Allison Siko begins playing Kathleen Stabler in this episode, replacing Holiday Segal (who last played the character in Season 1).
All of the officers are wearing a black band over their badges, denoting the death of a fellow officer. Given the timing of the episode (aired March 1, 2002), it is likely that the black bands were worn for the NYPD officers killed in the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in New York City.