July 2019 | Rolling Stone | 75
Man in Charge
“You’re never going to
see a captain in uniform
come up to one of my
guys while he’s working
on a crime scene,” says
Herrera, who oversees
14 detectives, and often
accompanies them to
the scenes, where he
runs interference on
any distractions. “My
job is not to go out
there and solve the
case, it’s to make sure
you’re comfortable
enough to solve the
case.” Herrera is
meticulous about his
notebook, which he
names (“Emily”), and
has maintained detailed
records on Brooklyn’s
gangs since 2007. “A
couple of years ago, we
saw a change. Gangs
that traditionally were
beefing were now
working together. Now,
you have these two
big umbrellas. One is
called Woo and the
other Choo. Don’t
ask me why they’re
called that.”Digital Clues
First-responders leave a trail
of latex gloves and bloody
tissues near a pair of Jordans
after two men were injured
in a shootout at an East New
York housing project. “The
first thing [you need] to get
your perp,” says Herrera, “you
gotta know your victim.” A
suspect’s habits, which used
to require months of research
and observation, can now
be established after an
afternoon scrolling through
their Facebook profile.
“You have instant access to
things,” says Handley, who
has seen perps boast about
murders online: “They have to
live up to who they put out on
social media.”