Ep 3. Babel

In Southland season 5 episode 3, titled "Babel," the detectives of the Los Angeles Police Department are faced with a series of challenging cases that test their skills in communication and coordination.

The first case involves a man who made a frantic call to 911 claiming that his wife had been kidnapped. The detectives respond to the scene to find the man in a state of distress and unable to provide any concrete information about the kidnapper or the location of his wife. As they dig deeper into the case, they realize that the man's story may not be entirely credible and delve into his past to uncover his possible motives for staging a kidnapping.

Meanwhile, Officer Ben Sherman is teamed up with a new partner, Officer Rodriguez, and tasked with investigating a hit-and-run accident that left a young girl in critical condition. As they canvas the neighborhood for witnesses and clues, they run into a language barrier with the Spanish-speaking residents, highlighting the importance of having bilingual officers on the force.

In a separate case, Detectives Lydia Adams and Ruben Robinson are called to investigate a robbery and assault at a convenience store. The store owner, who is also an immigrant, is reluctant to trust the police due to his past experiences with corruption in his home country. This presents a challenge for the detectives as they try to reassure the victim and gather information that will lead them to the perpetrator.

As the detectives work on their respective cases, they also struggle to communicate and coordinate with each other due to their different backgrounds and personalities. This is exemplified in a scene where they all come together at a crime scene, each with their own theories and perspectives, which leads to a heated argument and a breakdown in communication.

Overall, "Babel" highlights the importance of effective communication and cultural competence in law enforcement, while also showcasing the intense pressure and challenges faced by police officers in their day-to-day work.