The Wire

The Wire
The Complete Guide
Contents
1
Overview
1.1
The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.2
Style
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.3
Themes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.4
Cast and characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.5
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
1.1.6
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
11
1.1.7
Broadcasters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
1.1.8
Home media releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
1.1.9
Representation in media . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
13
1.1.10 See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
1.1.11 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
14
1.1.12 Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
1.1.13 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
David Simon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
1.2.1
Life and career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
18
1.2.2
Writing process, characteristics, and motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
22
1.2.3
Works . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
1.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
23
1.2.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
List of The Wire episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.1
Series overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.3.4
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
List of awards and nominations received by The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.4.1
Industry awards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
25
1.4.2
Critics polls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
1.2
1.3
1.4
ii
CONTENTS
1.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
26
Seasons and episodes
27
2.1
List of The Wire episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.1
Series overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.1.4
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
The Wire (season 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27
2.2.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
2.2.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
28
2.2.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
29
2.2.4
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
30
2.2.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31
The Wire (season 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
31
2.3.1
Plot . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
2.3.2
Cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
32
2.3.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.4
Awards and nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
33
2.3.6
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
34
The Wire (season 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
2.4.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
35
2.4.2
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.3
Awards and nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
36
2.4.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
The Wire (season 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
2.5.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
39
2.5.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
41
2.5.5
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
43
The Wire (season 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
2.6.1
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
44
2.6.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.6.3
Episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.6.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
46
2.2
2.3
2.4
2.5
2.6
CONTENTS
2.6.5
3
iii
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
Characters
48
3.1
List of The Wire characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.1
The Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.2
Politicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.3
The Street . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.4
The Schools . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.5
The Docks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.6
The Paper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.7
Starring cast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.8
A to Z . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
48
3.1.9
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
52
Police
53
4.1
Police of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
4.1.1
Command . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
53
4.1.2
Major Crimes Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
55
4.1.3
Homicide unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
58
4.1.4
Western District . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
62
4.1.5
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
66
4.1.6
Relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
67
4.1.7
Actual BPD Ocers who have appeared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
68
4.1.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
Jimmy McNulty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
4.2.1
Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
70
4.2.2
Critical response and analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.2.3
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
Kima Greggs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
74
4.3.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
75
4.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
Bunk Moreland . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
77
4.4.1
Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
78
4.4.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
Lester Freamon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
4.5.1
Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
79
4.5.2
Critical response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
4.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
82
4.2
4.3
4.4
4.5
iv
CONTENTS
4.6
Herc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
4.6.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
83
4.6.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
4.6.3
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
84
4.6.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
Roland Pryzbylewski . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
4.7.1
Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
85
4.7.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.7.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
Ellis Carver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.8.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
86
4.8.2
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.8.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
Leander Sydnor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.9.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
89
4.9.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
4.10 Beadie Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
4.10.1 Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
90
4.10.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
4.11 Cedric Daniels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
4.11.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
92
4.11.2 Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.11.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.12 William Rawls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.12.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
96
4.12.2 Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.12.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.13 Ervin Burrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.13.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
99
4.7
4.8
4.9
4.13.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

4.14 Stanislaus Valchek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
4.14.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102
4.14.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.15 Jay Landsman (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.15.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 104
4.15.2 Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
4.15.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 106
5
Law enforcement
107
CONTENTS
5.1
5.2
5.3
Law enforcement characters of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

5.1.1
Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
5.1.2
FBI . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107
5.1.3
Court house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108
5.1.4
Politics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
5.1.5
Prison sta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
5.1.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110
Rhonda Pearlman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

5.2.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111
5.2.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
Maurice Levy (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

5.3.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113
5.3.2
Analysis and origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
5.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114
Street-level characters
6.1
6.2
116
Street-level characters of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

6.1.1
Barksdale organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.2
Omars crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.3
Staneld organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.4
New Day Co-Op . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.5
West Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116
6.1.6
East Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117
6.1.7
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 119
6.1.8
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124
Omar Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

6.2.1
Season one . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
6.2.2
Season two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
6.2.3
Season three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125
6.2.4
Season four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
6.2.5
Season ve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126
6.2.6
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.7
Prequels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.8
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.9
Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127
6.2.10 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

6.3
Bubbles (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

6.3.1
Depiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128
6.3.2
Origin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129
vi
CONTENTS
6.4
6.5
6.6
6.7
6.8
6.9
6.3.3
Trivia . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
6.3.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
Dennis Cutty Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

6.4.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130
6.4.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
6.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131
Stringer Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

6.5.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 132
6.5.2
Legacy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.5.3
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.5.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
Avon Barksdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

6.6.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134
6.6.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
6.6.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138
Marlo Staneld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

6.7.1
Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139
6.7.2
Analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
6.7.3
Real life origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
6.7.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142
Proposition Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

6.8.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143
6.8.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
6.8.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
Spiros Vondas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

6.9.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145
6.9.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146
6.10 The Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

6.10.1 Biography
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147
6.10.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

6.11 Chris Partlow . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
6.11.1 Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 148
6.11.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
6.12 Felicia Snoop Pearson . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
6.12.1 Season three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
6.12.2 Season four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 150
6.12.3 Season ve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
6.12.4 Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
CONTENTS
vii
6.12.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151

6.12.6 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
6.13 Wee-Bey Brice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
6.13.1 Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151
6.13.2 Real life origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 152
6.13.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
6.14 Bodie Broadus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
6.14.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 153
6.14.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
6.15 Poot Carr . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
6.15.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 155
6.15.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
6.16 D'Angelo Barksdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
6.16.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 156
6.16.2 Critical response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.16.3 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.16.4 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.17 Cheese Wagsta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.17.1 Character biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 158
6.17.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
6.18 Wallace (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
6.18.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 159
6.18.2 Behind the scenes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
6.18.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 160
7
Docks
7.1
7.2
7.3
161
Characters from the docks of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161

7.1.1
Sobotka family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 161
7.1.2
Dock workers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 162
7.1.3
The Greeks . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 163
7.1.4
Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
7.1.5
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
Frank Sobotka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164

7.2.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 164
7.2.2
Miscellaneous . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7.2.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
Nick Sobotka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165

7.3.1
Plot details . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 165
7.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
viii
CONTENTS
7.4
7.5
7.4.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
7.4.2
Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
7.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
Sergei Malatov . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168

7.5.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 168
7.5.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 169
Politicians
170
8.1
8.2
8.3
8.4
8.5
Ziggy Sobotka . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 166
Politicians of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170

8.1.1
Maryland State Politicians . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 170
8.1.2
Baltimore City Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 171
8.1.3
Campaign sta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 174
8.1.4
Fund-raisers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
8.1.5
Relatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
8.1.6
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 175
Tommy Carcetti . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176

8.2.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 176
8.2.2
Critical response . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
8.2.3
Character inspiration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
8.2.4
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 178
Clarence Royce . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179

8.3.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 179
8.3.2
Relationships With Various Groups and People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 180
8.3.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181
Clay Davis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 181

8.4.1
Storylines . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 182
8.4.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
8.4.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
8.4.4
External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 183
Norman Wilson (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184

8.5.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
8.5.2
Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
8.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 184
School
9.1
185
School system of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185

9.1.1
Administration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 185
9.1.2
Students . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 187
CONTENTS
9.1.3
9.2
9.3
9.4
9.5
9.6
ix
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 189
Howard Bunny Colvin . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190

9.2.1
Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 190
9.2.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 191
Michael Lee (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192

9.3.1
Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 192
9.3.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 193
Duquan Dukie Weems . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194

9.4.1
Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 194
9.4.2
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195
Namond Brice . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 195

9.5.1
9.5.2
9.5.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197
Randy Wagsta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 197

9.6.1
9.6.2
9.6.3
References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 198
10 Journalists
199
10.1 Journalists of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199

10.1.1 Editorial sta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 199
10.1.2 Reporters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 200
10.1.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 201
10.2 Augustus Haynes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
10.2.1 Character depiction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202
10.2.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 203
10.3 Scott Templeton . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
10.3.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204
10.3.2 Origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
10.3.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205
10.4 Alma Gutierrez . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
10.4.1 Biography . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
10.4.2 Production . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
10.4.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206
11 Miscellany
207
11.1 And All the Pieces Matter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207

11.1.1 Track listing
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
CONTENTS
11.1.2 Personnel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
11.1.3 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
11.1.4 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207
12 Text and image sources, contributors, and licenses
208
12.1 Text . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208

12.2 Images . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 215
12.3 Content license . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218
Chapter 1
Overview
1.1 The Wire
For other uses, see Wire (disambiguation).
The Wire is an American crime drama television series set
and produced in and around Baltimore, Maryland. Created
and primarily written by author and former police reporter
David Simon, the series was broadcast by the premium cable network HBO in the United States. The Wire premiered
on June 2, 2002, and ended on March 9, 2008, comprising
60 episodes over ve seasons.
Each season of The Wire introduces a dierent institution
in the city of Baltimore. In chronological order they are: the
illegal drug trade, the seaport system, the city government
and bureaucracy, the school system, and the print news media. The large cast consists mainly of character actors who
are little known for their other roles, as well as numerous
guest and recurring appearances by real-life Baltimore and
Maryland gures. Simon has said that despite its presentation as a crime drama, the show is really about the American city, and about how we live together. Its about how
institutions have an eect on individuals. Whether one is a
cop, a longshoreman, a drug dealer, a politician, a judge or David Simon, creator of The Wire
a lawyer, all are ultimately compromised and must contend
with whatever institution to which they are committed.[1]
working on protracted investigations of violent drug dealers
Despite receiving only average ratings and never winning
using surveillance technology, had often been frustrated by
major television awards, The Wire has been described
the bureaucracy of the Baltimore police department; Simon
by many critics as one of the greatest TV dramas of all
saw similarities with his own ordeals as a police reporter for
time.[2][3][4][5][6][7] The show is recognized for its realistic
The Baltimore Sun.
portrayal of urban life, its literary ambitions, and its uncommonly deep exploration of social and political themes. Simon chose to set the show in Baltimore because of his
intimate familiarity with the city. During his time as a
writer and producer for the NBC program Homicide: Life
1.1.1 Production
on the Street, based on his book Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets and also set in Baltimore, Simon had come
Conception
into conict with NBC network executives who were displeased by the shows pessimism. Simon wanted to avoid
Simon has stated that he originally set out to create a police a repeat of these conicts. He chose to take The Wire to
drama loosely based on the experiences of his writing part- HBO because of their existing working relationship from
ner Ed Burns, a former homicide detective. Burns, when the 2000 miniseries The Corner. HBO was initially doubtful
1
2
about including a police drama in its lineup, but eventually
agreed to produce the pilot episode.[8][9] Simon approached
the mayor of Baltimore, telling him that he wanted to give
a bleak portrayal of certain aspects of the city; he was welcomed to work there again. He hoped that the show would
change the opinions of some viewers but said that it was
unlikely to have an impact on the issues it portrays.[8]
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Toni Lewis and Callie Thorne also appeared on Homicide:
Life on the Street, the earlier and award winning network
television series also based on Simons book; Lewis appeared on Oz as well.[23][24][25][26][27] A number of cast
members, as well as crew members, also appeared in the
preceding HBO miniseries The Corner including Clarke Peters, Reg E. Cathey, Lance Reddick, Corey Parker Robinson, Robert F. Chew and Delaney Williams.
Casting
Main article: List of The Wire characters
The casting of the show has been praised for avoiding bigname stars and providing character actors who appear natural in their roles.[10] The looks of the cast as a whole have
been described as defying TV expectations by presenting
a true range of humanity on screen.[11] Most of the cast
is African-American, consistent with the demographics of
Baltimore.
The initial cast was assembled through a process of auditions and readings. Lance Reddick received the role of
Cedric Daniels after auditioning for several other parts.[12]
Michael K. Williams got the part of Omar Little after only
a single audition.[13]
Several prominent real-life Baltimore gures, including former Maryland Governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr.; Rev. Frank
M. Reid III; former police chief, convicted felon, and radio
personality Ed Norris; Virginia Delegate Rob Bell; Baltimore Sun reporter and editor David Ettlin; Howard County
Executive Ken Ulman; and former mayor Kurt Schmoke
have appeared in minor roles despite not being professional
actors.[14][15] Little Melvin Williams, a Baltimore drug
lord arrested in the 1980s by an investigation that Ed Burns
had been part of, had a recurring role as a deacon beginning
in the third season. Jay Landsman, a longtime police ocer who inspired the character of the same name,[16] played
Lieutenant Dennis Mello.[17] Baltimore police commander
Gary D'Addario served as the series technical advisor for
the rst two seasons[18][19] and has a recurring role as prosecutor Gary DiPasquale.[20] Simon shadowed D'Addarios
shift when researching his book Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets and both D'Addario and Landsman are subjects of the book.[21]
Crew
Alongside Simon, the shows creator, head writer,
showrunner and executive producer, much of the creative team behind The Wire were alumni of Homicide
and Emmy-winning miniseries The Corner. The Corner
veteran, Robert F. Colesberry, was executive producer for
the rst two seasons and directed the season 2 nale before
dying from complications from heart surgery in 2004.
He is credited by the rest of the creative team as having
a large creative role for a producer, and Simon credits
him for achieving the shows realistic visual feel.[1] He
also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole.[28]
Colesberrys wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the
production sta.[18] A third producer on The Corner, Nina
Kostro Noble also stayed with the production sta for
The Wire rounding out the initial four-person team.[18]
Following Colesberrys death, she became the shows
second executive producer alongside Simon.[29]
Stories for the show were often co-written by Ed Burns,
a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school
teacher who had worked with Simon on other projects including The Corner. Burns also became a producer on The
Wire in the shows fourth season.[30] Other writers for The
Wire include three acclaimed crime ction writers from
outside of Baltimore: George Pelecanos from Washington,
Richard Price from the Bronx and Dennis Lehane from
Boston.[31] Reviewers drew comparisons between Prices
works (particularly Clockers) and The Wire even before he
joined.[32] In addition to writing, Pelecanos served as a producer for the third season.[33] Pelecanos has commented
that he was attracted to the project because of the opportunity to work with Simon.[33] Sta writer Rafael Alvarez
penned several episodes scripts, as well as the series guidebook The Wire: Truth Be Told. Alvarez is a colleague of
Simons from The Sun and a Baltimore native with working
experience in the port area.[34] Another city native and independent lmmaker, Joy Lusco, also wrote for the show in
each of its rst three seasons.[35] Baltimore Sun writer and
political journalist William F. Zorzi joined the writing sta
in the third season and brought a wealth of experience to
the shows examination of Baltimore politics.[34]
More than a dozen cast members previously appeared on

