"Custody Battle" is the twentieth episode of the fourth season of Blue Bloods.
Synopsis
When Erin is assigned to investigate a case in which an on-duty police officer is accused of killing a suspect already in custody, Frank urges her to stick to the facts to avoid a publicity scandal for the NYPD. Meanwhile, Jamie urges Eddie to forgive her father for his past mistakes.
Recap
Detailed recap of the episode which contains MAJOR SPOILERS. |
Jamie and Eddie arrive on-scene to respond to a domestic dispute. Eddie calls for backup on the radio. When Jamie asks the man in the dispute what is going on, he identifies himself as Christopher Collins, and wants to talk to his daughter, who he does not have custody of. Although the woman in the dispute, Frannie, does not want the matter to further escalate, Christoper becomes unhinged, and is arrested for disorderly conduct in front of his daughter.
At the precinct, Eddie and Jamie discuss the dispute they handled. Suddenly, one of the two officers who aided them during the arrest urgently requests help from Eddie and Jamie. They run into the bathroom, and see the other officer performing CPR on Christopher, who is lying on the floor. Jamie asks what happened, and that officer, with blood on his face, says after he uncuffed Christopher to use the bathroom, "he took at swing at him". Jamie continues with CPR, and tells Chris to breathe, who is unresponsive. At the DA's Office, Erin Reagan interviews Frannie, who is obviously outraged and remarks that Christopher was not a violent person. Frannie is adamant that the cops intervened in a private argument, arrested a man without a good reason and then Cutter killed him. Erin reassures her that DA’s office will investigate, but Frannie is unconvinced and is sure that since NYPD and DA’s office work together, the latter will never charge a policeman, even if he’s clearly at fault. At 1PP, Frank is briefed by Dino on the phone in regard to a death in custody in the 12th precinct. Frank then tells DCPI Garrett More what happened and talks about it will require a press conference. As Frank walks to his motorcade after the press conference, reporters continue to ask about details of the case. DCPI Garrett Moore responds with scripted answers on his behalf but assures the press that the case will be investigated by the NYPD and the DA's Office. Reporters then ask Frank about his daughter being assigned to the DA's investigation in the matter. Although he has no comment about the potential conflict of interests, he is unhappy with the accusation Erin's objectivity will be compromised. Baker shows Erin into Frank's office, who is awaiting her. Even though they made a dinner reservation at 7:30, Frank canceled it, bought two bags of takeouts and a bottle of wine in the office, because Frank is concerned about the optics of them being seen together in public during this sensitive time. He concedes that it would have been better if he was not informed about Erin's role in the case from the press. Also, he says that a death in custody is different than other officer-related case, because he is "the other guy on trial", and Erin's involvement will make a difficult situation even worse. Although Erin states her difficult position, Frank believes that while there are others in the DA's Office capable of handling the case, there is only one PC. Erin, no longer in the mood for dinner, leaves the office. At her office, Erin and Richards discuss the case, pointing out that Officer Cutter has a good record, and is volunteering to be interviewed in the afternoon. Craig from the ME's Office then enters Erin's office, much to her surprise. He then asks to speak to her privately about Christopher Collins, and Richard exits the room. Craig tells Erin that Christopher had no drugs in his system, and his cause of death is anoxic brain injury, meaning Christopher was choked to death. Erin interviews Officer Cutter, with his lawyer emphasizing that he is doing so voluntarily. She asks Cutter for his account of what happened. When asked whether he put a choke hold on Christopher, Cutter only states that it is against departmental policy. Although distraught, Cutter maintains that he was defending himself. Erin then interviews Cutter' partner, Officer Kara Walsh, who offers her account of what happened as well. When asked, Walsh denies seeing any kind of choke holds applied on Christopher. At the 12th precinct, Jamie tells Eddie that they will be volunteering to take an