They are all young "kids" relatively speaking. The Chief only saw fit to dedicate his sole remaining entry-level street unit to go after the gangs. They aren't even a real plainclothes unit and they're formally part of patrol, not real detectives. They at least seem to be making an effort to do something, unlike some others milking overtime with little results. Conrad puts those he thinks are the best in the jobs where the TV cameras show up. His nihilist perspective on policing has filtered down