HBOs rst hour-long drama Oz. J. D. Williams, Seth
Gilliam, Lance Reddick, and Reg E. Cathey were featured
in very prominent roles in Oz, while a number of other notable stars of The Wire, including Wood Harris, Frankie
Faison, John Doman, Clarke Peters, Domenick Lombardozzi, Michael Hyatt, Michael Potts, and Method Man appeared in at least one episode of Oz.[22] Cast members Erik
Dellums, Peter Gerety, Clark Johnson, Clayton LeBouef, Playwright and television writer/producer Eric Overmyer
1.1. THE WIRE

joined the crew of The Wire in the shows fourth season
as a consulting producer and writer.[30] He had also previously worked on Homicide. Overmyer was brought into the
full-time production sta to replace Pelecanos who scaled
back his involvement to concentrate on his next book and
worked on the fourth season solely as a writer.[36] Emmyaward winner, Homicide and The Corner writer and college
friend of Simon David Mills also joined the writing sta in
the fourth season.[30]
Directors include Homicide alumnus Clark Johnson,[37] who
directed several acclaimed episodes of The Shield,[38] and
Tim Van Patten, an Emmy winner who has worked on every
season of The Sopranos. The directing has been praised for
its uncomplicated and subtle style.[10] Following the death
of Colesberry, director Joe Chappelle joined the production
sta as a co-executive producer and continued to regularly
direct episodes.[39]
Episode structure
When broadcast on HBO and on some international networks, the episodes are preceded by a recap of events that
have a bearing upon the upcoming narrative, using clips
from previous episodes. Each episode begins with a cold
open that seldom contains a dramatic juncture. The screen
then fades or cuts to black while the intro music fades in.
The shows opening title sequence then plays; a series of
shots, mainly close-ups, concerning the shows subject matter that changes from season to season, separated by fast
cutting (a technique rarely used in the show itself). The
opening credits are superimposed on the sequence, and consist only of actors names without identifying which actors
play which roles. In addition, actors faces are rarely seen
in the title sequence. At the end of the sequence, a quotation is shown on-screen that is spoken by a character during the episode. The three exceptions were the rst season
nale which uses the phrase All in the game, attributed
to Traditional West Baltimore, a phrase used frequently
throughout all ve seasons including that episode; the fourth
season nale which uses words written on boarded up vacant
homes attributed to Baltimore, traditional and the series
nale, which started with a quote from H. L. Mencken that
is shown on a wall at The Baltimore Sun in one scene, neither quote being spoken by a character. Progressive story
arcs often unfold in dierent locations at the same time.
Episodes rarely end with a clihanger, and close with a fade
or cut to black with the closing music fading in.
Music
3
emanate from a source within the scene, such as a jukebox or car radio. This kind of music is known as source
cues. This practice is rarely breached, notably for the endof-season montages and occasionally with a brief overlap of
the closing theme and the nal shot.[40]
The opening theme is "Way Down in the Hole, a gospeland blues-inspired song originally written by Tom Waits for
his 1987 album Franks Wild Years. Each season uses a different recording of it against a dierent opening sequence,
with the theme being performed, in order, by The Blind
Boys of Alabama, Waits himself, The Neville Brothers, DoMaJe and Steve Earle. Season fours version of Way Down
in the Hole was arranged and recorded specically for the
show, and is performed by ve Baltimore teenagers: Ivan
Ashford, Markel Steele, Cameron Brown, Tariq Al-Sabir,
and Avery Bargasse.[41] Earle, who performed the fth seasons version, is also a member of the cast, playing the recovering drug addict Walon.[42] The closing theme is The
Fall, composed by Blake Leyh, who is also the shows music supervisor.
During season nales, a song is played before the closing
scene in a montage showing the major characters lives continuing in the aftermath of the narrative. The rst season
montage is played over Step by Step by Jesse Winchester,
the second I Feel Alright by Steve Earle, the third Fast
Train written by Van Morrison and performed by Solomon
Burke, the fourth I Walk on Gilded Splinters written by
Dr. John and performed by Paul Weller, and the fth uses
an extended version of Way Down In The Hole by the
Blind Boys of Alabama, the same version of the song used
as the opening theme for the rst season. While the songs
reect the mood of the sequence, their lyrics are usually only
loosely tied to the visual shots. In the commentary track to
episode 37, "Mission Accomplished, executive producer
David Simon said: I hate it when somebody purposely tries
to have the lyrics match the visual. It brutalizes the visual
in a way to have the lyrics dead on point. ... Yet at the same
time it can't be totally o point. It has to glance at what
you're trying to say.[32]
Music by the Celtic punk band The Pogues is used throughout the series. The bands song The Body of an American, which is always played at the detectives wakes at
Kavanaughs Bar, occurs in three separate episodes. In the
episode "Dead Soldiers, the song "Sally MacLennane" can
be heard when Bunk and McNulty are drinking on the street
outside Kavanaughs Bar. The song Transmetropolitan is
heard in the opening sequence of the episode "Duck and
Cover" during season two, where McNulty crashes his car
while drunk.
Two soundtrack albums, called The Wire: And All the

Pieces MatterFive Years of Music from The Wire and
Rather than overlaying songs on the soundtrack, or employ- Beyond Hamsterdam, were released on January 8, 2008 on
ing a score, The Wire primarily uses pieces of music that
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Nonesuch Records.[43] The former features music from all characters. The article expressed great sadness at the toll
ve seasons of the series and the latter includes local Balti- drugs and violence are taking on the black community.[51]
more artists exclusively.[43]
Visual novel
1.1.2
Style
Realism
The writers strove to create a realistic vision of an American city based on their own experiences. Simon, originally
a journalist for the Baltimore Sun, spent a year researching a
homicide police department for his book, Homicide: A Year
on the Killing Streets, where he met Burns. Burns served
in the Baltimore Police Department for 20 years, and later
became a teacher in an inner-city school. The two of them
spent a year researching the drug culture and poverty in Baltimore for their book, The Corner: A Year in the Life of
an Inner-City Neighborhood. Their combined experiences
were used in many of the storylines of The Wire.
Many important events occur o-camera and there is no

articial exposition in the form of voice-over or ashbacks,
with the exceptions of two ashbacks one at the end of
the pilot episode that replays a moment from earlier in the
same episode and one at the end of the fourth season nale
that shows a short clip of a character tutoring his younger
brother earlier in the season. Thus, the viewer needs to follow every conversation closely to understand the ongoing
story arc and the relevance of each character to it. Salon.com has described the show as novelistic in structure,
with a greater depth of writing and plotting than other crime
shows.[31] Each season of The Wire consists of 1013 fullhour episodes, which form several multi-layered narratives.
Simon chose this structure with an eye towards long story
arcs that draw a viewer in, which then results in a more satisfying payo. He uses the metaphor of a visual novel in
several interviews,[8][52] describing each episode as a chapter, and has also commented that this allows a fuller exploration of the shows themes in time not spent on plot
development.[1]
Central to the shows aim for realism was the creation of

truthful characters. Simon has stated that most of them are
composites of real-life Baltimore gures.[44] For instance,
Donnie Andrews served as the main inspiration of Omar
Little.[45] Martin O'Malley served as one of the inspirations for Tommy Carcetti.[46] The show often cast nonprofessional actors in minor roles, distinguishing itself from
other television series by showing the faces and voices of Social commentary
the real city it depicts.[47] The writing also uses contemporary slang to enhance the immersive viewing experience.[47]
In distinguishing the police characters from other television detectives, Simon makes the point that even the best
police of The Wire are motivated not by a desire to protect and serve, but by the intellectual vanity of believing
they are smarter than the criminals they are chasing. However, while many of the police do exhibit altruistic qualities, many ocers portrayed on the show are incompetent,
brutal, self-aggrandizing, or hamstrung by bureaucracy and
politics. The criminals are not always motivated by prot or
a desire to harm others; many are trapped in their existence
and all have human qualities. Even so, The Wire does not
minimize or gloss over the horric eects of their actions.[1]
The show is realistic in depicting the processes of both po- Murderland Alley is both realistically and bleakly portrayed.
lice work and criminal activity. There have even been reports of real-life criminals watching the show to learn how Simon described the second season as
to counter police investigation techniques.[48][49] The fth
season portrayed a working newsroom at the Baltimore Sun
a meditation on the death of work and the
and has been hailed as the most realistic portrayal of the
betrayal of the American working class ... it is a
[50]
media in lm and television.
deliberate argument that unencumbered capitalIn December 2006, The Washington Post carried an artiism is not a substitute for social policy; that on
cle in which local African-American students stated that the
its own, without a social compact, raw capitalism
show had hit a nerve with the black community, and that
is destined to serve the few at the expense of the
they themselves knew real-life counterparts of many of the
many.[44]
1.1. THE WIRE

He added that season 3 reects on the nature of reform and
reformers, and whether there is any possibility that political
processes, long calcied, can mitigate against the forces currently arrayed against individuals. The third season is also
an allegory that draws explicit parallels between the Iraq
War and drug prohibition,[44] which in Simons view has
failed in its aims[49] and has become a war against Americas underclass.[53] This is portrayed by Major Colvin, imparting to Carver his view that policing has been allowed to
become a war and thus will never succeed in its aims.
5
Surveillance
Central to the structure and plot of the show is the use

