Line #112 Characters/NYPDBlue


1	[[foldercontrol]]
2
3	!!Detectives
4
5	[[folder:Andy Sipowicz]]
6	!!Andy Sipowicz
7	->'''Played by''': Creator/DennisFranz
8
9	[[quoteright:259:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/andy_sipowicz_nypd_blue.jpg]]
10
11	An old school, hard-nosed detective in the NYPD, Sipowicz is a career cop with more than a few personal flaws, but a good man underneath it all.
12
13	----
14
15	* AbusiveParents: A verbally abusive one in his father.
16	* TheAlcoholic: In the first 3 seasons.
17	* AlwaysGetsHisMan: Considered the best detective in the squad InUniverse. The fact that he is sometimes brought in to get confessions from suspects when other detectives fail is realistically irritating to those detectives.
18	* AmicableExes: Although his relationship with his ex-wife Katie is frosty at the beginning of the series, they become close friends later on and Katie even admits that she wants to get back together with Sipowicz (which Andy declines).
19	* BadgesAndDogTags: Served in Vietnam and became a cop not long after.
20	* BerserkButton: Has a bunch of things that set him off even more than usual:
21	** He is a veteran of The Vietnam War. So please, do not lie to him about having fought in that war if you weren't actually there.
22	** Domestic abuse of any kind. He'll often encourage a spouse, partner or roommate who's being mistreated to file criminal charges or at least remove themselves from the situation, and becomes ''furious'' if the abusive partner takes things to the next level.
23	** Child killers and pedophiles, especially after [[spoiler:Andy Jr.'s death]]. If he's the one who arrests you, he will ''not'' hold back.
24	** AmoralAttorney James Sinclair acts as a living Berserk Button to him.
25	** He and John Clark, Sr. tend to press each other's berserk buttons a lot. When Clark finds out that his son is partnering up with Sipowicz, [[spoiler: he packs his son's bags and throws him out of their apartment]].
26	* BigGood: By the end of the show, after becoming Sergeant. His first walk in the new uniform elicits applause from everyone in the precinct. His position as this is also what inspires Sipowicz to take on the role of Squad leader. He reasons that the officers have been through so many command changes over the years and that each new boss has provided different policies that they have to inevitably adjust to, momentarily distracting them from case work. So it would be better for him to spend his last few years making sure that the officers were in the hands of someone who knew how things should work and function.
27	-->'''Sipowicz:''' Commanding this squad. Teaching them. Keeping them out of harm's way. That's my last job. I don't want to go anywhere from there. I'm not looking for any more promotions. There would be nothing else I would ever want to do.
28	* BreakoutCharacter: Started out second banana to John Kelly and ended up as one of the most famous TV detectives of all time. (Dennis Franz's four Emmys for the role certainly didn't hurt.)
29	* CannotKeepASecret: When Sylvia realizes she's pregnant and tells Andy, she makes sure he knows that they shouldn't tell anyone else during the first trimester. By the end of the ''day'' he's spilled the beans to the entire squad.
30	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: It can be a little strange, after watching the later seasons, to look back at season one and behold a Sipowicz who frequents prostitutes and strip joints. He even smiles, which later on seems to nearly break his face.
31	* ChillyReception:
32	** When Simone replaces Kelly, Sipowicz gives him an extremely cold reception. This was intentionally engineered by the writers — they figured that if Sipowicz took an immediate, irrational dislike to Simone, it would leave the audience saying "Come on, Andy, give the guy a chance." It worked.
33	** After serving under Lt. Fancy for over seven years, Sipowicz is extremely suspicious of Lt. Rodriguez, interpreting everything he says or does in the worst possible light and even taking an irrational dislike of his non-regulation beard. After Sipowicz confronts Rodriguez about interfering with his interrogation, and Rodriguez backs off and agrees to let him do things his way, Sipowicz starts warming up to him.
34	* DarkAndTroubledPast: Hoo boy. He grew up with an alcoholic, racially prejudiced and verbally abusive liar of a father, served in Vietnam, and one of his earlier assignments as police officer was infiltrating the Black Panthers as a white leftist radical. It's a miracle he turned out as well as he did.
35	* DeadpanSnarker: When he's in a good mood.
36	* DeadPersonConversation: In one season 12 episode, Sipowicz is experiencing a crisis after being forcefully reminded of his mortality (in the previous episode, he's shot in the shoulder, and then he narrowly escapes being shot by a perp whose gun misfires). In his agitated state he first thinks he sees his late ex-partner Simone lying in a hospital bed that then turns out to be empty; a bit later Simone again appears to Sipowitz, and now carries out a whole conversation, talking about life and death and encouraging him to be a father figure to his new partner.
37	* DefectiveDetective: He's great at his job, but to say his personal life tends to suck is like saying that this show was on the air for a few years.
38	* DeusAngstMachina: He has had [[spoiler: a dead wife, a dead son, two dead partners (and a third resigning in disgrace)]], and TWO cancer scares (his own and his youngest son's).
39	* DislikesTheNewGuy: When Bobby Simone joins the squad, he dislikes him as of his first line. This is specifically done to make the audience sympathetic to Simone, who replaces the very popular John Kelly. Andy warms up to Simone eventually, even having him be the best man at his wedding.
40	* EarnYourHappyEnding: Whilst the final episode makes it very clear that life and work will go on as usual for Andy Sipowicz, he is not only far better off at the end than he was at the beginning (both professionally and in his personal life), but also a better person.
41	* FreudianExcuse: His racial animus is attributed to his father being mugged and seriously injured by several black criminals in his youth.
42	* GoodCopBadCop: Easily the bad cop to ''all'' of his partners.
43	* HardboiledDetective: Arguably the greatest example in 1990s television.
44	* HeterosexualLifePartners: Manages to be with all of his partners, but especially Kelly, Simone, and Clark.
