Real Communication An Introduction

Captain Ray Holt is finally in charge: as the new commanding officer

on Brooklyn Nine-Nine, he arrives at his post intent on making the precinct into

one of the best in the NYPD. But the motley crew of detectives he inherits may

not fit the bill. His two top detectives, the fiercely competitive Amy Santiago and

the immature yet effective Jake Peralta, are continually at odds with each other.

The mysterious Rosa Diaz doesn’t even try to control her temper. Holt’s old friend

and new second-in-command, Sergeant Terry Jeffords, is on desk duty after, upon

becoming a father, he found himself suddenly—and comically—risk-averse.

But Holt is undeterred. He advises his staff that he has high expectations:

regulations are to be followed; paperwork is to be properly filed. With his no-

nonsense style and an imposing presence, he does not seem like a man to be

trifled with. But that doesn’t stop the childish Peralta: when Holt insists he wear

a necktie, Peralta responds by wearing one around his waist.

But before long, Peralta is wearing that tie, Jeffords is back in action, and

Diaz is managing to smile at juries during testimony. Holt earns their respect,

loyalty, and even obedience, not by laying down a hard line but by explaining

himself. When Peralta asks why it took him so long to get his own command,

Holt succinctly explains that it had to do with his coming out twenty-five years

earlier. “The NYPD was not ready for an openly gay detective,” Holt says. “But

then, the old guard died out, and suddenly they couldn’t wait to show off the

fact that they had a high-ranking gay officer. I made captain. But they put me

in a public affairs unit. I was a good soldier. I helped recruitment. But all I ever

wanted was my own command. And now, I’ve finally got it, and I’m not going to

screw it up” (Brooklyn Nine-Nine, 2013).

chapter

Leadership and

Decision Making

in Groups

10

Understanding

Group Leadership

Culture and Group

Leadership

Decision Making

in Groups

Leadership

in Meetings

Evaluating Group

Performance

IN THIS CHAPTER

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