of electronic surveillance and wiretap technologies by the
policehence the title The Wire. Salon.com described the
title as a metaphor for the viewers experience: the wiretaps provide the police with access to a secret world, just
as the show does for the viewer.[31] Simon has discussed
the use of camera shots of surveillance equipment, or shots
that appear to be taken from the equipment itself, to emphasize the volume of surveillance in modern life and the
Writer Ed Burns, who worked as a public school teacher
characters need to sift through this information.[1]
after retiring from the Baltimore police force shortly before
going to work with Simon, has called education the theme
of the fourth season. Rather than focusing solely on the 1.1.4 Cast and characters
school system, the fourth season looks at schools as a porous
part of the community that are aected by problems outside Main article: List of The Wire characters
of their boundaries. Burns states that education comes from
many sources other than schools and that children can be
educated by other means, including contact with the drug The Wire employs a broad ensemble cast, supplemented by
dealers they work for.[54] Burns and Simon see the theme many recurring guest stars who populate the institutions feaas an opportunity to explore how individuals end up like the tured in the show. The majority of the cast is black, which
shows criminal characters, and to dramatize the notion that accurately reects the demographics of Baltimore. This is
a rarity in American television drama.
hard work is not always justly rewarded.[55]
The shows creators are also willing to kill o major characters, so that viewers cannot assume that a given character
will survive simply because of a starring role or popularity among fans. In response to a question on why a certain
1.1.3 Themes
character had to die, David Simon said,
Institutional dysfunction
Simon has identied the organizations featured in the
showthe Baltimore Police Department, City Hall, the
Baltimore public school system, the Barksdale drug trafcking operation, The Baltimore Sun, and the stevedores'
unionas comparable institutions. All are dysfunctional
in some way, and the characters are typically betrayed by
the institutions that they accept in their lives.[1] There is
also a sentiment echoed by a detective in Narcotics"Shit
rolls downhillwhich describes how superiors, especially
in the higher tiers of the police department in the series,
will attempt to use subordinates as scapegoats for any major scandals. Simon described the show as cynical about
institutions[49] while taking a humanistic approach toward
its characters.[49] A central theme developed throughout the
show is the struggle between individual desires and subordination to the groups goals. Whether it is Ocer Jimmy
McNulty using all his cards to pursue a high-prole case despite resistance from his own department, or gang member
D'Angelo Barksdale accepting a 20-year prison sentence
contrary to his strong desire to turn in his uncle Avon and
walk, this type of conict is pervasive in all aspects of the
show.
We are not selling hope, or audience gratication, or cheap victories with this show.
The Wire is making an argument about what
institutionsbureaucracies, criminal enterprises, the cultures of addiction, raw capitalism
evendo to individuals. It is not designed purely
as an entertainment. It is, I'm afraid, a somewhat
angry show.[56]
Main cast
The major characters of the rst season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in
drug-related crime. The investigating detail was launched
by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic
West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems played counterpoint to his ability as a criminal investigator. The detail was led by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels
(Lance Reddick) who faced challenges balancing his career
aspirations with his desire to produce a good case. Kima
Greggs (Sonja Sohn) was a capable lead detective who faced
jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of
her job from her domestic partner. Her investigative work
was greatly helped by her criminal informant, a drug addict
6
known as Bubbles (Andre Royo). Like Greggs, partners
Thomas Herc Hauk (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Ellis
Carver (Seth Gilliam) were reassigned to the detail from the
narcotics unit. The duos initially violent nature was eventually subdued as they proved useful in grunt work, and sometimes served as comic relief for the audience.[31] Rounding out the temporary unit were detectives Lester Freamon
(Clarke Peters) and Roland Prez Pryzbylewski (Jim TrueFrost). Though not initially important players in the operation, Freamon proved a quietly capable and methodical
investigator with a knack for noticing tiny but important details, and Prez turned out to be a natural at following paper
trails and his persistence when dealing with seemingly unbreakable codes paid o eventually.
These investigators were overseen by two commanding ofcers more concerned with politics and their own careers
than the case, Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie
Faison) and Major William Rawls (John Doman). Assistant states attorney Rhonda Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the
courthouse and also had a sexual relationship with McNulty. In the homicide division, Bunk Moreland (Wendell
Pierce) was a gifted, dry-witted, hard-drinking detective
partnered with McNulty under Sergeant Jay Landsman
(Delaney Williams), the sarcastic, sharp-tongued squad supervisor. Peter Gerety had a recurring role as Judge Phelan,
the ocial who started the case moving.[31]
On the other side of the investigation was Avon Barksdale's drug empire. The driven, ruthless Barksdale (Wood
Harris) was aided by business-minded Stringer Bell (Idris
Elba). Avons nephew D'Angelo Barksdale (Larry Gilliard,
Jr.) ran some of his uncles territory, but also possessed a
guilty conscience, while loyal Wee-Bey Brice (Hassan Johnson) was responsible for multiple homicides carried out on
Avons orders. Working under D'Angelo were Poot (Tray
Chaney), Bodie (J.D. Williams), and Wallace (Michael B.
Jordan), all street-level drug dealers.[31] Wallace was an intelligent but naive youth trapped in the drug trade,[31] and
Poot a randy young man happy to follow rather than lead.
Omar Little (Michael K. Williams), a renowned Baltimore
stick-up man robbing drug dealers for a living, was a frequent thorn in the side of the Barksdale clan.
The second season introduced a new group of characters
working in the Baltimore port area, including Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos (Paul Ben-Victor), Beadie Russell (Amy
Ryan), and Frank Sobotka (Chris Bauer). Vondas was the
underboss of a global smuggling operation, Russell an inexperienced Port authority ocer and single mother thrown
in at the deep end of a multiple homicide investigation, and
Frank Sobotka a union leader who turned to crime to raise
funds to save his union. Also joining the show in season
2 were Nick Sobotka (Pablo Schreiber), Franks nephew;
Ziggy Sobotka (James Ransone), Franks troubled son; and
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
"The Greek" (Bill Raymond), Vondass mysterious boss.
As the second season ended, the focus shifted away from
the ports, leaving the new characters behind.
The third season saw several previously recurring characters
assuming larger starring roles, including Detective Leander
Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson), Bodie (J.D. Williams),
Omar (Michael K. Williams), Proposition Joe (Robert F.
Chew), and Major Howard Bunny Colvin (Robert Wisdom). Colvin commanded the Western district where the
Barksdale organization operated, and nearing retirement,
he came up with a radical new method of dealing with the
drug problem. Proposition Joe, the East Sides cautious
drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the Barksdale
Organization. Sydnor, a rising young star in the police department in season 1, returned to the cast as part of the
major crimes unit. Bodie had been seen gradually rising
in the Barksdale organization since the rst episode; he was
born to their trade and showed a erce aptitude for it. Omar
had a vendetta against the Barksdale organization and gave
them all of his lethal attention.
New additions in the third season included Tommy Carcetti
(Aidan Gillen), an ambitious city councilman; Mayor
Clarence Royce (Glynn Turman), the incumbent whom
Carcetti planned to unseat; Marlo Staneld (Jamie Hector),
leader of an upstart gang seeking to challenge Avons dominance; and Dennis Cutty Wise (Chad Coleman), a newly
released convict uncertain of his future.
In the fourth season, four young actors joined the cast:
Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie Weems; Maestro
Harrell as Randy Wagsta; Julito McCullum as Namond
Brice; and Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee. The characters
are friends from a West Baltimore middle school. Another
newcomer was Norman Wilson (Reg E. Cathey), Carcettis
deputy campaign manager.
The fth season saw several actors join the starring cast.
Gbenga Akinnagbe returns as the previously recurring
Chris Partlow, chief enforcer of the now dominant Staneld
Organization. Neal Hu reprises his role as Mayoral chief
of sta Michael Steintorf having previously appeared as a
guest star at the end of the fourth season. Two other actors also join the starring cast having previously portrayed
their corrupt characters as guest starsMichael Kostro as
defense attorney Maurice Levy and Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as
senator Clay Davis. Crew member Clark Johnson appeared
in front of the camera for the rst time in the series to play
Augustus Haynes, the principled editor of the city desk of
The Baltimore Sun. He is joined in the newsroom by two
other new stars; Michelle Paress and Tom McCarthy play
young reporters Alma Gutierrez and Scott Templeton.
1.1. THE WIRE
1.1.5
Plot
Main article: List of The Wire episodes
Season 1
Main article: The Wire (season 1)
The rst season introduces two major groups of characters:
the Baltimore police department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. The season follows the
police investigation of the latter over its 13 episodes.
7
eration to wrap up the case. Detective Kima Greggs is seriously hurt in the operation, triggering an overzealous response from the rest of the department. This causes the
details targets to suspect that they are under investigation.
Wallace is murdered by his childhood friends Bodie and
Poot, on orders from Stringer Bell, after leaving his secure placement with relatives and returning to Baltimore.
D'Angelo Barksdale is eventually arrested transporting a
kilo of uncut heroin, and learning of Wallaces murder,
is ready to turn in his uncle and Stringer. However,
D'Angelos mother convinces him to rescind the deal and
take the charges for his family. The detail manages to arrest Avon on a minor charge and gets one of his soldiers,
Wee-Bey, to confess to most of the murders, some of which
he did not commit. Stringer escapes prosecution and is left
running the Barksdale empire. For the ocers, the consequences of antagonizing their superiors are severe, with
Daniels passed over for promotion and McNulty assigned
out of homicide and into the marine unit.
The investigation is triggered when detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with judge Daniel Phelan following the acquittal of D'Angelo Barksdale for murder after
a key witness changes her story. McNulty tells Phelan that
the witness has probably been intimidated by members of
a drug tracking empire run by D'Angelos uncle, Avon
Barksdale, having recognized several faces at the trial, most Season 2
notably Avons second-in-command, Stringer Bell. He also
tells Phelan that nobody is investigating Barksdales crimi- Main article: The Wire (season 2)
nal activity, which includes a signicant portion of the citys
drug trade and several unsolved homicides.
The second season, along with its ongoing examination of
Phelan takes issue with McNultys report and complains to the drug problem and its eect on the urban poor, examines
senior Police Department gures, embarrassing them into the plight of the blue-collar urban working class as exemcreating a detail dedicated to investigating Barksdale. How- plied by stevedores in the city port, as some of them get
ever, owing to the departments dysfunction, the investiga- caught up in smuggling drugs and other contraband inside
tion is intended as a faade to appease the judge. An in- the shipping containers that pass through their port.[44] In
tradepartmental struggle between the more motivated o- a season-long subplot, the Barksdale organization contincers on the detail and their superiors spans the whole sea- ues its drug tracking despite Avons imprisonment, with
son, with interference by the higher-ups often threatening Stringer Bell assuming greater power.
to ruin the investigation. The details commander, Cedric
McNulty harbors a grudge against his former commanders
Daniels, acts as mediator between the two opposing groups for reassigning him to the marine unit. When thirteen
of police.
unidentied young women are found dead in a container
Meanwhile, the organized and cautious Barksdale gang is at the docks, McNulty successfully makes a spiteful eort
explored through characters at various levels within it. The to place the murders within the jurisdiction of his former
organization is continually antagonized by a stick-up crew commander. Meanwhile, police Major Stan Valchek gets
led by Omar Little, and the feud leads to several deaths. into a feud with Frank Sobotka, a leader of the InternaThroughout, D'Angelo struggles with his conscience over tional Brotherhood of Stevedores, a ctional dockers union,
his life of crime and the people it aects.
over competing donations to their old neighborhood church.
The police have little success with street-level arrests or with Valchek demands a detail to investigate Sobotka. Cedric
securing informants beyond Bubbles, a well known West Daniels is interviewed, having been praised by Prez, Major
Side drug addict. Eventually the investigation takes the di- Valcheks son-in-law, and also because of his work on the
rection of electronic surveillance, with wiretaps and pager Barksdale case. He is eventually selected to lead the detail
clones to inltrate the security measures taken by the Barks- assigned just to investigate Sobotka; when the investigation
dale organization. This leads the investigation to areas the is concluded Daniels is assured he will move up to head a
commanding ocers had hoped to avoid, including politi- special case unit with personnel of his choosing.
cal contributions. When an associate of Avon Barksdales is Life for the blue-collar men of the port is increasingly hard
arrested by State Police and oers to cooperate, the com- and work is scarce. As union leader, Sobotka has taken
manding ocers order the detail to undertake a sting op- it on himself to reinvigorate the port by lobbying politi-
8
cians to support much-needed infrastructure improvement
initiatives. Lacking the funds needed for this kind of inuence, Sobotka has become involved with a smuggling ring.
Around him, his son and nephew also turn to crime, as they
have few other opportunities to earn money. It becomes
clear to the Sobotka detail that the dead girls are related
to their investigation, as they were in a container that was
supposed to be smuggled through the port. They again use
wiretaps to inltrate the crime ring and slowly work their
way up the chain towards The Greek, the mysterious man
in charge. But Valchek, upset that their focus has moved
beyond Sobotka, gets the FBI involved. The Greek has contacts inside the FBI and starts severing his ties to Baltimore
when he learns about the investigation.
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Season 3
In the third season, the focus returns to the street and the
Barksdale organization. The scope, however, is expanded
to include the citys political scene. A new subplot is introduced to explore the potential positive eects of de facto
legalizing the illegal drug trade, and incidentally prostitution, within the limited boundaries of a few uninhabited city
blocks referred to as Hamsterdam. The posited benets,
as in Amsterdam and other European cities, are reduced
street crime city-wide and increased outreach of health and
social services to at-risk populations. These are continuaAfter a dispute over stolen goods turns violent, Sobotkas tions of storylines hinted at earlier.
son Ziggy is charged with the murder of one of the Greeks
underlings. Sobotka himself is arrested for smuggling; he The demolition of the residential towers that had served
agrees to work with the detail to help his son, nally seeing as the Barksdale organizations prime territory pushes their
his actions as a mistake. However, the Greek learns about dealers back out onto the streets of Baltimore. Stringer
this through a mole in the FBI and has Sobotka killed. The Bell continues his reform of the organization by cooperatinvestigation ends with the fourteen homicides solved but ing with other drug lords, sharing with one another territory,
the perpetrator already dead. Several drug dealers and mid- product, and prots. Stringers proposal is met with a curt
level smuggling gures tied to the Greek are arrested, but he refusal from Marlo Staneld, leader of a new, growing crew.
and his second-in-command escape uncharged and uniden- Against Stringers advice, Avon decides to take Marlos tertied. The Major is pleased that Sobotka was arrested; the ritory by force, and the two gangs become embroiled in a
case is seen as a success by the commanding ocers, but is bitter turf war with multiple deaths. Omar Little continues
to rob the Barksdale organization wherever possible. Workviewed as a failure by the detail.
ing with his new boyfriend, Dante, and two women, he is
Across town, the Barksdale organization continues its busi- once more a serious problem. The violence related to the
ness under Stringer while Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale drug trade makes it an obvious choice of investigation for
serve prison time. D'Angelo decides to cut ties to his family Cedric Daniels' now-permanent Major Crimes Unit.
after his uncle organizes the deaths of several inmates and
blames it on a corrupt guard to shave time from his sentence. Councilman Tommy Carcetti begins to prepare himself for
Eventually Stringer covertly orders D'Angelo killed, with a mayoral race. He manipulates a colleague into running
the murder staged to look like a suicide. Avon is unaware against the mayor to split the black vote, secures a capable
campaign manager and starts making headlines for himself.
of Stringers duplicity and mourns the loss of his nephew.
Stringer also struggles, having been cut o by Avons drug As he approaches the end of his career, Major Howard
suppliers and left with increasingly poor-quality product. Bunny Colvin of Baltimores Western District wants to
He again goes behind Avons back, giving up half of Avons eect some real change in the troubled neighborhoods for
most prized territory to a rival named Proposition Joe in which he has long been responsible. Without the knowlexchange for a share of his supply. Avon, unaware of the edge of central command, Colvin sets up areas where poarrangement, assumes that Joe and other dealers are moving lice would monitor, but not punish, the drug trade. The
into his territory simply because the Barksdale organization police crack down severely on violence in these areas, and
has too few enforcers. He contracts a feared assassin named also on drug tracking elsewhere in the city. For many
Brother Mouzone. Stringer deals with this by tricking his weeks, Colvins experiment works, and crime is reduced
old adversary Omar into believing that Mouzone was rein his district. However, Colvin' superiors, the media, and
sponsible for the vicious killing of his partner in their feud city politicians eventually nd out about the arrangement,
in season one. Seeking revenge, Omar shoots Mouzone but, and the Hamsterdam experiment ends. With top brass
realizing Stringer has lied to him, calls 9-1-1. Mouzone re- outraged, Colvin is forced to cease his actions, accept a decovers and leaves Baltimore, and Stringer (now with Avons motion, and retire from the police department on a lowerconsent) is able to continue his arrangement with Proposi- grade pension. Tommy Carcetti uses the scandal to make
a grandstanding speech at a weekly Baltimore city council
tion Joe.
meeting.
Dennis Cutty Wise, once a drug dealers enforcer, is re-
1.1. THE WIRE
leased from prison alongside Avon. His struggles to adapt to