45	* IconicItem: His famous short-sleeved shirt and tie combo.
46	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: He can be very abrasive even to people he respects and likes, but he is a loyal friend and willing to help people in need.
47	* TheLancer: To John Kelly and Bobby Simone in the first six seasons. Becomes TheHero after [[spoiler: Bobby Simone's death.]]
48	* MadeOfIron: He's shot ''6 times'' at close range and survives (although he's unconscious a good while in the hospital).
49	* NobleBigotWithABadge: Though this is toned down in the later seasons. This is shown as character development: he comes to realize that his dislike of African-Americans is based on a traumatic incident in his past and manages to re-direct his anger at the actual bad guy rather than into general racism.
50	** Similarly, Andy's homophobia lessens considerably when he befriends John Irvin. Later in the series he tries to help a trans man escape from an abusive roommate, and reacts sympathetically to [[spoiler:Lt. Bale]] being unwittingly outed during a case, things Season One Andy wouldn't have been likely to do.
51	* NotEvenBotheringWithTheAccent: Dennis Franz's Chicago accent coming from Brooklyn boy Sipowicz.
52	* OffTheWagon: Twice.
53	* PlatonicLifePartners: Eventually develops this relationship with Diane Russell, to the point where he's sometimes accused of having an affair with her in later seasons.
54	* PoliceBrutality: Even when he doesn't actually use physical force, he often threaten suspects with violence to intimidate them.
55	* RabidCop: He learns to control his aggressiveness over the course of the series, but woe those suspects who talk back at him.
56	* RecoveredAddict: Seen in the first episode as a rude, racist alcoholic and borderline drug addict. Early in the first season he stops drinking, but later falls off the wagon. After he joins AA he remains sober - even going so far as to initially refuse pain medication during a surgery - and generally becomes a much nicer person. He even helps a few others stop drinking.
57	* RevolversAreJustBetter: Andy sticks with his old-fashioned snub-nose .38 throughout the series, while most of the other detectives carry the Glock-17.
58	* UglyGuyHotWife: Twice, with Sylvia and Connie. His first wife (ex-wife already when the series starts), while not bad-looking, looks more like you'd expect the wife of a middle-aged detective to look like. Not only are both Sylvia and Connie quite good-looking, but they are also considerably younger than Sipowicz.
59	* UndyingLoyalty: Andy's biggest virtue, even in the early seasons, is this. If he considers you a friend or worthy of his respect, he ''will'' have your back no matter what.
60	[[/folder]]
61
62	[[folder:John Kelly]]
63	!!John Kelly
64	->'''Played by''': Creator/DavidCaruso
65
66	[[quoteright:160:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_kelly_nypd_blue.jpg]]
67
68	The original main character of the series, a cool-headed NYPD detective who is Andy Sipowicz's partner on the force. He's the ex-husband of Laura Michaels and falls in love with Janice Licalsi.
69
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71
72	* TheFriendsWhoNeverHang: Despite being partners, he and Sipowicz generally only have one or two scenes together per episode in the second half of season 1. This was done by the writers to keep the real-life hostility between Caruso and Franz from boiling over.
73	* TheHero: From the pilot until "Dead and Gone."
74	* HeterosexualLifePartners: He and Andy have been close friends for years by the time the series starts.
75	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: At his worst, he can be coarse and abrasive, but he empathizes deeply both with victims and fellow cops and will go out of his way to help both.
76	* TheMentor: Takes rookie Martinez under his wing and coaches him on how to be a good cop.
77	* PutOnABus: In "Dead and Gone" he is abruptly transferred to another squad and only mentioned a couple times in passing afterwards.
78	* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Sipowicz's red, hair notwithstanding.
79	* ShutUpHannibal: Delivers a particularly awesome one to a [[ObstructiveBureaucrat judge]] in "4B or Bot 4B."
80	* TheStoic: In contrast to Sipowicz, Kelly was cool as a cucumber and rarely ever raised his voice, even in the worst situations.
81	[[/folder]]
82
83	[[folder:Janice Licalsi]]
84	!!Janice Licalsi
85	->'''Played by''': Creator/AmyBrenneman
86	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/licalsi_head.jpg]]
87	A uniform cop in the 15th precinct whose father is on the payroll for the Marino crime family. She becomes infatuated with John Kelly and becomes hostile with the Marinos as a result.
88
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90
91	* CorruptCop: Not because she actually wants to be, but her father was a cop on the mob payroll and she's desperate to keep that secret.
92	* FairCop: Well, she is played by Amy Brenneman.
93	* PutOnABus: On "For Whom the Skell Rolls", when she is found guilty of manslaughter and sentenced to two years.
94	[[/folder]]
95
96	[[folder:James Martinez]]
97	!!James Martinez
98	->'''Played by''': Creator/NicholasTurturro
99	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/martinez_head.jpg]]
100	Originally an up-and-coming officer from Anti-Crime, James demonstrated remarkable abilities that he became John Kelly's protégé in the first season and later a capable detective in his own right.
101
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103
104	* UsefulNotes/AmericanAccents: Just like his actor, he speaks with a pronounced Noo Yawk accent.
105	* FairCop: He certainly ain't bad lookin'.
106	* TheIngenue: ''Very'' green in the first season, but he quickly acclimates to the job under John Kelly's guidance.
107	* MinorityPoliceOfficer: He's a Hispanic detective.
108	* RapeIsASpecialKindOfEvil: When his girlfriend Nina is slashed and nearly raped in "Alice Doesn't Fit Here Anymore", the squad find a street thug who she can identify as the assailant. She doesn't want to go through a trial, though. Sipowicz is given free reign to beat a confession out of him so that a guilty plea will be entered without publicity.
109	* ThoseTwoGuys: Most often paired with Greg, and the two develop a close friendship off the job as well.