inmate from downtown to prison, after testifying. When Jamie tells Eddie that the inmate is from Lincoln Memorial (also where Eddie's father is incarcerated), she becomes angry at him. Although Eddie understands Jamie's intention, she does not wish to speak to her father. Jamie thinks that Eddie needs to talk to her father some point, but she counters that he does not understand what it feels to be betrayed by someone he trusted the most and ends the conversation by saying she will ask a shrink if she needs help. Erin pays a visit to Frannie's home and tells her that while Christopher's death has been ruled a homicide, it is undetermined whether Officer Cutter' use of force is justified. Frannie's daughter, Alex, put her toy elephant into moving boxes and greets Erin. Frannie tells Erin that Christopher always wanted to get married, but she is the blame why it never happened. She also explains that, on the day Christopher died, they argued after she told him that she is moving Chicago, her hometown, along with her daughter and therefore he was going to be left behind. He became upset because "Alex meant everything to him". Frannie concedes that Christopher was a better parent than her. Furthermore, she believes that while it's wrong how reacted when police arrived, the reason behind his fears and, indirectly, behind his behaviour was justified. He was right to be scared, and didn't deserve to die like that. Long Island Police Chief Norm Valenti visits Frank at 1 PP, where they have an undisturbed meeting. Frank ask about Officer Cutter's six-year tenure at Long Island, to which Valenti speaks highly of Cutter's record. When Frank asks why Cutter gave up being a detective, as well as better pay, at Long Island, Valenti believes that many people at his force believes the NYPD is "top of the line". Against her legal advice, Walsh meets Erin at a diner. Erin tells Walsh the reason why the domestic dispute took place, and while she does not approve of attacking police officers, Christopher Collins' death is inexcusable. Based on her experience as DA, Erin knows when someone is withholding information. Walsh gets up, and tells Erin that Cutter has her back. Erin reminds Walsh that it is a felony to lie under oath, when she is called in front of the grand jury, but Walsh leaves by saying everyone will do what they have to do. At Sunday dinner, Erin talks about "NYPD's blue wall of slience", and believes everyone at the table is familiar to it (except for Sean, who needs Nicky to explain). Danny believes that the "slug" deserves whatever consequences coming for attacking a cop, to which Henry agrees. When Jamie defends Walsh's record as well, Erin accuses him of "toeing the company line now, too". As Erin and Nicky prepares to leave the Reagans residence, Frank gives a serving of leftover corned beef. Nicky takes it and goes to the car. While alone, Frank says that he believes Erin has already made up her mind on the case. Erin confirms that she believes that Cutter is criminally negligent. She also concedes having insufficient evidence, but that is only because his partner refuses to tell the truth. Frank argues that Cutter was defending himself, and he, Danny or Jamie would have probably done the same in that situation, but Erin replies that she trusts her gut feeling on this case: Cutter has gone too far so he needs to face the consequences. The next day Frank, wanting to give both his officer and his daughter the benefit of the doubt, meets up again with Valenti and tricks him into admitt how this would not be the first time that Cutter makes use of excessive force: the real reason for which Cutter moved to NYPD was that he smashed the skull of a young, unarmed suspect during an arrest. Valenti wanted Cutter to be fired and prosecuted, but the county executive prevented it for his own political gain, so Cutter was simply forced to resign without the ban from other Police Departments. Frank is furious and warns Valenti that, should this story come out, he won't stick up for him. Sharing a drink in a bar, Danny and Jamie discuss Erin's decision: obviously Jamie thinks that Erin should do her job, while Danny thinks otherwise because he sees that as acting against the whole NYPD and this, for him, means that their sister is going also against their family. Just then, two off-duty 12th Predinct's officers approach them and express their annoyance toward Erin. Without a second thought, Danny stands up and ask them to leave, warning them