Ep 9. Failure Drill

The Southland season 3 episode 9, titled "Failure Drill," centers around the Los Angeles Police Department's efforts to apprehend a man who has been terrorizing a local neighborhood. The episode begins with Officers John Cooper (Michael Cudlitz) and Ben Sherman (Ben McKenzie) responding to a call about a domestic dispute. When they arrive at the scene, they find a young girl who claims that her father has been assaulting her mother. Cooper and Sherman make a quick arrest and take the man into custody.

Meanwhile, Officers Sammy Bryant (Shawn Hatosy) and Nate Moretta (Kevin Alejandro) are called to investigate a robbery at a liquor store. The owner of the store has been badly beaten, and the perpetrator has fled the scene. Bryant and Moretta canvass the area, questioning potential witnesses and looking for any clues that might lead them to the suspect.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that the man who has been terrorizing the neighborhood is still at large. His latest victim is a young boy who was walking to school when he was abducted and assaulted. The LAPD launches a massive manhunt, with officers from all over the city joining the effort to track down the suspect.

Throughout the episode, we see the toll that this kind of work takes on the officers. Cooper, who has been struggling with back pain, is forced to confront the difficult reality of his physical limitations. Moretta, who has been dealing with marital problems, finds himself succumbing to the stress and turning to alcohol to cope.

Despite these challenges, the officers continue to push forward in their pursuit of justice. In one particularly tense scene, Bryant and Cooper are forced to confront the suspect in a high-stakes standoff. The two officers must rely on their training and their instincts to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution.

As the episode draws to a close, the LAPD finally manages to track down the man responsible for the attacks. The suspect is taken into custody, and the officers breathe a collective sigh of relief. But even as they celebrate their victory, they are all too aware of the toll that this kind of work takes on them. "Failure Drill" is a powerful and intense episode that explores the realities of police work and the deep sense of responsibility that officers feel to protect their communities.