110	[[/folder]]
111
112	[[folder:Bobby Simone]]
113	!!Bobby Simone
114	->'''Played by''': Creator/JimmySmits
115
116	[[quoteright:160:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bobby_simone.jpg]]
117
118	John Kelly's replacement. He is initially greeted coldly by Andy, but his talents and sympathetic backstory and personality make him an indispensable member of the 15th Precinct.
119
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121
122	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Tuned up by Andy? You probably deserved it. Tuned up by Bobby? You ''definitely'' deserved it.
123	* CowboyCop: Not as much as Andy, but he's not afraid to bend the rules himself.
124	* CrazyJealousGuy: "Crazy" might be overstating it but he does get very overprotective of Diane at times, enough that she calls him out on it more than once.
125	* DarkAndTroubledPast: His wife's early death clearly haunts him and makes him initially reluctant to commit to his relationship with Diane.
126	* EveryoneHasStandards: Does not tolerate Andy's racial attitudes, and gradually helps him get better.
127	* GoodCopBadCop: Good Cop to Sipowicz's Bad Cop.
128	* GoodIsNotSoft: Established in his debut episode. He can put on the charm if you're cooperative enough, but he has no problem asking hard questions if he has to. While he's less eager than Andy to tune up a suspect, he will if he's pushed hard enough.
129	* TheHero: From his first appearance until [[spoiler: his death in "Hearts and Souls"]].
130	* TheHeroDies: [[spoiler:In "Hearts and Souls," when he succumbs to his heart infection]].
131	* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Andy.
132	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 2 but is one of the most remembered characters of the show along with Sipowicz. (They were the main detective pair during the bulk of the show's peak years of critical acclaim.)
133	* OfficialCouple: With Diane Russell.
134	* TheOneWhoMadeItOut: Several of his childhood friends became criminals, to the point that Diane comments on it. He replies, "I don't know how I slipped through the net."
135	* RedOniBlueOni: The Blue to Sipowicz's Red.
136	[[/folder]]
137
138	[[folder:Greg Medavoy]]
139	!!Greg Medavoy
140	->'''Played by''': Creator/GordonClapp
141	[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/11790_5.jpg]]
142	One of the 15th Precinct's more bumbling yet effective detectives, he serves as a sort of comic relief on the show due to his propensity to land in avoidable and amusing situations.
143
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145
146	* AscendedExtra: In the first few episode Medavoy is a glorified walk-on character, but his role quickly expands and by Season Two he's listed on the opening credits and given almost equal focus to Andy and Bobby. This would be further emphasized as the show went on, as Creator/GordonClapp would become the only main cast member aside from Creator/DennisFranz and Creator/KimDelaney to win an Emmy for the show and was the only person aside from Franz to remain on throughout every season. As a result, his placement in the opening credits also rose throughout the series' run as more original cast members departed, to the point where he earned third billing in the last few seasons after Dennis Franz and Creator/RickSchroder/Creator/MarkPaulGosselaar. Creator/GordonClapp admitted that he took this part rather than the larger guest role he was initially offered because he thought it more likely Medavoy would become a recurring character.
147	* BewareTheNiceOnes: Greg is generally the most cheerful and approachable of the detectives. But he can be as tough an interviewer as Andy if you get on his bad side.
148	* ButtMonkey: Medavoy usually gets the "odd" case of the week. He doesn't usually suffer any major setbacks, but has a lot of bad luck, sometimes falls for scams, and tends to end up in situations where he's slightly out of his water. He sometimes makes a rather naive impression and has a talent for stating the obvious, which often elicits snide comments from Sipowicz.
149	* CaptainObvious: He definitely has these moments, often prompting some ribbing from his colleagues.
150	* CommutingOnABus: Shows back up to visit the squad in the series finale after being sent out on retirement at the end of the penultimate episode.
151	* GuileHero: He often manages to get confessions on sheer wit alone.
152	* TheHeart: His specialty. Andy even remarks that while he both looks like and is someone who intimidates suspects, Greg's naturally endearing personality is good at the crying shoulder and listening ear aspect of the job.
153	** One good example is "Lost Israel" when he investigates the murder of a Hassidic girl. Extremely mindful of Hassidic religious practices, Medavoy arranges for a speedy, minimally invasive autopsy for the victim so her father can bury her quickly, then returns to the crime scene and gathers soil where her blood had spilled for burial. James tells Greg that he's the only person in the precinct who would have known to do that for a victim's family.
154	* SensitiveGuyAndManlyMan: The Sensitive Guy to entire male cast's Manly Man.
155	* SpeechImpediment: Has a pronounced stammer when he's nervous, especially in his [[GibberishOfLove early meetings with Donna]]. Sometimes PlayedForLaughs, but it's generally treated as just a character trait.
156	* ThoseTwoGuys: Him and James, bordering on HeterosexualLifePartners.
157	[[/folder]]
158
159	[[folder:Adrienne Lesniak]]
160	!!Adrienne Lesniak
161	->'''Played by''': Creator/JustineMiceli
162	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/lesniak_head.jpg]]
163	The replacement for Janice Licalsi, an attractive and capable investigator who catches the eye of James Martinez.
164
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166
167	* ClingyJealousGirl: What causes her breakup with James.
168	* FairCop: She's very gorgeous. Part of the reason James asked her out in the first place.
169	* SorryImGay: What she tells Greg when he insists that James would be a great boyfriend for her. It turns out to be a defense mechanism as she is just very reluctant to get with James given that her previous relationship was abusive.
170	* WhatHappenedToTheMouse: Leaves between seasons 3 and 4 with no explanation given.
171	[[/folder]]
172
173	[[folder:Diane Russell]]
174	!!Diane Russell
175	->'''Played by''': Creator/KimDelaney
176	[[quoteright:220:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/dianerussell.png]]
177	A detective who comes over from the Organized Crime Control Bureau and immediately hits it off with Bobby Simone. Much like Andy, she has problems with alcohol abuse, and they help each other out.
