Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (TV Series)

Poisoned Motive (2013)

Jessica Camacho: Gloria Montero

Quotes 

• Gloria Montero : My name is Gloria Christina Montero. I consider myself a good person, a loving daughter and a responsible citizen. The actions I have taken are a last resort to address the unconscionable mistreatment that my family has suffered at the hands of the NYPD and other bureaucracies. In October of 1998, my father, detective Luis Rafa Montero, was shot multiple times during an undercover operation. Drug lord Benito Escobar was about to assassinate Detective Odafin Tutuola when my father heroically threw himself on the weapon and saved his partner's life. My father was given a disability retirement, but he never recovered. He fell into a depression and began drinking. In the spring of 2007, my mother was diagnosed with stage two breast cancer. When I asked the army for time off to deal with my mother's declining health, they told me that due to my "inability to perform my duties," I would be offered a general discharge. To help cover the cost of my mother's medical bills, my father took a security job. His former lieutenant, Toni Anne Howard, upon discovering this, informed on him to the department, who then terminated his disability benefits. As a result, we could not afford medical treatments that would have saved my mother's life. Eventually, we lost our home, as well. She passed away in this room in physical pain and emotional distress in August of 2012. A month later, I entered the police academy. I was however still depressed over my mother's death and my father's decline. The academy, rather than offer help, expelled me without due process. All of you who have destroyed my life will soon know what it is like to lose a loved one. I have police and military training. I know your tactics. Do not try to stop me.

• Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola : Your father's a good man, Gloria. If it wasn't for him, I would've never saw my son grow up.

  Gloria Montero : Because of you and the NYPD, my father lost everything: this house, my mother...

  Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola : What happened to your family, I didn't know. I should have. I should have stayed in touch.

  Gloria Montero : You didn't call, you didn't care. You didn't even know my mother was sick.

  Odafin 'Fin' Tutuola : I didn't wanna talk to your father, okay? You're right, I was guilty. I didn't wanna think that what happened to him could've been me. Gloria, I can't undo what happened. I can't make it better.