the restaurants, It's the banks. It's... Imagine, your success, your safety, your security, your survival depends on the baggage that somebody else projects onto you. Or how you make them feel about themselves. I mean... that's the part that wears you down.

  Detective Vincent Riley : Man, I hear you. I do. Just don't lose sight of the fact that an innocent man, a doctor, was killed.

  Detective Jalen Shaw : Yeah.

  Detective Vincent Riley : You're a cop, Jalen. You're a cop. If you're not gonna show up and tell the truth, then... you're in the wrong profession, my friend.

  Detective Jalen Shaw : You know, Riley, I'm really starting to like you. And I appreciate your perspective. I do. But with all due respect, you have no idea what you're talking about. And you should just be grateful that you never will.