The San Francisco Police Department sat at the intersection of 3rd Street and Mission Rock. Anyone looking at it from the street might think it a well-fortified place for the city’s finest. If you asked Modine, the interior was almost schizophrenic.

It really depended on what room you were in. Walking past officers dealing with petty crime, you might hear laughter. Every criminal mastermind bumbling into a pair of handcuffs always amused rookie cops looking to wet their whistles. Special Vic...