I already told you the "real motivation". And "money" ain't even close.
Chief walks into Narc LTs office, "why are your numbers down"? LT goes, "Ahhh, ahhh, ahhhh". Chief goes, "shaddup I dont want to hear it". "Start making some quality investigations or I'll find someone else to take your take home car home with them.
LT applies manure downhill to the troops, "you lazy mutts aint getting us pinches, seizures, or quality convictions". Get me some or your all be back on the midnight beat car.
College kid gets grabbed with 4 lids, of which she planned to to sell 3 to friends to pay for her own, "probably narced on by some other mid level

informant". Narcs scare crap out of kid, put her on the street to make controlled buy to dangerous felons. Gun is thrown in to get the extra charge, to get more wood on gangstas, so the narcs can eat their way higher up the chain. A gun charge or two thrown in will get a previously convicted felon at least a fiver. Add all that to the trafficking charges and you got real wood on the gangstas. Might make them talk.
And so the kid got thrown out there...................
When I look at this Chiefs face I see guilt and misery written all over it. He knows they were wrong. He knows this was no mid level dealer. He might even have a daughter the same age as his dead informant. And he knows this numbers thing has ruined Law Enforcement. We all do.
I dont believe in second guessing other coppers but someone has to answer for this. Without question someone is going to have to pay for it. You have to weigh everything on this job. Everything and every move. And the possible gain from this buy just wasn't worth cutting the corners and putting this kids life in jeopardy. It just wasnt worth it.