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Referred to through most of the novel by his badge number, One-Fifteen is the white police officer responsible for taking Khalil’s life. His real name is Brian Cruise, but by referring to him only by his number, Thomas uses One-Fifteen to represent the wider issue of police brutality and institutionalized racism. This symbolism emphasizes the reality of pervasive police violence. The media attempts to humanize One-Fifteen by portraying him as a loving father, devoted husband, and loyal son. However, he lies to his colleagues about the events surrounding Khalil’s death. His telling of events is manipulated to include details of reckless driving, confrontational behavior, and veiled threats that left him feeling “unsafe” and “fearing for his life.” The truth is, after pulling the car over for a broken taillight and seeing that the passengers were Black, One-Fifteen made assumptions about the ownership of the vehicle and what they must have been up to. His prejudice led him to inflame the situation, treating them as threats and suspects without probable cause. His immediate suspicion of Khalil and Starr is evidence of One-Fifteen's internalized racism—so pervasive that Khalil opening the car door was grounds for shooting him, not once but three times. Though Starr eventually accesses her bravery in speaking out against One-Fifteen, hoping the grand jury will find him guilty and grant Khalil justice, One-Fifteen is acquitted. The system, rife with corruption and racism, ultimately fails both Khalil and the Black community as a whole.