about speaking ill about his sister. Alone again, Jamie jokes about Danny being ready to fight two fellow cops who were thinking exactly like him on Erin, to which the big brother proudly responds that only a Reagan can insult another Reagans, or it will end with a brawl. With the new information he gained, Frank asks Officer Walsh to say the truth to Erin, and against her "a cop who won't put it all on the line for his partner doesn't deserve to wear the shield" he responds "it's the cop who breaks the law who doesn't deserve to wear the shield". In the meantime, Eddie admits that she needs to meet her father and she will, but on the condition that Jamie accompany her to prison. Realizing that Frank is right, officer Walsh goes to Erin and confesses that she indeed saw Cutter chocking Collins even though the latter was no longer resisting. She tried to stop him but he just told her to ask for help. So she did, but when she came back it was too late. Erin praises her for being strong enough to say the truth and asks her if she's willing to testify. Walsh nods. In front of the prison, Eddie is still a little bit conflicted about meeting his father or not, so Jaime encourages her to do so. Eddie enter the prison. At the Commissioner's Office, Baker hands Frank the results of the grand jury. Officer Cutter comes in to meet Frank. Frank expresses gratitude that Cutter has started a fund for Christopher Collins' daughter. He then hands over the result of the grand jury, which declines to indict Cutter. The officer breathes a sigh of relief, believing that he can get back to work. But unfortunately for him, Frank decides to fire him anyway, because the fact that Cutter accidentally killed an unarmed person not one but two times means that he's not suited to be a cop, at least not as long as Frank is the Commissioner. Cutter tries to save his job by asking for a hearing, but Frank reminds him that he is still under probation therefore can be fired at anytime and so, after briefly lecturing him one last time, he dismisses him. Frank visits Erin's office unannounced. Both express disappointment about the results of the grand jury. Nonetheless, Erin still thanks Frank for convincing Walsh to tell the truth. Frank denies involvement (along with anonymously tipping off Erin about Cutter's incident in Long Island). Erin is concerned that Cutter may do it again. Frank assures her that it will not happen (at least not with the NYPD). Frank then apologizes for only thinking about his job in the case, to which Erin is thankful and asks him to join her for a drink. The two leave and when Frank jokingly raises concerns about a potential conflict of interests, she suggests separate checks. |
Cast & Characters
In credits order
Starring
- Donnie Wahlberg as Danny Reagan
- Bridget Moynahan as Erin Reagan
- Will Estes as Jamie Reagan
- Len Cariou as Henry Reagan
- Tom Selleck as Frank Reagan
Also Starring
- Amy Carlson as Linda Reagan
- Sami Gayle as Nicky Reagan-Boyle
- Marisa Ramirez as Maria Baez (credit only)
Guest Starring
- Gregory Jbara as Garrett Moore
- Vanessa Ray as Eddie Janko
- Charlie Semine as Officer Randy Cutter
- Tonya Glanz as Officer Kara Walsh
- Angela Sarafyan as Frannie Ferguson
- Vincent Curatola as Chief Norm Valenti
- Abigail Hawk as Abigail Baker
- Tibor Feldman as M.E. Craig Esterbrook
- Tony Terraciano as Jack Reagan
- Andrew Terraciano as Sean Reagan
Co-Starring
- Brent Werzner as Christopher Collins
- Karlin Biederman as Alex Collins
- Gameela Wright as Reporter #1
- Cormac Bluestone as Reporter #2
- Guiesseppe Jones as Officer Coles
- Mark David Watson as Officer Spencer
- Brian Roland as Richard
- Tracy Wilder as PBA Lawyer for Walsh
- Jeff Wiens as PBA Lawyer for Cutter
- James Nuciforo as Detective Nuciforo
Gallery
Photos
To edit this gallery, go to Custody Battle/Gallery. To review image policies, go to Media Guidelines. |
Videos
Notes & Trivia
- The DVD contains a deleted scene for this episode.
References
Season 4 Episodes |
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"Unwritten Rules" • "The City That Never Sleeps" • "To Protect and Serve" • "The Truth About Lying" • "Lost and Found" • "Growing Boys" • "Drawing Dead" • "Justice Served" • "Bad Blood" • "Mistaken Identity" • "Ties That Bind" • "The Bogeyman" • "Unfinished Business" • "Manhattan Queens" • "Open Secrets" • "Insult to Injury" • "Knockout Game" • "Righting Wrongs" • "Secret Arrangements" • "Custody Battle" • "Above and Beyond" • "Exiles" |