No Point

"The Chief of Police is a drug lord."

"What do you mean?"

"I mean that the Chief of Police is a drug lord!"

"Yeah, yeah. Everyone knows that. So what?"

"So what!? You're the Head of the Internal Affairs Division!"

"So?" repeated the Head of IAD.

"As a concerned citizen, I demand action! Arrest the sumbitch! Investigate, at least! That's your job!"

"Oh, no can do," said the Head.

"Why not?" I pleaded.

"Isn't it obvious?" drawled the Head. "The Chief's the Chief. His cartel controls the force."

"But he's making a mockery of the law and running roughshod over the people he's supposed to be protecting," I objected.

"No point in my doing anything," shrugged the Head. "It'll just get him sympathy, and we'll never be able to arrest him, let alone convict. Your best chance is just to wait until the guy retires. Maybe the next Chief will belong to a different cartel. Maybe they'll deal less dangerous drugs."

"Maybe," I repeated, "maybe a different cartel will win. And maybe not. And even if we do get a different cartel, they'll know they don't have to worry about obeying the law. You're saying that the Rule of Law is a joke!"

"Oh, no way!" said the Head scornfully.

"Oh, no?" I challenged. "How do you figure?"

"A joke has to be funny!" he scoffed. "Du-uh!"