178
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180
181	* AbusiveParents: Her father beats her mother and brother, and during a particularly bad case of withdrawal, [[spoiler: is forced to confront the fact that her father sexually abused her when she was 12]].
182	* TheAlcoholic: Similar to Sipowicz. They attend meetings together.
183	* TheBusCameBack: After leaving the precinct near the end of Season 8, she shows back up for a one-off appearance in Season 10 and a four-episode arc in Season 11. She also manages to be there for Andy's marriage to Connie.
184	* FairCop: A very good reason she hooked up with Bobby Simone.
185	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 2 but is one of the most remembered characters of the show along with Sipowicz.
186	* NearRapeExperience: When Diane goes undercover to investigate violent psychopath Jimmy Liery, he slips a pill into her drink. She gets dizzy and he carries her out of the bar, after which she wakes up naked in bed with him with no memory of how she got there. When she confronts him (armed), he admits he drugged her with the intention of raping her, but he couldn't go through with the latter part.
187	* PlatonicLifePartners: Develops this relationship with Andy in later seasons, to the point where they're actually questioned of having an affair.
188	* RapeAsBackstory: [[spoiler:Diane's undercover operation with Jimmy Liery (see above) sends her into a serious mental tailspin, causing her to finally confront the fact that her father molested her when she was twelve]].
189	* RedOniBlueOni: When paired with Jill, Diane was the red. She was more often driven to anger and disgust at suspects, while Jill generally kept a calmer head.
190	[[/folder]]
191
192	[[folder:Jill Kirkendall]]
193	!!Jill Kirkendall
194	->'''Played by''': Creator/AndreaThompson
195	[[quoteright:229:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/screen_shot_2018_01_18_at_155453.jpg]]
196	Adrienne Lesniak's replacement who becomes Diane Russell's partner and best friend.
197
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199
200	* FairCop: Just ask Leo Cohen.
201	* HeterosexualLifePartners: With Diane.
202	* MamaBear: Is extremely protective of her son when it's discovered that he's been the witness to a homicide, and appeals to Russell to find a way to get a conviction without requiring a testimony from him.
203	* RedOniBlueOni: The blue to Diane's red. When Diane got emotional, Jill usually remained focused on the case and trying to get a confession out of the suspect.
204	[[/folder]]
205
206	[[folder:Danny Sorensen]]
207	!!Danny Sorensen
208	->'''Played by''': Creator/RickSchroder
209	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sorenson_head.jpg]]
210	Bobby Simone's replacement, a youthful detective who Andy takes under his wing.
211
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213
214	* CowboyCop: Whose carelessness tends to get him in trouble more than even Andy.
215	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler:By his stripper girlfriend's ex.]]
216	* TheLancer: To Andy.
217	* PoliceBrutality: Is suspended after beating up a murder suspect during interrogation, making his confession inadmissible in court.
218	[[/folder]]
219
220	[[folder:Baldwin Jones]]
221	!!Baldwin Jones
222	->'''Played by''': Creator/HenrySimmons
223	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/jones_head.jpg]]
224	* BerserkButton: Don't make racist cracks in front of him, either.
225	* TheBigGuy: Physically the largest detective on the show.
226	* FairCop: Arguably the best-looking male detective on the show. He gets his share of [[MrFanservice shirtless scenes]] including one in his very first episode.
227	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 7 but is one of the most remembered characters in the show.
228	* TheIngenue: Like James he is very green when he first starts in the 15th Squad and takes awhile to adjust to street work, having worked in the anti-bias unit beforehand. Also like James, he soon proves his worth as a detective, particularly impressing his colleagues with his interview techniques.
229	* HatesRichPeople: Really resents rich suspects who use their money and connections to escape justice. He's not afraid of telling them what he thinks about them, either.
230	* OddFriendship: With Medavoy. They are far different, generationally and in temperament, and Medavoy's neuroses irritate him a bit at first. But Jones admits to him at Medavoy's retirement party that he's genuinely learned a lot from working with him, and will miss everything about their partnership.
231	* ParentalSubstitute: Gets a major arc in Season 11 about rescuing Michael, a troubled kid from his abusive father. He later adopts the boy as a foster parent.
232	* ScaryBlackMan: Only when he had to be.
233	* TheStoic: Easily the most emotionally-reserved of the main cast, though he's not above losing his temper when called for.
234	[[/folder]]
235
236	[[folder:Connie [=McDowell=]]]
237	!!Connie [=McDowell=]
238	->'''Played by''': Creator/CharlotteRoss
239	[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/conniemcdowell.jpg]]
240	* DarkAndTroubledPast: She became pregnant as a teenager, a traumatic experience that left her unable to have children (or so she thought) and forced her to give up her daughter for adoption, without having any contact with her. She bonds with Andy in large part because she comes to see Theo as a surrogate son.
241	* DeadpanSnarker: Both tough and snarky, which enables her to go to toe-to-toe with Andy when she's just starting out.
242	* FairCop: Even more egregiously than earlier examples.
243	* TheGhost: Becomes this in Season 12, after Charlotte Ross was let go from the show. Rather than kill off yet another one of Andy's loved ones (especially just a short time following their marriage), [=McDowell=] is instead frequently referred to by Sipowicz without ever appearing onscreen. His worry about providing for her and their new child becomes a source of concern for Sipowicz as he struggles with the threat of being pushed off the job, and then with where he wants to go with his career after being made Sergeant.
244	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 8 but is one of the most remembered characters of the show.
245	* MsFanservice: One of the show's sexiest characters. She also provided an infamous ShowerScene which got the show in trouble with the censorship board.
246	* SecondLove: To Sipowicz.
247	[[/folder]]
248	[[folder:John Clark Jr.]]
