While investigating a backload of unsolved murders, a dispirited detective learns that the local P.T.A. is more involved in “community service” than originally thought.

Thanks for the nice, constructive feedback!

Regarding the inciting incident; the detective will determine a slight overlay of coincidences in a couple of the old cases, specifically linking back to a battered women's shelter.

His dispiritedness arises from the death of his daughter at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, and he turns to the bottle. He is relegated to community service? work- doing cop talks at community patrol meetings, neighborhood watches, and PTA's, while volunteering his time at the women's shelter. In addition, because he is such a mess, he is prevented from working active cases, and is assigned cold-case? work. This is how it all comes together.

Thanks for the nice, constructive feedback!

Regarding the inciting incident; the detective will determine a slight overlay of coincidences in a couple of the old cases, specifically linking back to a battered women's shelter.

His dispiritedness arises from the death of his daughter at the hands of an ex-boyfriend, and he turns to the bottle. He is relegated to "community service" work- doing cop talks at community patrol meetings, neighborhood watches, and PTA's, while volunteering his time at the women's shelter. In addition, because he is such a mess, he is prevented from working active cases, and is assigned "cold-case" work. This is how it all comes together.

I like the idea, the involvement of the P.T.A is interesting. Also its good that you have given your main character a flaw, his 'dispirited,' nature. This means that he will be able to overcome this during his investigation, good chance for character building.
I'm just curious as to what the inciting incident is. Is it one new murder in particular or does he suddenly find a way to link all the old ones?