Contains spoilers for this episode and earlier episodes.
Carcetti begins his mayoral term by visiting city departments and directing workers to fix problems. He promises police a raise and an end to meaningless arrest quotas. The promise meets a harder test when Herc’s rough stop of a reverend creates competing demands from church leaders and police. Daniels must decide how to discipline Herc. Michael and his friends plan retaliation against Walker for earlier abuse. They lure Walker into an alley, where Michael holds him at gunpoint, takes his ring and has Namond pour paint on him. Walker lies to fellow officers about the attack, while Randy faces accusations that he is a snitch.
Dukie runs to get Prez, who breaks up the fight when Randy is attacked. Prez realizes involving Randy in a police investigation helped put him in danger. Bunk confronts Herc about exposing the boy. Daniels agrees to rebuild Major Crimes and gives Lester authority to lead it. Bunk and Freamon learn from Prez that Randy was told to send Lex to the playground. They search the surrounding blocks, and Lester notices one vacant door has been freshly sealed with a nail gun. He realizes that Marlo’s crew has been using the vacant houses to conceal its victims.