249	!!John Clark Jr.
250	->'''Played by''': Creator/MarkPaulGosselaar
251	[[quoteright:231:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/clark_head.jpg]]
252	Danny Sorenson's replacement, a young detective whose by-the-book father clashes with the much looser Andy.
253
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255
256	* FairCop: When you're played by Mark-Paul Gosselaar, it's a given.
257	* FrameUp: One story arc involves Clark getting framed for heroin possession by a uniform cop with a grudge against him.
258	* HeroicBSOD: His TraumaCongaLine in Season 11 sends him into a downward spiral, resulting in him showing up hung-over on the job, snapping at his coworkers and falling out with Andy. He only gets his act together after Andy is shot by a disgruntled bar patron who's trying to kill Clark.
259	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 9 but is one of the most remembered characters of the show.
260	* TheLancer: To Andy Sipowicz.
261	* MrFanservice: He has had some Shirtless Scenes and ass shots over the series.
262	* NiceGuy: For the most part, he's one of the friendlier detectives on the show, at least until...
263	* TraumaCongaLine: Loses his [[spoiler: father and girlfriend]] within a few months of each other, both committing suicide. It nearly breaks him.
264	* WellDoneSonGuy: To his father, who doesn't seem to pleased that he's moving to the 15th Precinct to work with Andy.
265	[[/folder]]
266
267	[[folder:Rita Ortiz]]
268	!!Rita Ortiz
269	->'''Played by''': Creator/JacquelineObradors
270	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/ritaortiz.jpg]]
271	Diane Russell's replacement who becomes Connie [=McDowell's=] replacement.
272
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274
275	* BigDamnHeroes: Saves Rodriguez from being fatally shot in the nick of time at the end of season 10.
276	* BornUnlucky: From the moment she enters the 15th Precinct, her marriage is in trouble. On one of her first cases, a fleeing suspect throws her to the ground. She gets knocked unconscious in the middle of the squad room by the boyfriend of another suspect. She finds out that [[spoiler: her jealous husband is actually the one having an affair behind her back. Said husband is killed by his girlfriend's husband a few episodes later]]. She strikes up a new romance with [[spoiler: John Clark]], only to watch his life fall apart and the relationship fail. She becomes romantically involved with [[spoiler: Tony Rodriguez]] later on, but the subsequent season tells us this relationship also failed.
277	* DarkAndTroubledPast: It's heavily implied near the end of the series (see FalseReassurance) that her father left when she was very young, causing her heartbroken mother to become emotionally distant to the point of making her feel unwanted most of her childhood. It's also implied that these feelings are what really ended her relationship with [[spoiler: John Clark (See TheOneThatGotAway)]].
278	* FairCop: Naturally.
279	* FalseReassurance: To catch a serial killer, the detectives end up going undercover at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. Rita is the first and only one who makes a point of asking whether the stories they'll be telling can be made-up. At said meeting, she then goes on to share some very personal details that [[ItMakesSenseinContext strangely explain a lot about her character]] (to the point where Andy visably raises an eyebrow).
280	* ItsAllAboutMe: Her response to the controversies facing John Clark and his father are far from sympathetic. She outright tells him her concern is that the news will make her look bad by association. This goes doubly so after [[spoiler: John Clark Sr. commits suicide]]. When a despondent John Clark Jr. tells her he needs time to himself, she tells him he can't have her if she feels like he's distancing himself from her. [[spoiler: This ends their relationship]].
281	* TheOneThatGotAway: Rita tells Connie that she really loved [[spoiler: John Clark]] a lot more than she thought after their break up. While going undercover at an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting several seasons later (see FalseReassurance), she implies that she still thinks about him even though he's currently unavailable to her. The camera even pans right to his face as she says this and explains how she really felt.
282	[[/folder]]
283
284	[[folder:Laura Murphy]]
285	!!Laura Murphy
286	->'''Played by''': Creator/BonnieSomerville
287	[[quoteright:240:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/bonnie_somerville.jpg]]
288	----
289	* FairCop: Like just about everyone else.
290	[[/folder]]
291
292	!!Captains / Lieutenants
293
294	[[folder:Arthur Fancy]]
295	!!Arthur Fancy
296	->'''Played by''': Creator/JamesMcDaniel
297
298	[[quoteright:160:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/arthur_fancy.jpg]]
299
300	* ArchEnemy: He and Borough Commander Haverill genuinely despise each other, and Haverill tries to get Fancy fired by entrapping him with a bogus tip. Fancy turns the tables on Haverill and blackmails him into retirement.
301	* DaChief: Often responsible for keeping his roguish squad out of trouble.
302	* HeadbuttingHeroes: Although they generally worked well together, he was well aware of Sipowicz's racism and things could get tense as a result. At one point they even got into a fistfight in the locker room. By the end of Fancy's tenure on the show, they each had a tremendous amount of respect for each other, with Sipowicz thanking him for everything.
303	* MinorityPoliceOfficer: He is painfully aware of all the crosscutting tensions that come with being a Black man in law enforcement.
304	* {{Profiling}}: In one episode Fancy is stopped by a patrolman while taking his wife and daughter to dinner, and when the officer refuses to apologize transfers him to the 15th Precinct as punishment. The two eventually make peace with each other, though.
305	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Which is why Andy gets along well with him despite the racial tension.
306	[[/folder]]
307
308	[[folder:Tony Rodriguez]]
309	!!Tony Rodriguez
310	->'''Played by''': Creator/EsaiMorales
311	[[quoteright:250:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/tonyrodriguez.jpg]]
312	* ArchEnemy: IAB Captain Fraker, who blames Rodriguez for ruining his career and seems to spend his every waking hour trying to destroy Rodriguez's through frivolous investigations. It reaches the point where [[spoiler: Fraker tries to murder Rodriguez in the Season 10 finale]].
