He had not struck him.
He had not mocked the disability.
He had eventually stopped Pike from continuing the cuffing and requested medical care.
Those facts mattered.
So did the fact that he had stood there during several earlier opportunities to prevent the escalation.
Jordan spent five hours at the hospital.
No fracture.
A severe shoulder strain.
Hip contusion.
Several abrasions.
He went home shortly after midnight.
The physical injuries healed.
The more irritating consequence came the following Monday.
Jordan refused to go to school.
Michael found him sitting in the kitchen at 6:40 with his backpack already packed.
“You dressed.”
“I know.”
“You going?”
“No.”
Michael sat across from him.
“Why?”
Jordan looked toward the window.
“I don't want everybody staring.”
“They may.”
“I know.”
“Want me to call the school?”
“No.”
“Want me to tell them not to discuss it?”
“They already know.”
The library video had not been publicly released, but someone had filmed part of the encounter from a car and uploaded it. The clip showed Jordan on the ground beside his wheelchair while an officer stood over him.
Millions of views followed.
The title was worse than the video.
COPS ATTACK DISABLED BLACK TEEN — THEN LEARN WHO HIS DAD IS.
Jordan hated it.
“They make it sound like the bad part is that you're my dad.”
Michael nodded.
“I know.”
“What if you weren't?”
“Same facts.”
“Would anybody care?”
Michael took longer to answer.
“Some would.”
“Not everybody.”
“No.”
Jordan looked at him.
“That's messed up.”
“Yes.”
“Are they getting fired?”
“I don't know.”
“You're the chief.”
“Starting today.”
“So fire them.”
Michael shook his head.
“I can't investigate them.”
“Why not?”
“Because you're my son.”
“That should make you care more.”
“It does.”
“Then?”
“It also means anything I do directly can be challenged as retaliation.”
Jordan looked frustrated.
“So being chief means you can't do anything.”
“No.”
Michael leaned forward.
“It means I have to do the thing that survives when everybody's angry.”
“What?”
“Use a process neither side controls.”
Jordan hated that answer too.
But he remembered it.
Michael was sworn in as chief at ten that morning.
The ceremony had been scheduled weeks earlier.
He considered postponing.
Jordan told him not to.
“You wanted the job before this happened.”
“Yes.”
“So do it.”
Michael stood before the city council, raised his right hand, and took the oath.
Reporters waited outside.
The first question had nothing to do with his appointment.
“Chief Ellis, will you fire the officers involved in your son's detention?”
Michael answered, “I will not participate in their disciplinary investigation.”
“Why?”
“Because my son is the complainant.”
“Do you believe excessive force was used?”
“I believe the evidence deserves independent review.”
“Have you watched the footage?”
“No.”
That surprised everyone.
“You haven't watched what happened to your son?”
“I saw portions at the scene. I will not access evidence through my position while the investigation is active.”