life as a free man show an attempt at personal reform. Cutty
tries to work as a manual laborer and then irts with his former life, going to work for Avon. Finding he no longer has
the heart for murder, he eventually uses funding from Avon
to purchase new equipment for his nascent boxing gym.
enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop conceal their numerous

victims in abandoned and boarded-up row houses where the
bodies will not be readily discovered. The disappearances
of so many known criminals come to mystify both the major crimes unit investigating Marlo and the homicide unit
assigned to solve the presumed murders. Marlo coerces
The Major Crimes Unit learns that Stringer has been buy- Bodie into working under him.
ing real estate and developing it to fulll his dream of be- McNulty has found peace working as a patrolman and living
ing a successful legitimate businessman. Believing that the with Beadie Russell, and refuses promotions from Daniels,
bloody turf war with Marlo is poised to destroy everything now a major commanding the Western District. Detecthe Barksdale crew had worked for, Stringer gives Major tives Kima Greggs and Lester Freamon, as part of the maColvin information on Avons weapons stash. But Stringer jor crimes unit, investigate Avon Barksdale's political dois himself being betrayed by Avon: Brother Mouzone had nations and serve several key gures with subpoenas. Their
returned to Baltimore and tracked down Omar to join work is shut down by Commissioner Ervin Burrell at Mayor
forces. Mouzone tells Avon that his shooting must be Clarence Royce's request, and after being placed under
avenged. Avon, remembering how Stringer disregarded his stricter supervision within their unit, both Greggs and Freaorder which resulted in Stringer attempting to have Brother mon request and receive transfer to the homicide division.
Mouzone killed, possibly still furious over D'Angelos mur- Meanwhile, the citys mayoral primary race enters its closder (Stringer having nally confessed the truth), and fearing ing weeks. Royce initially has a seemingly insurmountable
Mouzones ability to harm his reputation outside of Balti- lead over challengers Tommy Carcetti and Tony Gray, with
more, informs Mouzone of Stringers upcoming visit to his a big war chest and major endorsements. Royces lead beconstruction site. There, Mouzone and Omar corner him gins to fray, however, as his own political machinations turn
and shoot him to death.
against him and Carcetti starts to highlight the citys crime
Colvin tells McNulty about Avons hideout, and armed with
the information gleaned from selling the Barksdale crew
pre-wiretapped disposable cell phones, the detail stages a
raid, arresting Avon and most of his underlings. Barksdales criminal empire lies in ruins, and Marlos young crew
simply moves into their territory. The drug trade in West
Baltimore continues with little change.
Season 4
problem. Carcetti is propelled to victory in the primary

election.
Howard Bunny Colvin joins a research group attempting
to study potential future criminals in the middle school population. Dennis Cutty Wise continues to work with boys
in his boxing gym, and accepts a job at the school rounding
up truants. Bubbles takes a homeless teenager named Sherrod under his wing. He encourages the boy to attend class,
which he fails to do.
Prez has a few successes with his students, but some of them
start to slip away. Disruptive Namond is removed from class
and placed in the research group, where he gradually develops aection and respect for Colvin. Randy, in a moment
The fourth season expanded its scope again to include an of desperation, reveals knowledge of a murder to the assisexamination of the school system. Other major plots in- tant principal, leading to his being interrogated by police.
clude the mayoral race that continues the political storyline
Proposition Joe engineers a conict between Omar Little
begun in season three, and a closer look at Marlo Staneld's
and Marlo to convince Marlo to join the New Day Co-Op.
drug gang, which has grown to control most of western BalAfter Omar robs Marlo, Marlo frames Omar for a murder
timores tracking.
and attempts to have him murdered in jail, but Omar manThe show introduces Dukie, Randy, Michael, and Namond, ages to beat the charge with the help of Bunk. Omar learns
four boys from West Baltimore, as they enter the eighth Marlo set him up, and gets revenge on him and Proposition
grade. At the same school, Prez has begun a new career as a Joe by robbing the entire shipment of the Co-Op. Meanmath teacher. Despite mentorship from the more seasoned while, the co-op members, including Marlo, are furious at
faculty, Namond, and later Michael, work as drug runners Joe for allowing the shipment to be stolen. Marlo demands
for Bodie, who has had middling success selling Proposition satisfaction, and as a result, Joe sets up a meeting between
Joe's product independently.
him and Spiros Vondas, who assuages Marlos concerns.
Having
gotten a lead on Joes connection to the Greeks,
The cold-blooded Marlo has come to dominate the streets
Marlo
begins
investigating them to learn more about their
of the west side, using murder and intimidation to make up
role
in
bringing
narcotics into Baltimore.
for his weak-quality drugs and lack of business acumen. His
10
Freamon discovers the bodies Chris and Snoop had hidden. Bodie oers McNulty testimony against Marlo and his
crew, but is shot dead on his corner by O-Dog, a member
of Marlos crew.[57] Sherrod dies after snorting a poisoned
vial of heroin that, unbeknownst to him, Bubbles had prepared for their tormentor. Bubbles turns himself in to the
police and tries to hang himself, but he survives and is taken
to a detox facility. Michael has now joined the ranks of
Marlos killers and runs one of his corners, with Dukie leaving high school to work there. Randys house is rebombed
by school bullies for his cooperation with the police, leaving his caring foster mother hospitalized and sending him
back to a group home. Namond is taken in by Colvin, who
recognized the good in him. The major crimes unit from
earlier seasons is largely reunited, and they resume their investigation of Marlo Staneld.
Season 5
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
ing as a Staneld enforcer, providing a home for his friend
Dukie and younger brother Bug.
Omar returns to Baltimore seeking revenge, targeting Stanelds organization, stealing and destroying money and
drugs and killing Staneld enforcers in an attempt to force
Staneld into the open. However, he is eventually shot and
killed by Kenard, a young Staneld dealer.
Baltimore Sun reporter Scott Templeton claims to have been
contacted by McNultys fake serial killer. City Editor Gus
Haynes becomes suspicious, but his superiors are enamored
of Templeton. The story gains momentum and Carcetti
spins the resulting attention on homelessness into a key issue in his imminent campaign for Governor and restores
funding to the police department.
Bubbles is recovering from his drug addiction while living
in his sisters basement. He is befriended by Sun reporter
Mike Fletcher, who eventually writes a prole of Bubbles.
Bunk is disgusted with McNultys serial killer scheme and

tries to have Lester Freamon reason with McNulty. Instead, Freamon helps McNulty perpetuate the lie and uses
resources earmarked for the case to fund an illegal wiretap
The fth season focuses on the media and media
on Staneld. Bunk resumes working the vacant house mur[58]
consumption. The show features a ctional depiction of
ders, leading to a murder warrant against Partlow for killing
the newspaper The Baltimore Sun, and in fact elements of
Michaels stepfather.
the plot are ripped-from-the-headlines events (such as the
Jayson Blair New York Times scandal) and people at the Freamon and Leander Sydnor gather enough evidence to
Sun.[59] The season, according to David Simon, deals with arrest Staneld and most of his top lieutenants, seizing a
what stories get told and what don't and why it is that things large quantity of drugs. Staneld suspects that Michael is
stay the same.[58] Issues such as the quest for prot, the dean informant, and orders him killed. Michael realizes he
crease in the number of reporters, and the end of aspiration is being set up and kills Snoop instead. A wanted man, he
for news quality would all be addressed, alongside the theme leaves Bug with an aunt and begins a career as a stick-up
man. With his support system gone, Dukie lives with drug
of homelessness.
addicts.
Fifteen months after the fourth season concludes, Mayor
Carcetti's cuts in the police budget to redress the education McNulty tells Kima Greggs about his fabrications to prevent
decit force the Marlo Staneld investigation to shut down. her wasting time on the case. Greggs tells Daniels, who,
Cedric Daniels secures a detail to focus on the prosecution along with Rhonda Pearlman, takes this news to Carcetti,
of Senator Davis for corruption. Detective McNulty returns who orders a cover-up because of the issues importance to
to the Homicide unit and decides to divert resources back to his campaign.
the police department by faking evidence to make it appear Davis is acquitted, but Freamon uses the threat of federal
that a serial killer is murdering homeless men.
prosecution to blackmail him for information. Davis reveals
The Baltimore Sun also faces budget cuts and the newsroom struggles to adequately cover the city, omitting many
important stories. Commissioner Burrell continues to falsify crime statistics and is red by Carcetti, who positions
Daniels to replace him.
Marlo Staneld lures his enemy Omar Little out of retirement by having Omars mentor Butchie murdered.
Proposition Joe teaches Staneld how to launder money
and evade investigation. Once Joe is no longer useful to
him, Staneld has Joe killed with the help of Joes nephew
Cheese Wagsta and usurps his position with the Greeks
and the New Day Co-Op. Michael Lee continues work-
Maurice Levy has a mole in the courthouse from whom he

illegally purchases copies of sealed indictments. Herc tells
Levy that the Staneld case was probably based on an illegal
wiretap, something which would jeopardize the entire case.
After Levy reveals this to Pearlman, she uses Levys espionage to blackmail him into agreeing to a plea bargain for
his defendants. Levy ensures Stanelds release on the condition that he permanently retires, while his subordinates
will have to accept long sentences. Staneld sells the connection to The Greeks back to the Co-Op and plans to become a businessman, although he appears unable or unwilling to stay o the corner.
1.1. THE WIRE