313	* BeardnessProtectionProgram: He spent a lot of time undercover and there are drug dealers who would like to see him dead, so he's allowed to have a goatee (normally against regulations) for a while after he takes command of the squad.
314	* DaChief
315	* HumbleHero: He was a hotshot narcotics officer who won several commendations for his actions. Rodriguez doesn't mention a word of this to his new squad, who find out through the grapevine.
316	* IconicSequelCharacter: Doesn't appear until Season 8 but is one of the most remembered characters of the show.
317	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Although it takes him a few episodes to learn the ropes, he quickly masters the ins-and-outs of running a detective squad and always has his detectives' backs. Despite the occasional tension, Sipowicz respected him and was certain his replacement would never work out.
318	[[/folder]]
319
320	[[folder:Susan Dalto]]
321	!!Susan Dalto
322	->'''Played by''': Creator/DeniseCrosby
323
324	* ZeroPercentApprovalRating: Fancy wonders how's it's possible that she could have the entire squad turned against her before she'd even really taken command.
325	* ObstructiveBureaucrat: She's so incompetent that she makes it impossible for the 15th Squad to do their jobs, which isn't helped by her SkewedPriorities.
326	* PutOnABus: Fancy calls in a favor with Bass to have her transferred out after seeing how singlehandedly detrimental her command is to the squad.
327	* SmallNameBigEgo: She's convinced she can run the 15th Squad in spite of having no field experience because she completed the qualification course for being a supervisor. She's very wrong.
328	* TwoferTokenMinority: InUniverse. Sipowicz points out that, as a gay woman, she was so valuable to the department for diversity purposes that no one would ever attempt to hinder her career in any way (though it turned out Fancy was loyal enough to the squad to do so).
329	[[/folder]]
330
331	[[folder:Thomas Bale]]
332	!!Thomas Bale
333	->'''Played by''': Creator/CurrieGraham
334	[[quoteright:210:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/thomasbale.jpg]]
335	* ByTheBookCop: To the chagrin of the older guard at the precinct.
336	* JerkassHasAPoint: He's absolutely right that 15th Squad gets away with a lot of borderline unethical (or even illegal) behavior and it's understandable why he'd want to crack down on that. The problem is, Bale completely lacks tact or ability to distinguish a small offense from a major one and he winds up antagonizing most of the squad.
337	* KickTheDog: Threatening to fire Medavoy for working as a bar bouncer (he's ultimately referred to IAB and charged a nominal fine). He's technically [[JerkassHasAPoint within his rights to do so]], but as Medavoy points out Bale clearly does this to send a message to the rest of the squad without concern for how [[DisproportionateRetribution disproportionate]] it is.
338	** In another episode, he threatens to prosecute a woman for using an illegally purchased gun to defend herself against a criminal, angering the detectives. In this case, Bale [[CharacterDevelopment learns from the experience]] and when a similar situation occurs again, he tells Andy and Clark to rewrite their report to avoid mentioning the weapon.
339	* PetTheDog: On the other hand, he will usually back his detectives up when they land in serious trouble. He goes to bat for Andy with IAB when he's being harassed and even arranges a deal for Andy to avoid punishment after he threatens the man at gunpoint, though he admits that he gets no enjoyment from doing so.
340	* StraightGay: In one episode, his credit card is found in the apartment of a gay hustler. Andy assures Bale that it's none of his business and he'll keep it a secret.
341	* TookALevelInKindness: Starts off heavily antagonistic to Sipowicz and Medavoy and seems likely to get them kicked off the job. After Andy goes out of his way to look out for Bale, the two treat each other with much more respect. After getting shot, Bale realizes that he won't be able to recover enough to return to the job, and convinces Andy to take over his position.
342	[[/folder]]
343
344	[[folder:Clifford Bass]]
345	!!Clifford Bass
346	->'''Played by''': Larry Joshua
347
348	* PutOnABus: He retires in Season 8 to look after his mentally ill wife.
349	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Bass (very unlike Haverill, whom he replaced) is willing to accept when he makes a mistake, listens to advice, and trusts his officers' decisions.
350	[[/folder]]
351
352	[[folder:Haverill]]
353	!!Haverill
354	->'''Played by''': James Handy
355
356	* PoliticallyIncorrectVillain: He's a racist bastard who loathes Fancy for being black, and does everything he can to ruin his life out of spite.
357	* SomeOfMyBestFriendsAreX: claims to Fancy that he gets along very well with most black people. Fancy's clearly not convinced.
358	[[/folder]]
359
360	!!Assistant District Attorneys
361
362	[[folder:Laura Michaels]]
363	!!Laura Michaels
364	->'''Played by''': Creator/SherryStringfield
365	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/laura_head.jpg]]
366	* SatelliteCharacter: The writers considered her too closely tied to her ex John Kelly, so she disappeared from the show around the same time he did. It's said that the showrunners gave some of her prospective plots to Sylvia, who became a regular in her stead.
367	[[/folder]]
368
369	[[folder:Sylvia Costas]]
370	!!Sylvia Costas
371	->'''Played by''': Creator/SharonLawrence
372	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sylvia_head.jpg]]
373	* ChristianityIsCatholic: One of the show's few exceptions. She's Greek Orthodox, and that's the church she and Andy are married in.
374	* DefrostingIceQueen: In her first few appearances, she is understandably (given Andy's blowing a case she was prosecuting, and then insulting her after) pretty chilly towards both Sipowicz and Kelly. She thaws as the season goes on, enough that she starts dating Andy.
375	* ForGreatJustice: She's personally bothered by miscarriages of justice and is known to dedicate time outside of her work schedule to making the system fairer.
376	* HelloAttorney: Andy notices even in the early episodes where his view is clouded by recrimination and alcohol.
