 Giardello joined the BPD in 1968 during a racially turbulent era and was subject to working under a predominantly White department in a largely African American city.One of Gee's first experiences on the force dealt with the Baltimore riot of 1968, which occurred in response to the assassination of African American leader Martin Luther King Jr. Gee described the event to Detective Frank Pembleton as a test of his loyalty, in which Gee was forced to determine if he would side with his community or his department.Gee experienced racism first-hand at the orders of his training officer Mickey Shea, an Irish officer who had forced a young Giardello to ride in the back of the patrol car.