As the cover-up begins, a copy-cat killing occurs, but McNulty quickly identies and arrests the culprit. Pearlman
tells McNulty and Freamon that they can no longer be
allowed to do investigative work and warns of criminal
charges if the scandal becomes public. They opt to retire.
Haynes attempts to expose Templeton but the managing
editors ignore the fabrications and demote anyone critical
of their star reporter. Carcetti pressures Daniels to falsify
crime statistics to aid his campaign. Daniels refuses and
then quietly resigns rather than have his FBI le leaked.
In a nal montage, McNulty gazes over the city; Freamon
enjoys retirement; Templeton wins a Pulitzer; Carcetti becomes Governor; Haynes is sidelined to the copy desk and
replaced by Fletcher; Campbell appoints Valchek as commissioner; Carcetti appoints Rawls as Superintendent of
the Maryland State Police; Dukie continues to use heroin;
Michael becomes a stickup boy; Pearlman becomes a judge
and Daniels a defense attorney; Bubbles is allowed upstairs
where he enjoys a family dinner; Chris serves his life sentence alongside Wee-Bey; the drug trade continues; and the
people of Baltimore go on with their lives.
Prequel shorts
During the fth season, HBO produced three short prequels
depicting moments in the history of characters in The Wire.
The three prequels depict the rst meeting between McNulty and Bunk; Proposition Joe as a slick business kid;
and young Omar.[60] The shorts are available on the complete series DVD set.[61]
1.1.6
Reception
Critical response
11
Despite the critical acclaim, The Wire received poor Nielsen
ratings, which Simon attributed to the complexity of the
plot; a poor time slot; heavy use of esoteric slang, particularly among the gangster characters; and a predominantly
black cast.[69] Critics felt the show was testing the attention
span of its audience and felt that it was mistimed in the wake
of the launch of the successful crime drama The Shield on
FX.[68] However, anticipation for a release of the rst season on DVD was high at Entertainment Weekly.[70]
After the rst two shows of season two, Jim Shelley (a
British TV critic writing for The Guardian) called The Wire
the best show on TV, praising the second season for its
ability to detach from its former foundations in the rst
season.[38] Jon Garelick with the Boston Phoenix was of the
opinion that the subculture of the docks (second season)
was not as absorbing as that of the housing projects (rst
season), but he went on to praise the writers for creating a
realistic world and populating it with an array of interesting
characters.[71]
The critical response to the third season remained positive.
Entertainment Weekly named The Wire the best show of
2004, describing it as the smartest, deepest and most resonant drama on TV. They credited the complexity of the
show for its poor ratings.[72] The Baltimore City Paper was
so concerned that the show might be cancelled that it published a list of ten reasons to keep it on the air, including
strong characterization, Omar Little, and an unabashedly
honest representation of real world problems. It also worried that the loss of the show would have a negative impact
on Baltimores economy.[73]
At the close of the third season, The Wire was still struggling to maintain its ratings and the show faced possible
cancellation.[74] Creator David Simon blamed the shows
low ratings in part on its competition against Desperate
Housewives and worried that expectations for HBO dramas
had changed following the success of The Sopranos.[75]
The Wire has generally received rave reviews from major As the fourth season was about to begin, almost two years
television critics, with some naming it the best television after the previous seasons end, Tim Goodman of the San
Francisco Chronicle wrote that The Wire has tackled the
show of all time.
drug war in this country as it simultaneously explores race,
The rst season received positive reviews from poverty and 'the death of the American working class,' the
critics,[62][63] some even calling it superior to HBOs failure of political systems to help the people they serve,
better-known "agship" drama series such as The Sopranos and the tyranny of lost hope. Few series in the history
and Six Feet Under.[64][65][66] On the review aggregation of television have explored the plight of inner-city African
website Metacritic, the rst season scored 78 out of 100 Americans and nonenot onehas done it as well.[76]
based on 22 reviews.[67] One reviewer pointed to the Brian Lowry of Variety wrote at the time, When television
retread of some themes from HBO and David Simon's history is written, little else will rival 'The Wire.'"[77] The
earlier works, but still found it valuable viewing and New York Times called the fourth season of The Wire its
particularly resonant because it parallels the war on terror best season yet.[78] Doug Elfman of the Chicago Sun-Times
through the chronicling of the war on drugs.[68] Another was more reserved in his praise, calling it the most ambireview postulated that the series might suer because of tious show on television, but faulting it for its complexity
its reliance on profanity and slowly drawn-out plot, but was and the slow development of the plotline.[79] The Los Angelargely positive about the shows characters and intrigue.[37]
12
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
les Times took the rare step of devoting an editorial to the

show, stating that even in what is generally acknowledged
to be something of a golden era for thoughtful and entertaining dramasboth on cable channels and on network TV
The Wire stands out.[80] TIME magazine especially praised
the fourth season, stating that no other TV show has ever
loved a city so well, damned it so passionately, or sung it
so searingly.[81] The website Metacritic, which gathers reviews from news sources and translates them into a percentage score, assigned The Wire's fourth season a weighted average score of 98%, the second highest score for any television season in Metacritic history (with the fth season of
Breaking Bad being the rst).[82]
Spanish journal El Pas.[99] The comedian turned mayor of

Reykjavk, Iceland, Jn Gnarr, has gone so far as to say that
he would not enter a coalition government with anyone who
has not watched the series.[100]
Critics have often described the show in literary terms:

the New York Times calls it literary television;" TV Guide
calls it TV as great modern literature;" the San Francisco
Chronicle says the series must be considered alongside the
best literature and lmmaking in the modern era;" and the
Chicago Tribune says the show delivers rewards not unlike those won by readers who conquer Joyce, Faulkner or
Henry James.[76][78][94][95] 'The Wire Files, an online collection of articles published in darkmatter Journal, critically
analyzes The Wire's racialized politics and aesthetics of
representation.[96] Entertainment Weekly put it on its end-ofthe-decade, best-of list, saying, The deft writingwhich
used the cop-genre format to give shape to creator David Simons scathing social critiqueswas matched by one of the
deepest benches of acting talent in TV history.[97]
approval, The Wire never won a Primetime Emmy Award or

received any major nominations. Several critics recognized
its lack of recognition by the Emmys.[103][104][105] According to a report by Variety, anonymous Emmy voters cited
reasons such as the series dense and multilayered plot, the
grim subject matter, and the series lack of connection with
California, as it is set and lmed in Baltimore.[106]
Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman is a strong follower

and has tried to cast as many actors from it into television series of the same name as possible, and has cast Chad Coleman, Lawrence Gilliard, Jr., and Seth Gilliam.[101]
Awards
Main article: List of awards and nominations received by

Several reviewers have called it the best show on television, The Wire
including TIME,[81] Entertainment Weekly,[72] the Chicago
Tribune,[83] Slate,[58] the San Francisco Chronicle,[84] the The Wire was nominated for, and won a wide variety of
Philadelphia Daily News[85] and the British newspaper The awards, including nominations for the Primetime Emmy
Guardian,[38] which ran a week-by-week blog following ev- Award for Outstanding Writing in a Drama Series for
ery episode,[86] also collected in a book, The Wire Re-up.[87] "Middle Ground" and "30", nominations for the NAACP
Charlie Brooker, a columnist for The Guardian, has been Image Award for Outstanding Drama Series in each of its
particularly enthusiastic in his praise of the show, both in ve seasons; and nominations for the Television Critics Ashis Screen Burn column and in his BBC Four television sociation Awards (TCA), and Writers Guild of America
series Screenwipe, calling it possibly the greatest show of Awards (WGA).
the last 20 years.[7][88] In 2007, TIME listed it among the
Most of the awards the series won were in seasons 4 and
one hundred best television series of all-time.[89] In 2013,
5. These included TCAs Heritage Award for season 5 and
the Writers Guild of America ranked The Wire as the ninth
WGAs Award for Best Dramatic Series for season 4, plus
best written TV series.[90] In 2013, TV Guide ranked The
Crime Thriller, Eddie, Edgar, Directors Guild of America,
Wire as the sixth greatest show of all time.[91] In 2013, Enand Irish Film and Television awards. The series also won
tertainment Weekly listed the show at #6 in their list of the
ASCAP, Peabody and Artios awards for season 2.[102]
26 Best Cult TV Shows Ever, describing it as one of
the most highly praised series in HBO history and prais- The series won the Broadcasting & Cable critics poll for
ing Michael K. Williamss acting as Omar Little.[92] Enter- Best Drama (season 4) and won Time 's critics choice for
tainment Weekly also named it the number one TV show of top television show for seasons 1 and 3.
all-time in a special issue in 2013.[93]
Despite the above mentioned awards and unanimous critical
President of the United States Barack Obama has said

that The Wire is his favorite television series.[98] The 2010
Nobel Prize in Literature Laureate, Mario Vargas Llosa,
wrote a very positive critical review of the series in the
Academia
In the years following the end of the series run, several
colleges and universities such as Johns Hopkins, Brown
University, and Harvard College have oered classes on
The Wire in disciplines ranging from law to sociology to
lm studies. Phillips Academy, a boarding high school
in Massachusetts, oers a similar course as well.[107][108]
University of Texas at San Antonio oers a course where
the series is taught as a work of literary ction.[109] In an
article published in The Washington Post, Anmol Chaddha
1.1. THE WIRE

and William Julius Wilson explain why Harvard chose The
Wire as curriculum material for their course on urban inequality: Though scholars know that deindustrialization,
crime and prison, and the education system are deeply intertwined, they must often give focused attention to just
one subject in relative isolation, at the expense of others.
With the freedom of artistic expression, The Wire can be
more creative. It can weave together the range of forces
that shape the lives of the urban poor.[110] University of
York's Head of Sociology, Roger Burrows, said in The Independent that the show makes a fantastic contribution to
their understanding of contemporary urbanism, and is a
contrast to dry, dull, hugely expensive studies that people
carry out on the same issues.[111] The series is also studied
as part of a Master seminar series at the Paris West University Nanterre La Dfense.[112]
1.1.7
Broadcasters
13
1.1.8
Home media releases
The DVD sets have been favorably received, though

some critics have faulted them for a lack of special
features.[10][11][141][142]
The series was remastered in 16:9 HD in late 2014, and will
be released as a complete series Blu-ray box set in summer
2015.[115]
1.1.9
Representation in media
In February 2012, season 1, episode 3 of the sketch

comedy television show Key & Peele, a sketch called
"The Wire Parody depicts two gangsters who are
about to execute a hit, when one of them accidentally defecates in his pants. The two remain in their
car, arguing about it at length until they themselves
are ambushed.[143]
In February 2012, Slovenian philosopher Slavoj iek
gave a lecture at Birkbeck, University of London titled The Wire or the clash of civilisations in one country.[144]
See also: List of The Wire episodes

HBO aired the ve seasons of the show in 2002, 2003,
2004, 2006, and 2008, respectively. New episodes were
shown once a week, occasionally skipping one or two weeks
in favor of other programming. Starting with the fourth
season, subscribers to the HBO On Demand service were
able to see each episode of the season six days earlier.[113]
American basic cable network BET also aired the show.
BET adds commercial breaks, blurs some nudity, and mutes
some profanity. Much of the waterfront storyline from the
second season is edited out from the BET broadcasts.[114]
The series was remastered in 16:9 HD in late 2014, and
the HD remasters debuted on HBO Signature, airing the
entire series consecutively, and on HBO GO on December
26, 2014, and the HD versions will be available for purchase
on various digital platforms on January 5, 2015 and on Bluray in the middle of 2015.[115][116]
In the United Kingdom, the show has been broadcast on
FX, and aired on terrestrial television on BBC Two.[117] Although controversially it was broadcast at 11:20 pm[118] and
had no BBC iPlayer catchup available.[119] In a world rst,
British newspaper The Guardian made the rst episode of
the rst season available to stream on its website for a brief
period.[120] In Ireland, all episodes were aired on public service channel TG4 approximately 6 months after the original air dates on HBO.[121] The series became available in
Canada in a remastered 16:9 HD format on streaming service CraveTV in late 2014.[122]
In April 2012, Norwegian academic Erlend Lavik

posted online a 36-minute video essay called Style
in The Wire" which analyzes the various visual techniques used by the shows directors over the course of
its ve seasons.[145]
In June 2012 the comedy video website Funny or
Die uploaded "The Wire: The Musical, which depicts a supposed musical theatre performance starring
Michael Kenneth Williams, Sonja Sohn, Larry Gillard
Jr., Andre Royo, and Snoop Pearson reprising their
roles from the TV series. A medley of musical numbers replay and ri on tropes of the show, allowing
the viewer to experience Americas failing drug war
through the magic of song.[146]
In November 2013 an installment of the Hows He
Doing?" skit on Saturday Night Livewhich depicts a
talk show in which an African American host (Kenan
Thompson) and his various guests discuss President
Barack Obama's recent performance and popularity
the panel discusses the NSA wiretapping scandal, remarking that white people would be more excited
about it, considering how much they like The Wire"
and that "...white people act like they're doing us a favor. Another guest wonders if the others share her
anxiety about being at a party and seeing a white person approach her "...with a smile and you just know
they're gonna wanna talk about The Wire?"[147]
14
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
In May 2014, the Baltimore-based collaborative artists

Wickerham & Lomax (formerly known as DUOX)
unveiled the rst installment of their BOY'Dega project
in the form of an online work titled BOY'Dega:
Edited4Syndication as part of the New Museum's
monthly First Look: New Art Online series.[148] The
project heavily references The Wire as a depiction
of Baltimore, as a major entry into the urban crime
drama television drama, and as a framework for explorations of fandom.[149]
1.1.10
See also
1.1.11
References
[1] David Simon (2005).