377	* KilledOffForReal: [[spoiler: Dies in the crossfire when Dolores Mayo's aggrieved father shoots up the court.]]
378	* OutOfFocus: She only appears in a few episodes in Season Five and is demoted to a guest starring credit, because Sharon Lawrence had been cast in the sitcom ''Fired Up'' and was forced to reduce her screen time. Lawrence returns to the opening credits the following season.
379	[[/folder]]
380
381	[[folder:Leo Cohen]]
382	!!Leo Cohen
383	->'''Played by''': Creator/MichaelBSilver
384
385	* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: How the detectives generally see him. He's snarky and occasionally rude, but he's a good guy with his heart in the right place.
386	[[/folder]]
387
388	[[folder:Valerie Haywood]]
389	!!Valerie Haywood
390	->'''Played by''': Creator/GarcelleBeauvais
391	[[quoteright:238:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/haywood_head.jpg]]
392
393
394	[[/folder]]
395
396	!!Police Administrative Aides
397
398	[[folder:Donna Abandando]]
399	!!Donna Abandando
400	->'''Played by''': Creator/GailOGrady
401	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/donna_head.jpg]]
402	* CharacterizationMarchesOn: Donna was originally written as a bimbo which is somewhat apparent in her first few episodes. Since Gail O'Grady very much ''isn't'' that, the writers retooled her character to be a lot smarter and more self-aware.
403	* TheGloriousWarOfSisterlyRivalry: With her sister Dana (Creator/DebraMessing). It usually stems from Dana's tendency to hit on all of Donna's boyfriends, including Medavoy.
404	* InformedAttractiveness: In her first episode, she distracts the squad so much one of them runs into a pole and breaks his nose.
405	* [[UglyGuyHotWife Ugly Guy, Hot Girlfriend]]: With Medavoy. She loves him, but his insecurity about dating someone he sees as so far out of his league makes him incredibly jealous and eventually drives her away.
406	[[/folder]]
407
408	[[folder:John Irvin]]
409	!!John Irvin
410	->'''Played by''': Creator/BillBrochtrup
411	[[quoteright:216:https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/john_head.jpg]]
412	* AffectionateNickname: Bobby and Andy take to calling him "Upstairs John" after he's reassigned to another department.
413	* AscendedExtra: Initially just a fill-in for Donna when she was on vacation, and he disappeared for most of Seasons 4 and 5 when he went to work in anti-crime, but became a member of the main cast starting in Season 6.
414	* CampGay: Has all the stereotyped mannerisms, loves theater and fashion.
415	* MentorInQueerness: In "Welcome to New York" he acts as this to a young gay man (played by Creator/MishaCollins) who had been involved with both the victim and perpetrator of a homicide. John told him that this terrible event would pass and that he would find good people who loved and accepted him.
416	* OddFriendship: Although Andy isn't particularly fond of him at first, to the point of making homophobic jokes in his presence, he quickly warms up to John once he sees how good he is at his job and comes to see him as a genuine friend, particularly after [[spoiler: he's shot by the man who kills Sylvia]]. In later seasons, John occasionally gives Andy haircuts and babysits his son, and late in the series Andy even encourages John to move into his old apartment.
417	* PetHomosexual: May seem like this in the beginning, but this turns into a subversion in that he is portrayed quite respectfully and seriously. Initially he has some difficulty being accepted by some of the detectives, most notably Sipowicz, but ends up being a good friend of everybody in the squad.
418	[[/folder]]
419
420	[[folder:Gina Colon Martinez]]
421	!!Gina Colon Martinez
422	->'''Played by''': Creator/LourdesBenedicto
423
424	* GoodScarsEvilScars: She is disfigured by a mugger in one episode and takes several episodes to heal. Very noticeable at first but it becomes less so over time.
425	* PutOnABus: After marrying James she disappears from the series aside from a brief cameo in the Season 7 episode "A Hole in Juan."
426	[[/folder]]
427
428	[[folder:Geri Turner]]
429	!!Geri Turner
430	->'''Played by''': Debra Christofferson
431
432	* AbhorrentAdmirer: She repeatedly hits on Andy even when he makes it clear he's not interested and uncomfortable with it.
433	* DressedAllInRubber: She shows Andy she's wearing rubber undergarments. With him being married (as well as utterly baffled by any sort of kink) it doesn't go over well.
434	* WeightWoe: She's definitely sexually liberated, but being rejected by several men (including Andy) and having to work with the more attractive Diane and Jill does a number on her self-esteem.
435	[[/folder]]
436
437	[[folder:Naomi Reynolds]]
438	!!Naomi Reynolds
439	->'''Played by''': Gabriele Fitzpatrick
440
441	* [[AscendedFanboy Ascended Fangirl]]: She wanted to become a policewoman after watching cop shows on TV growing up. After leaving the 15th squad, she finds work as a security guard.
442	* FakeAmerican: InUniverse. She is pretending to be an American from North Carolina (complete with convincing accent) but she's really from Australia. She's hiding her identity due to immigration issues which eventually cause her to lose her job.
443	* OohMeAccentsSlipping: During an angry phone conversation she reverts to her native accent, which is how Bobby first finds out about her real identity.
444	[[/folder]]
445
446	!!Other police characters
447
448	[[folder:Eddie Gibson]]
449	!!Sergeant Eddie Gibson
450	-> '''Played by''': John F. O'Donohue
451
452	* AscendedExtra: Gibson starts as an occasional background character who's largely used for comic relief. In later seasons he's promoted to sergeant and briefly heads the 15th Squad (earning John F. O'Donohue a bump to the opening credits) before Bale's appointment.
453	* BunnyEarsLawyer: Despite his eccentric personality and old-fashioned manners, he's shown to be a solid investigator when the chips are down. In one episode he bluffs a suspect into confessing by faking a paraffin test with some nasal spray.
