The Q Word

**"The Q Word"** is the nineteenth episode of the second season on *The Rookie*. This is the thirty-ninth episode of the series overall.

## Summary

Their rookie year is coming to an end and officers Nolan, Chen and West are about to be squeezed harder than ever before as their training officers evaluate whether they are truly ready for the job. Meanwhile, after one of their rookie classmates is involved in a shooting, the team uncovers some unsettling evidence.

## Plot

Erin Cole had debts with gangsters who tried to kill her even when she paid the debts back. She thinks she caused the death of her boyfriend during a following shootout and threatens to shoot herself, but then gets shot to death by Nick Armstrong. Her action seems to be an act of self-defense, but when Nolan (who was present) checks his bodycam, he notices Erin mentioning Nick's name before seeing him, right after Nolan suggested that she starts naming dirty cops - and, as it turns out, Nick is one.

## Cast

### Main

* Nathan Fillion as John Nolan
* Mekia Cox as Nyla Harper
* Alyssa Diaz as Angela Lopez
* Richard T. Jones as Wade Grey
* Titus Makin as Jackson West
* Melissa O'Neil as Lucy Chen
* Eric Winter as Tim Bradford

### Guest starring

* Harold Perrineau as Nick Armstrong
* Jeff Pierre as Emmett Lang
* Hannah Kasulka as Officer Erin Cole
* Chris O'Shea as Officer Chris Rios
* Greg Serano as T.O. Martinez
* Hrach Titizian as Ruben Derian
* Brent Huff as Officer Smitty
* Ali Larter as Dr. Grace Sawyer

### Co-starring

* Crystal Coney as Nurse Lisa
* Molly Baker as Lawyer
* Ashlee McLemore as EMT
* John K. Wilson as Ambulance Driver

## Trivia

* Greg Serano, who plays Training Officer Martinez in this episode, played another law enforcement character, FBI Agent Napier, in the *Castle* episode "And Justice for All".
* "T.C." is police shorthand for "traffic collision", as heard when Rios reports on their pursuit.
* When Harper reports that their suspect is "GOA", it means they are "gone on arrival".
* "ATL" is short for "attempt to locate", as Armstrong refers to their search for Serj.
* The RV Cole drives has California license plates, front and back, not Arizona plates.
* The "245" reported during the vehicle chases refers to California Penal Code section 245, which deals with "assault with a deadly weapon".
* When Detective Armstrong directs police officers around Ruben's house before the raid, he lists Officers Jennings, Sanchez, Stapleton, Brady, and Cole. All these names are shared by legendary players for Arsenal FC, the Premier League team in London - (Pat Jennings, Alexis Sanchez, Liam Brady, Frank Stapleton, and Ashley Cole).
* In Police Tactical circles, the methodology to clearing a house or room breaks down as follows: The main entrance is designated number 1. The other sides of the house are labeled 2,3, 4, etc. in a clockwise manner. The corners where the sides meet are indicated by designated numbers joined by a forward slash in the middle, ex: 1/2, 2/3, 3/4 etc.
* In the Los Angeles Police Department, there is a Special Investigation Section, which is a tactical surveillance unit formed in 1969 to apprehend robbers and burglars. The section is part of the Robbery-Homicide Division.
* The "Q word" is used to mean "quiet", or in this case, minimal criminal activity.