(DVD). HBO.
[16] Character prole Jay Landsman. HBO. 2006. Retrieved

December 19, 2007.
[17] Character prole Dennis Mello. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
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[18] "The Wire season 1 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved October
14, 2007.
14, 2007.
[20] Character prole Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary DiPasquale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved February 12, 2008.
[21] Simon, David (2006) [1991]. Homicide: A Year on the
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The Target commentary track
[2] Traister, Rebbeca (September 15, 2007). The best TV

show of all time. Salon.com. Retrieved March 7, 2008.
[22] The Wire + Oz. Cosmodrome Magazine. January 26,

2008. Retrieved February 11, 2009.
[23] Erik Dellums lmography. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
[24] Peter Gerety lmography. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
[3] The Wire: arguably the greatest television programme ever

made. Telegraph (London). April 2, 2009. Retrieved April
2, 2009.
[25] Clark Johnson lmography. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
[4] Wilde, Jon (July 21, 2007). The Wire is unmissable television. London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved September 7,
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[27] Callie Thorne lmography. Retrieved November 11, 2009.
[5] Carey, Kevin (February 13, 2007). A show of honesty.

London: guardian.co.uk. Retrieved September 7, 2009.
[6] Roush, Matt (February 25, 2013). Showstoppers: The 60
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[7] Charlie Brooker: The Wire. London: The Guardian. July
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[8] Ian Rothkirch (2002). What drugs have not destroyed, the
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[9] Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New
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[10] Chris Barsanti (2004). Totally Wired. Slant Magazine.
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[12] Joel Murphy (2005). One on one with... Lance Reddick.
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[13] Joel Murphy (2005). One on One With Michael K.
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[26] Toni Lewis lmography. Retrieved December 24, 2009.
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[32] "The Wire Complete Third Season on DVD, ASIN
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[14] Deford, Susan (February 14, 2008). Despite Past With Bill
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[37] Todd Weiser (June 17, 2002). New HBO series The Wire
taps into summer programming. The Michigan Daily.
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[15] David Zurawik (July 12, 2006). Local gures, riveting

drama put The Wire in a class by itself. The Baltimore Sun.
[38] Jim Shelley (August 6, 2005). Call The Cops. London:

The Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
1.1. THE WIRE
15
[39] Joe Chappelle biography. HBO. Retrieved October 13,

2007.
[59] NPR interview with Simon broadcast the week of January

12, 2008
[40] On The Corner: After Three Seasons Shaping The Wires

Background Music, Blake Leyh Mines Homegrown Sounds
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[42] Character prole Walon. HBO. 2008. Retrieved March
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[43] Nonesuch to Release Music from Five Years of The
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[44] Richard Vine (2005). Totally Wired. The Guardian Unlimited (London). Retrieved April 9, 2010.
[45] Fenton, Justin (December 14, 2012). Donnie Andrews, inspiration for Omar character on The Wire, dies. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 20, 2012.
[61] Bailey, Jason (December 11, 2008). The Wire: The Complete Series. DVD Talk. Retrieved March 28, 2013.
[62] Television Critics Association Introduces 2003 Award
Nominees. Television Critics Association. Archived from
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2010.
[63] The Wire: The Complete First Season. Rotten Tomatoes.
[64] Alan Sepinwall (August 6, 2006). Taut 'Wire' has real
strength.. Newark Star-Ledger. p. 1.
[65] Aaron Barnhart (2006). "'The Wire' aims higher: TVs nest
hour is back. Kansas City Star.
[66] Leslie Ryan (2003). Tapping The Wire; HBO Police Drama
Tops Television Weeks Semiannual Critics Poll List. Television Week.
[46] Sweetland Edwards, Haley (MayJune 2013). Should Martin OMalley Be President? by Haley Sweetland Edwards.
The Washington Monthly. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
[67] The Wire: Season 1. Metacritic. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 7, 2013.
[47] Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker.

Retrieved October 14, 2007.
[68] Robert David Sullivan (2002).

Phoenix.
[48] William K. Rashbaum (January 15, 2005). Police Say a

Queens Drug Ring Watched Too Much Television (Subscription required). The New York Times.
[69] David Simon (2004). Ask The Wire: David Simon. HBO.
[49] Jesse Walker (2004). David Simon Says. Reason.

[50] Brian Lowry (December 21, 2007). "'The Wire' gets the
newsroom right. Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
[51] Carol D., Leoning (December 11, 2006). "'The Wire':
Young Adults See Bits of Their Past. The Washington Post.
p. B01. Retrieved March 17, 2007.
[52] Alvarez 28, 3539.
[53] Alvarez 12.
[54] InterviewsEd Burns. HBO. 2006.
[55] Behind The Scenes Part 1A New Chapter Begins. HBO.
2006.
[56] David Simon (2003). David Simon Answers Fans Questions. HBO. Archived from the original on December 4,
2003.
Slow Hand.
Boston
[70] DVD Request of the Week. Entertainment Weekly. July

11, 2003.
[71] Jon Garelick (September 2430, 2004). ""A man must have
a codelistening in on The Wire.. Boston Phoenix. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
[72] Gillian Flynn (December 23, 2004). The Best of 2004.
Entertainment Weekly.
[73] Brent McCabe; Van Smith (2005). Down To The Wire:
Top 10 Reasons Not To Cancel The Wire.". Baltimore City
Paper. Archived from the original on April 16, 2005. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
[74] Dana Stevens (December 24, 2004). Moyers Says Ciao
to Now, but HBO had better not retire The Wire.". Slate
magazine. Retrieved January 27, 2014.
[75] Marisa Guthrie (December 15, 2004). "The Wire fears HBO
may snip it. New York Daily News. Retrieved January 27,
2014.
[57] Season 4 Ep. 50 Final Grades Synopsis. HBO.com.

Retrieved August 29, 2011.
[76] Goodman, Tim (September 6, 2006). Yes, HBOs 'Wire' is

challenging. Its also a masterpiece.. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved August 25, 2010.
[58] Jacob Weisberg (September 13, 2006). The Wire on Fire:

Analyzing the best show on television. Slate. p. 1.
[77] Lowry, Brian (September 7, 2006). Review: The Wire"".

Variety. Retrieved August 21, 2013.
16
[78] Heernan, Virginia (September 9, 2006). Higher Learning

in the Drug Trade for Four Baltimore Students. The New
York Times. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
[79] Doug Elfman (2006). Critic Reviews for The Wire Season
4 at Metacritic. Chicago Sun-Times.
[80] High 'Wire' Act. Los Angeles Times. September 2, 2006.
[81] James Poniewozik (December 17, 2006). 10 Best TV
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Rice, Lynette; Rottenberg, Josh; Schwartz, Missy; Slezak,
Michael; Snierson, Dan; Stack, Tim; Stroup, Kate; Tucker,
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(December 11, 2009), THE 100 Greatest MOVIES, TV
SHOWS, ALBUMS, BOOKS, CHARACTERS, SCENES,
EPISODES, SONGS, DRESSES, MUSIC VIDEOS, AND
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10 YEARS. Entertainment Weekly. (1079/1080):74-84
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[99] Los dioses indiferentes. El Pas. October 23, 2011. Retrieved November 1, 2011.
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icle.
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14, 2012.
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Dead' Casts So Many Actors From HBOs Hit Show 'The
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Wire'". Business Insider. Retrieved October 29, 2014.
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[88] Unknown. Charlie Brookers Screenwipe. BBC Four. The
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not as well knowncalled The Wire. The Wire is quite simply a stunning piece of work... it actually physically pains [104] Gallagher, Danny (July 20, 2009). Is The Wire the biggest
Emmy snub of all time, forever and ever, amen?". Aol TV.
me to use this phrase, because anyone who uses it sounds
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fucking brilliant. Charlie Brooker
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[112] American TV Show 'The Wire' Breaks Into French [132] The Wire: The Complete Fourth Season (2005)". AmaAcademia. Le Monde. January 12, 2012. Retrieved Janzon.com. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
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[122] Elliott, Josh (December 3, 2014). Bell Media unveils
CraveTV premium streaming service. CTV. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
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[125] Wire, The The Complete 1st Season (5 Disc Box Set)".
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[128] Wire, The The Complete 2nd Season (5 Disc Box Set)". [147] Maeby, Liana (November 3, 2013). "'Saturday Night Live'
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[129] The Wire: The Complete Third Season (2004)". Amazon.com. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
[148] BOYD: BOYDega Edited4Syndication. New Museum
[130] The Wire: Complete HBO Season 3. Amazon.co.uk. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
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2014.
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Retrieved July 30, 2014.
18
1.1.12
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Further reading
Peter L. Beilenson & Patrick A. McGuire, Tapping

Into the Wire: The Real Urban Crisis, Johns Hopkins
University Press 2013, ISBN 9781421411903
Sherryl Vint, The Wire. Wayne State University Press
2013, ISBN 978-0-8143-3590-1
The New Yorker Proles David Simon A long prole

article about David Simon with info about season ve
as well as his next project.
Maxim Interrogates the Makers and Stars of The Wire
A large 2012 interview with David Simon, Ed Burns,
other crew, and most of the principal cast members.
Bill Moyers Journal: David Simon (on The Wire) part

Tiany Potter (ed.), C. W. Marshall (ed.): The Wire:
1 on YouTube, part 2 on YouTube
Urban Decay and American Television. Continuum
international Publishing Group 2009, ISBN 978-08264-3804-1
1.1.13 External links
Rafael Alvarez: The Wire: Truth Be Told. Simon &
Schuster 2004, ISBN 0-7434-9732-5
Brian G. Rose: The Wire. In: Gary Richard Edgerton (ed.), Jerey P. Jones (ed.): The Essential HBO
Reader. University of Kentucky Press 2008, ISBN
978-0-8131-2452-0, pp. 8291 (online copy, p. 82,
at Google Books)
Ocial website
The Wire at the Internet Movie Database
The Wire at TV.com
1.2
David Simon
Peter Dreier, John Atlas: The Wire Bush-Era Fable about Americas Urban Poor?. City & Commu- For other people named David Simon, see David Simon
nity Volume 8, Issue 3, pp. 329340, September 2009 (disambiguation).
(online copy)
Helena Sheehan, Sheamus Sweeney: The Wire and the David Simon (born 1960) is an American author, journalWorld: Narrative and Metanarrative. Jump Cut, 51 ist, and a writer/producer of television series. He worked
for the Baltimore Sun City Desk for twelve years (198295)
(Spring 2009), ISSN 0146-5546 (online copy)
and wrote Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991)
Play or Get Played Exclusive interviews with David and co-wrote The Corner: A Year in the Life of an InnerSimon and cast members.
City Neighborhood (1997) with Ed Burns. The former book
was the basis for the NBC series Homicide: Life on the Street
Ten Thousand Bullets An interview with George (199399), on which Simon served as a writer and proPelecanos.
ducer. Simon adapted the latter book into the HBO miniseries The Corner (2000).
George Pelecanos on The Wire and D.C. pulp ction
He is the creator of the HBO television series The Wire
A supplement to Ten Thousand Bullets.
(20022008), for which he served as executive producer,
The Rhetoric of The Wire" Movie: A Journal of Film head writer, and show runner for all ve seasons. He
Criticism, No.1, 2010
adapted the non-ction book Generation Kill into an HBO
mini-series and served as the show runner for the project.
Gang and Drug-Related Homicide: Baltimores SucHe was selected as one of the 2010 MacArthur Fellows[3]
cessful Enforcement Strategy Ed Burns discusses
and named an Utne Reader visionary in 2011.[4] Simon
some of the investigations and individuals which inalso co-created the HBO series Treme with Eric Overmyer,
spired The Wire.
which aired its fourth and nal season in 2013.
A collection of interviews with Wire cast members
Interviews include Michael K. Williams, Lance
Reddick, Robert Wisdom, Gbenga Akinnagbe, Isiah 1.2.1 Life and career
Whitlock Jr. and more.
Early life
Reason Magazine Interview with Ed Burns The Wire
co-creator talks about how Baltimore inspires and in- Simon was born in Washington, D.C., the son of Dorothy
forms The Wire, and opinions on the War on Drugs (ne Ligeti), a homemaker, and Bernard Simon, a public relations director for B'nai B'rith and freelance journalist.[5][6]
from his and other co-creators experiences.
1.2. DAVID SIMON
19
He was raised in a Jewish family, which originated in Eastern Europe and Hungary (his maternal grandfather had
changed his surname from Leibowitz to Ligeti).[5][7]
Simon attended Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School in
Bethesda, Maryland, and wrote for the school newspaper,
The Tattler. He graduated from the University of Maryland,
College Park. While at college he wrote for The Diamondback and became friends with contemporary David Mills.[8]
the police department and the editors of the paper to receive approval. The detectives were initially slow to accept him, but he persevered in an attempt to seem like
part of the furniture. However, he soon ingratiated himself with the detectives, saying in the closing notes of the
book, I shared with the detectives a years worth of fastfood runs, bar arguments and station house humor: Even
for a trained observer, it was hard to remain aloof.[10] During one instance, Simon even assisted with an arrest. Two
detectives Simon was riding with pulled their car to a curb
to apprehend two suspects, but Detective Dave Brown got
Journalism
his trenchcoat caught in a seat belt when he tried to exit the
Upon leaving college he worked as a police reporter at car. Brown told Simon to assist Detective Terry McLarney
The Baltimore Sun from 1982 to 1995.[9] He spent most of himself, and Simon helped apprehend and search one of the
his career covering the crime beat.[9][10] A colleague has suspects.[14]
said that Simon loved journalism and felt it was Gods The book won the 1992 Edgar Award for Best Fact
work.[10] Simon says that he was initially altruistic and was Crime book.[15] The Associated Press called it a true-crime
inspired to enter journalism by the Washington Post's cover- classic.[14] The Library Journal also highly recommended
age of Watergate but became increasingly pragmatic as he it, and Newsday described it as one of the most engrossing
gained experience.[10] Later in his career he aimed to tell police procedural mystery books ever written.[14] Simon
the best possible story without cheating it.[10]
credits his time researching the book as altering his writing
style and informing later work. He learned to be more patient in research and writing, and said a key lesson was not
promoting himself but concentrating on his subjects.[10] Simon told Baltimores City Paper in 2003 that Homicide was
not traditional journalism. I felt Homicide the book and
The Corner were not traditional journalism in the sense of
coming from some articially omniscient, objective point
of view, said Simon. They're immersed in the respective
In an interview in Reason in 2004, Simon said that since
cultures that they cover in a way that traditional journalism
leaving the newspaper business he has become more cynioften isn't.[12]
[13]
cal about the power of journalism. One of the sad things
about contemporary journalism is that it actually matters
very little. The world now is almost inured to the power of
Homicide: Life on the Street
journalism. The best journalism would manage to outrage
people. And people are less and less inclined to outrage,
said Simon.[13] I've become increasingly cynical about the Main article: Homicide: Life on the Street
ability of daily journalism to aect any kind of meaningful
change. I was pretty dubious about it when I was a journal- The publishers of Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
ist, but now I think its remarkably ineectual.[13]
were eager for a screen adaptation and submitted it to numerous directors but there was little interest.[11] Simon suggested that they send the book to Baltimore native and lm
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
director Barry Levinson. Levinsons assistant Gail Mutrux
enjoyed the book and both she and Levinson became atMain article: Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
tached as producers.[11] The project became the awardwinning TV series Homicide: Life on the Street (1993
1999),
on which Simon worked as a writer and producer.[9]
Simons leave of absence from The Sun resulted in his
Simon was a union captain when the writing sta went on
strike in 1987 over benet cuts.[11] He remained angry after the strike ended and began to feel uncomfortable in the
writing room.[11] He searched for a reason to justify a leave
of absence and settled on the idea of writing a novel.[11] I
got out of journalism because some sons of bitches bought
my newspaper and it stopped being fun, says Simon.[12]
rst book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991).