454	* CloudCuckoolander: Gives Medavoy a run for his money in this regard. Possibly the peak is when Gibson, after being promoted to Sergeant, brings his talking pet parrot into the office, to the squad's consternation. Andy gets back at him by teaching the parrot to call his owner "douchebag."
455	* FriendToAllChildren: Adopts several foster children over the course of the series.
456	[[/folder]]
457
458	[[folder:Fraker]]
459	!!IAB Captain Fraker
460	->'''Played by''': Creator/CaseySiemaszko
461
462	* TheAlcoholic: To the point where he starts showing up at work drunk.
463	* ArchEnemy: He essentially devotes his life to making Rodriguez miserable, since he blames Rodriguez for ruining his career while they served in uniform together. It culminates in [[spoiler:Fraker shooting Rodriguez after his own affair with a subordinate is exposed.]]
464	* KarmaHoudiniWarranty: [[spoiler:Fraker is acquitted of the attempted murder of Rodriguez, but the trial and revelations about his indiscretions left his career and reputation in ruins. When we last see him, he is serving drinks at a sleazy bar. This is particularly fitting when you contrast this with Rodriguez who lost a promotion to captain due to Fraker's actions but was able to retire and get a lucrative job in private security.]]
465	* ObstructiveBureaucrat: One of the show's worst examples. Fraker uses his grudge against Rodriguez to level increasingly frivolous charges against him and the 15th Squad, including trying to get Rodriguez fired for ''refusing to take a bribe''.
466	* PetTheDog: Although he believed Clark was guilty of narcotics possession, once the officer who framed Clark is taken down Fraker nails him with relish.
467	[[/folder]]
468
469	[[folder:Martens]]
470	!!IAB Sergeant Martens
471	-> '''Played by''': Scott Allan Campbell
472
473	* DeadpanSnarker: Usually has a choice quip for the detectives.
474	* InternalAffairs: The most prominent IA officer on the show, and one for whom even Sipowicz demonstrates grudging respect.
475	* ObstructiveBureaucrat: At times, though he tries not to be.
476	* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: What he usually is. Even Andy, who despises Internal Affairs, occasionally admits Martens is a good officer.
477	* TokenGoodTeammate: Where most of the Internal Affairs cops are portrayed as obstructive bureaucrats or worse, Martens is actually a decent, conscientious guy who even in his worst episodes is a PunchClockVillain. He forms a respectful relationship with Bobby and Andy and they'll often turn to him for help clearing up issues within the department.
478	[[/folder]]
479
480	[[folder:Reggie Fancy]]
481	!!Officer Reggie Fancy
482	-> '''Played by''': Creator/MichaelJaiWhite
483	A patrolman, and Arthur Fancy's younger brother.
484
485	* MinorityPoliceOfficer: Like his brother. Unfortunately, he's younger and more hotheaded, so he gets into altercations with white officers sometimes, forcing Arthur to intervene.
486	[[/folder]]
487
488	[[folder:Vince Gotelli]]
489	!!Det. Vince Gotelli
490	-> '''Played by''': Carmine Caridi
491	An older detective assigned to the night shift.
492	[[/folder]]
493
494	[[folder:Mary Franco]]
495	!!Officer Mary Franco
496	-> '''Played by''': Creator/SheeriRappaport
497	A young patrolwoman who gets romantically involved with Danny Sorensen.
498
499	* FairCop: An attractive young police officer.
500	* FeminineWomenCanCook: She's very nervous the first time she cooks Danny a meal in his kitchen.
501	[[/folder]]
502
503	[[folder:Ed Laughlin]]]
504	!!Officer Ed Laughlin
505	-> '''Played by''': Anthony Mangano
506
507	* CheatersNeverProsper: Has a boxing match with Clark, during which he gets away with a low blow, but Clark still wins the bout.
508	* {{Jerkass}}: He's not a nice guy and has very few civil interactions with the detectives.
509	[[/folder]]
510
511	[[folder:Syzmanski]]
512	!!Officer Szymanski
513	-> '''Played by''': Creator/ChristopherStanley
514
515	* BigotWithABadge: Introduced pulling Fancy over for a broken tail light, during which he is very disrespectful in a way that heavily implies he is a racist. He and Fancy have further run-ins, though he is not presented as a villain and Fancy, rather than just throwing the book at him, tries to help Szymanski change his attitudes.
516	[[/folder]]
517
518	!!Informants
519
520	[[folder:Steve Richards]]
521	!!Steve Richards
522	-> '''Played by''': Creator/PaulBenVictor
523
524	* ChronicBackstabbingDisorder: The detectives learn not to trust him completely due to him sometimes trying to screw them over if he thinks he can get a bigger payday.
525	* SesquipedalianLoquaciousness: Has a tendency to try to sound smart by using big words, such as when he comes by the squad room to offer up information and says, "Let me partially expose myself."
526	[[/folder]]
527
528	[[folder:Vinnie Greco]]
529	!!Vinnie Grecco
530	-> '''Played by''': Creator/JoePantoliano
531
532	[[/folder]]
533
534	[[folder:Ferdinand Hollie]]
535	!!Ferdinand Hollie
536	->'''Played by''': Creator/GiancarloEsposito
537
538	* HandCannon: Uses a .44 in his work as a stickup man because it scares even other criminals.
539	* NobleDemon: Despite making his living by robbing drug dealers, he deals with the police honorably. As Simone says, he's more "stand-up" than Sgt. Kahlins, the officer who [[spoiler:got Hollie killed]].
540	[[/folder]]
541
542	[[folder:J.B. Murphy]]
543	!!J.B. Murphy
544	-> '''Played by''': Jeff Cahill
545
546	[[/folder]]
547
548	[[folder:Leslie Peach]]
549	!!Leslie Peach
550	-> '''Played by''': Music/MosDef
551

Context Characters / NYPDBlue