The book was based on his experiences shadowing the
Baltimore Police Department homicide unit during 1988.[9]
The idea came from a conversation on Christmas Eve 1985
in the unit oce, where Det. Bill Lansey told him, If
someone just wrote down what happens in this place for one
year, they'd have a goddamn book.[11] Simon approached
Simon was asked by Mutrux to write the shows pilot

episode but declined, feeling he did not have the necessary expertise.[16] He collaborated with his old college
friend David Mills to write the season two premiere "Bop
Gun".[10][17] The episode was based on a story by executive producer Tom Fontana and featured Robin Williams
in a guest starring role that garnered the actor an Emmy
20
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
nomination. Simon and Mills won the WGA Award for

Best Writing in a Drama for the episode.[10] Simon also received Austin Film Festival's Outstanding Television Writer
Award in 2010.
their addictions but it was not possible to fully prepare for

the reality.[10] He remains grateful to his subjects saying
This involved peoples whole lives, theres no privacy in
it. That was an enormous gift which many, many people
Simon left his job with the Baltimore Sun in 1995 to work gave us. Even the most functional were at war with themwere not foolish people. And they made
full-time on Homicide: Life on the Street during the produc- selves. But they
[10]
that
choice.
tion of the shows fourth season. Simon wrote the teleplay
for the season four episodes Justice: Part 2[18] and Scene The Corner was named a Notable Book of the Year by The
of the Crime (with Anya Epstein).[19] For season ve he New York Times.[35] Simon again returned to his journalism
was the shows story editor and continued to contribute tele- career after nishing the book but felt further changed by
plays writing the episodes Bad Medicine[20] and Wus on his experiences. He said he was less enamored of the bragFirst?" (again with Epstein).[21] He was credited as a pro- gadocio, all that big, we're-really-having-an-impact talk
ducer on the shows sixth and seventh seasons. He wrote and no longer believed that they were making a dierence;
the teleplays for parts two and three of the sixth season pre- he left his job at The Sun within a year for work on NBCs
miere "Blood Ties"[22][23] (the latter marking his third col- Homicide.[10]
laboration with Epstein) and provided the story for the later Soon after Homicide concluded Simon co-wrote (with
sixth season episodes Full Court Press[24] and Finnegans David Mills) and produced The Corner as a six-hour TV
Wake (with James Yoshimura).[25] He provided the story miniseries for HBO.[11] The show received three Emmy
for the seventh season episodes Shades of Gray (with Julie Awards, including Outstanding Writing for a Miniseries or
Martin),[26] The Same Coin (again with Yoshimura)[27] a Movie, for Simon and Mills.[11]
and Self Defense (with Eric Overmyer).[28] Simon wrote
the story and teleplay for the seventh season episodes The
Twenty Percent Solution[29] and Sideshow: Part 2.[30]
Simon, Martin and teleplay writer T. J. English won the The Wire
Humanitas Prize in the 60 minutes category for the episode
Shades of Gray.[31] Simon was nominated for a second Main article: The Wire
WGA Award for Best Writing in a Drama for his work on
Finnegans Wake with Yoshimura and Mills (who wrote Simon was the creator, show runner, executive producer
the teleplay).[32]
and head writer of the HBO drama series The Wire.[34]
also came
Simon has said that he thought the show was a remarkable Many of The Wire's characters and incidents[36]
[11]
from
Homicide:
A
Year
on
the
Killing
Streets.
After a
drama but that it did not reect the book.
He has also
critically
acclaimed
fourth
season,
Simon
signed
on
to prosaid that when writing for the show he had to put his experiduce
the
fth
and
nal
season
of
The
Wire,
which
focused
ences of the real detectives aside as the characters became
[37]
quite dierent, particularly in their more philosophical ap- on the role of mass media in society.
proach to the job.[16] Simon said that TV must nd short- He again worked with Ed Burns on creating the show. They
hand ways of referencing anything real.[10]
originally set out to create a police drama loosely based on
the experiences of Burns when working on protracted investigations of violent drug dealers using surveillance techThe Corner
nology. During this time Burns had often faced frustration
with the bureaucracy of the police department, which SiMain article: The Corner
mon equated with his own ordeals as a police reporter for
The Baltimore Sun. Writing against the background of curIn 1997 he co-authored, with Ed Burns, The Corner: A rent events, including institutionalized corporate crime at
Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood, the true Enron and institutional dysfunction in the Catholic Church,
about institutions and
account of a West Baltimore community dominated by a the show became more of a treatise [38]
individuals
than
a
straight
cop
show.
heavy drug market.[13][33] Simon credits his editor John
Sterling with the suggestion that he observe a single drug
corner.[9] He took a second leave of absence from the Baltimore Sun in 1993 to research the project.[10][34] Simon became close to one of his subjects, drug addict Gary McCullough, and was devastated by his death while he was writing
the project.[10] Simon says that he approached the research
with the abstract idea that his subjects may die because of
They chose to take The Wire to HBO because of their existing working relationship from The Corner. Owing to its
reputation for exploring new areas, HBO was initially dubious about including a cop drama in their lineup, but eventually agreed to produce the pilot[38][39] after ordering a further two scripts to see how the series would progress.[40]
Carolyn Strauss, the president of HBO entertainment, has
1.2. DAVID SIMON
21
said that Simons argument that the most subversive thing was pleased that he continued to write for them and was a
HBO could do was invade the networks backyard of po- fan of the resultant book The Night Gardener.[50] Similar to
lice procedurals helped to persuade them.[9]
Simons own experience in researching Homicide Pelecanos
The theme of institutional dysfunction was expanded across spent time embedded with the Washington DC homicide
dierent areas of the city as the show progressed. The sec- unit to research the book.
ond season focused on the death of working-class America through examination of the city ports.[41] The third season reects on the nature of reform and reformers, and
whether there is any possibility that political processes, long
calcied, can mitigate against the forces currently arrayed
against individuals. [41] For the fourth season Simon again
turned to Burns experience, this time his second career as
a Baltimore public school teacher in examining the theme
of education.[9][42] The fth season looked at the media, as
well as continuing themes such as politics from earlier seasons.
Crime novelist Dennis Lehane has also written for the series
starting with third season.[46][51] Lehane has commented
that he was impressed by Simon and Burns ear for authentic
street slang.[40]
Eric Overmyer was brought in to ll the role of Pelecanos as a full-time writer producer.[50][52] He had previously worked with Simon on Homicide where the two became friends.[50] Simon has said that he was impressed with
Overmyers writing particularly in synthesizing the story
for "Margin of Error" as the episode is the height of the
shows political storyline but must also progress other plot
Simon was reunited with his The Corner producers Robert threads.[50]
F. Colesberry and Nina K. Noble on The Wire.[37] Simon Simon and his writing sta were nominated for the Writers
credits Colesberry for achieving the shows realistic visual Guild of America Award award for Best Dramatic Series
feel because of his experience as a director.[43] They re- at the February 2009 ceremony for their work on the fth
cruited Homicide star and director Clark Johnson to helm season.[53] Simon and Burns collaborated to write the sethe pilot episode.[43] The completed pilot was given to HBO
ries nale "30-" which received the shows second Emmy
in November 2001.[40] Johnson returned to direct the sec- nomination, again in the category Outstanding Writing for
ond episode when the show was picked up,[43] and would
a Drama Series.[54]
direct the series nale as well, in addition to starring in the
Simon has stated that he nds working with HBO more
fth season.
comfortable than his experiences with NBC on Homicide
Simon approached acclaimed crime ction authors to write and that HBO is able to allow greater creative control befor The Wire. He was recommended the work of George cause it is dependent on subscribers rather than on viewPelecanos by a colleague while working at the Baltimore ing gures.[13] He has said that he feels unable to return to
Sun because of similarities between their writing. The network television because he felt pressure to compromise
two writers have much in common including a childhood storytelling for audience satisfaction.[11]
in Silver Spring, attendance at the University of Maryland and their interest in the fate of the American city
and the black urban poor.[40] Simon did not read Pele- Generation Kill
canos initially because of territorial prejudice; Pelecanos
is from Washington.[11] Once Simon received further rec- Main article: Generation Kill (TV series)
ommendations including one from his wife Laura Lippman
he tried Pelecanos novel The Sweet Forever and changed
his mind.[40] He sought out Pelecanos when recruiting writ- Simon produced and wrote Generation Kill for HBO with
ers for The Wire. The two met at the funeral of a mutual Ed Burns. They again worked with Nina Noble as a profriend shortly after Simon delivered the pilot episode.[40] Si- ducer. The miniseries is an adaption of the non-ction book
mon pitched Pelecanos the idea of The Wire as a novel for of the same name. It relates the rst 40 days of the 2003
television about the American city as Pelecanos drove him invasion of Iraq as experienced by 1st Reconnaissance Bathome.[40] Pelecanos became a regular writer[44] and later a talion and their embedded reporter, Evan Wright. Simon
producer for the shows second[45] and third seasons.[46] Si- and Burns worked with Wright in adapting his book into
[55]
mon and Pelcanos collaborated to write the episode "Middle the series.
[47][48]
which received the shows rst Emmy nomGround"
ination, in the category Outstanding Writing for a Drama
Treme
Series.[49]
Pelecanos left the production sta following the third sea- Main article: Treme (TV series)
son to focus on his next novel; Simon has commented that
he missed having him working on the show full-time but
Simon collaborated with Eric Overmyer again on Treme,[56]
22
a project about musicians in post-Katrina New Orleans.[40]
Overmyer lives part-time in New Orleans, and Simon believed his experience would be valuable in navigating the
ornate oral tradition of the citys stories.[40] Simon also
consulted with New Orleans natives Donald Harrison Jr.,
Kermit Runs, and Davis Rogan while developing the
series.[57] The show focuses on a working-class neighborhood, and is smaller in scope than The Wire. The series
premiered on April 11, 2010 on HBO and ran for four seasons.
Treme is named after the Faubourg Treme neighborhood in New Orleans that is home to many of the citys
musicians.[56] Simon has stated that the series will explore
beyond the music scene to encompass political corruption,
the public housing controversy, the criminal-justice system,
clashes between police and Mardi Gras Indians, and the
struggle to regain the tourism industry after the storm.[58]
One of the principal characters in the pilot script runs a
restaurant.[57] The series was lmed on location and was expected to provide a boost to the New Orleans economy.[58]
Simons casting of the show mirrored that of The Wire in using local actors wherever possible.[57] Wendell Pierce, who
had previously played Bunk Moreland on The Wire, stars
in the series. Clarke Peters, also of The Wire, is another
series regular. Many other stars of The Wire have appeared
in Treme, these include Steve Earle, Jim True-Frost, James
Ransone, and Anwan Glover.[59]
Personal life
David Simon is married to Baltimore novelist and former Sun reporter Laura Lippman. They have a daughter, and he has a son, Ethan, from a previous marriage,
to Kayle Tucker. Simons nephew Jason Simon is a guitarist and vocalist for the psychedelic rock band Dead
Meadow.[60] He was the 2012 commencement speaker for
the Georgetown University College of Arts and Sciences,
as well as the speaker for the Bethesda-Chevy Chase High
School graduation.[61]
Political views
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
faux scandal.[62][63]
During a November 2013 speech at the Festival of Dangerous Ideas in Sydney, he said that America has become a
horror show of savage inequality as a result of capitalism
run amok, and that unless we reverse course, the average
human being is worth less on planet Earth. Unless we take
stock of the fact that maybe socialism and the socialist impulse has to be addressed again; it has to be married as it was
married in the 1930s, the 1940s and even into the 1950s, to
the engine that is capitalism.[64][65]
1.2.2
Writing process, characteristics, and

motivation
Simon is known for his realistic dialogue and journalistic approach to writing.[40] He says that authenticity is
paramount and that he writes not with a general audience in
mind but with the opinions of his subjects as his priority.[40]
He has described his extensive use of real anecdotes and
characters in his writing as stealing life.[66]
In a talk that Simon gave to a live audience in April, 2007 at
the Creative Alliances storytelling series, Simon disclosed
that he had started writing for revenge against John Carroll and Bill Marimow, the two most senior editors at The
Baltimore Sun when Simon was a reporter at the paper.[67]
Simon said he had watched Carroll and Marimow singlehandedly destroy the newspaper and that he spent over ten
years trying to get back at them.[67]
Anything I've ever accomplished as a writer,
as somebody doing TV, anything I've ever done
in life, down to, like, cleaning up my room, has
been accomplished because I was going to show
people that they were fucked up, wrong, and that
I was the fucking center of the universe and the
sooner they got hip to that, the happier they would
all be.[67]
One of the actions Simon took was to name a character in
The Wire after Marimow and make the character a repellent police-department toady.[68] Carroll left the Baltimore
Sun to become editor at the Los Angeles Times and resigned
in 2005 after budget cuts were announced.[67] He stands
up like a [bleeping] hero, takes a bullet, said Simon.[67] In
2006 Marimow was diagnosed with prostate cancer, something that Simon said took the edge o his grudge.[67]
Carroll and Marimow were fuel for 10 years of my life. ...
And now, I got nothing, Simon said.[67]
In a 2013 blog post, Simon compared the programs of

the National Security Agency that had been uncovered by
Edward Snowden, including PRISM, to a 1980s eort by
the City of Baltimore to add dialed number recorders to all
pay phones to know which individuals were being called by
the callers;[62] the city believed that drug trackers were using pay phones and pagers, and a municipal judge allowed When asked about these comments, Simon responded:
the city to place the recorders. The placement of the dialers
I spoke with some hyperbole and, I hope,
formed the basis of The Wire's rst season. Simon argued
comic eect, Simon said via e-mail. He said his
that the media attention regarding the NSA programs is a
1.2. DAVID SIMON

point was that simple revenge is both empty and
beside the point and that a good story carefully
told has to speak to larger themes. You do not tell
an ornate, careful story over ten hours of HBO
airtime merely to bust on any given soul.[67]
1.2.3
Works
Commentary
David Simon (2009-07-16).
Build the Wall.
Columbia Journalism Review. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
23
[9] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
[10] Cynthia Rose. The originator of TVs 'Homicide' remains
close to his police-reporter roots. Seattle Times. Archived
from the original on 1999-04-28. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[11] Mary Alice Blackwell. Fun comes down to 'The Wire'".
Daily Progress. Retrieved 2014-05-30.
[12] Under The Wire. Citypaper.com. May 28, 2003. Retrieved 2010-09-14. |rst1= missing |last1= in Authors list
(help)
[13] Jesse Walker (October 2004). David Simon Says. Reason
Magazine. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
David Simon (2009-03-01). In Baltimore, No One

Left to Press the Police. The Washington Post. Re- [14] Kalat, David P. (1998). Homicide: Life on the Street:
trieved 2012-08-20.
The Unocial Companion.
Los Angeles, California:
David Simon (2008-01-20). Does the News Matter
To Anyone Anymore?". The Washington Post. Retrieved 2012-08-20.
Non-ction books
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets (1991)
Renaissance Books. p. 101. ISBN 1-58063-021-9.

[15] Edgar Award Archives. Mystery Writers of America.
Archived from the original on September 15, 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
[16] David Simon (1998). Homicide: Life on the Street season 4
interviews (DVD). NBC.
[17] Stephen Gyllenhaal (1994-01-06). "Bop Gun". Homicide:
Life on the Street. Season 2. Episode 01. NBC.
The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood (co-authored with Ed Burns) (1997)
[18] Peter Medak (1996-02-23). Justice: Part 2. Homicide:
Filmography
Producer Writer
[19] Kathy Bates (1996-04-12).

Scene of the Crime.
Homicide: Life on the Street. Season 4. Episode 18. NBC.
[20] Kenneth Fink (1996-10-25). Bad Medicine. Homicide:
1.2.4
References
[1]
[2]
[3] David Simon: 2010 MacArthur Fellow. MacArthur Foundation. Retrieved 28 September 2010.
[4] David Simon: Television Man. Utne Reader, November
December 2011. Retrieved 19 October 2011.
[5] http://www.jpost.com/JewishWorld/JewishFeatures/
Article.aspx?id=195504
[6] http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2010-04-22/news/
bs-md-deaths-elsewhere-bernard-simon-20100422_1_
b-nai-b-rith-international-mr-simon-soviet-jewry
[7] http://davidsimon.com/pickles-and-cream/
[8] Hal Hinson (2002-06-02). TELEVISION/RADIO; Revisiting Baltimores Embattled Streets. The New York Times.
Retrieved 2007-10-11.
[21] Tim McCann (1997-02-07). Wus on First?". Homicide:

[22] Nick Gomez (1997-10-24). "Blood Ties: Part 2". Homicide:
[23] Mark Pellington (1997-10-31). "Blood Ties: Part 3".
[24] Clark Johnson (1998-04-03). Full Court Press. Homicide:
[25] Steve Buscemi (1998-04-24).
Finnegans Wake.
[26] Adam Bernstein (1999-01-08).
Shades of Gray.
[27] Lisa Cholodenko (1999-01-29).
The Same Coin.
[28] Barbara Kopple (1999-04-09). Self Defense. Homicide:
24
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
[29] Clark Johnson (1998-10-30). The Twenty Percent Solution. Homicide: Life on the Street. Season 7. Episode 04.
NBC.
[30] Edwin Sherin (1999-02-19). Sideshow: Part 2. Homicide:
[31] 60 Minute Category. Humanitas Prize. Archived from the
original on 2007-03-15. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[52] Season 4 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.

[53] 2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced. WGA. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
[54] 60th Primetime Emmy Awards. Academy of Television
Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2009-03-31.
[32] Nick Madigan (1999-01-14). Cable pix please WGA. Variety. Retrieved 2006-09-28.
[55] HBO drafts cast for 'Kill' mini. The Hollywood Reporter.
Archived from the original on 2007-06-03. Retrieved 200701-06.
[33] The Corner: About the Book. Random House. Retrieved

2006-10-03.
[56] "Wire Creator Heads to New Orleans. Zap2It. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
[34] David Simon Biography. HBO. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
[57] Dave Walker (2008). More on David Simons 'Treme'".

The Times-Picayune. Retrieved 2008-07-13.
[35] Notable Books of the Year 1997 Non-Fiction. New York

Times. Retrieved 2006-09-29.
[36] David Simon (2005). The Wire The Target commentary
track (DVD). HBO.
[37] Wiltz, Teresa (2007-09-03). Down to The Wire": Its a
Wrap for Gritty TV Series. Washington Post. Retrieved
2007-09-03.
[38] Ian Rothkirch (2002). What drugs have not destroyed, the
war on them has. Salon.com.
York: Pocket Books. pp. 1819, 3539.
[41] Richard Vine (2005). Totally Wired. The Guardian Unlimited (London). Retrieved 2010-05-01.
[42] A Teacher in Baltimore. HBO. Retrieved 2006-10-03.
(DVD). HBO.

[47] Episode guide episode 36 middle ground. HBO. 2004.
[48] David Simon, George P. Pelecanos (2004-12-12). "Middle
Ground". The Wire. Season 3. Episode 11. HBO.
[49] Emmy award archives. Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
[58] Dave Walker (2008). HBO sets drama series in Treme with
focus on citys musicians. The Times-Picayune. Retrieved
2008-07-13.
[59] Dave Walker (2008). New Orleans native Wendell Pierce
set to star in 'Treme'". The Times-Picayune. Retrieved
2008-07-13.
[60] Dead Meadow Gets Some Help From Uncle Dave. New
York. 2008. Retrieved 2008-07-20.
[61] http://blog.georgetownvoice.com/2012/
05/04/living-social-ceo-tim-o%E2%
80%99shaughnessy-and-producer-of-%
E2%80%9Cthe-wire%E2%80%
9D-david-simon-among-this-years-commencement-speakers/
[62] Duncan, Ian. "David Simon weighs in on NSA surveillance.
The Baltimore Sun. June 8, 2013. Retrieved on June 12,
2013.
[63] "We are shocked, shocked" (Archive) David Simon Blog.
June 7, 2013. Retrieved on June 12, 2013.
[64] David Simon (7 December 2013). David Simon: 'There
are now two Americas. My country is a horror show'. The
Guardian. Retrieved 15 December 2013. See also: David
Simon on America as a Horror Show. Moyers & Company,
31 January 2014.
[65] Festival of Dangerous Ideas 2013: David Simon Some
People are More Equal than Others. On YouTube.
Retrieved 2007-10-14. Simons gift is in recognizing an
anecdote [...] for the found parable that it is stealing
life, as he once described it to me and knowing which
parts to steal.
[50] Exclusive David Simon Q&A. AOL. 2007. Retrieved

2007-10-14.
[67] Vozzella.
January 6, 2008, Laura (2008-01-06).
Baltimore Sun. Fake newsroom, real anger. Articles.baltimoresun.com. Retrieved 2010-09-14.
[51] Dennis Lehane biography. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 200710-16.
[68] Bowden, Mark (January 2008). The Angriest Man In Television. The Atlantic.
1.4. LIST OF AWARDS AND NOMINATIONS RECEIVED BY THE WIRE
1.2.5
External links
The Audacity of Despair, David Simons blog
25
Season 4 (2006)
David Simon at the Internet Movie Database

"'The Wires' David Simon and George Pelecanos Season 5 (2008)
September 23, 2004 Fresh Air
Margaret Talbots prole of David Simon in the New
Yorker
The Atlantic. The Angriest Man in Television by
Mark Bowden. January, 2008.
1.3 List of The Wire episodes

The Wire, a television drama series created by David Simon, premiered on June 2, 2002 on HBO in the United
States and ended on March 9, 2008. 60 episodes aired over
the shows ve seasons, plus three additional prequel shorts.
Each episode has a running time of 55-60 minutes.
Prequel shorts
Three short lm vignettes set prior to the series events were
lmed during the fth seasons production. They were made
available via HBO On Demand during broadcast of the nal
season, and included as extras on the complete series DVD
box set.
When Bunk Met McNulty
Young Omar
Young Prop Joe

The Wire is set in Baltimore, Maryland; each season of the
series focuses on a dierent part of the city. The show features a large ensemble cast; many characters are only fea- 1.3.3 References
tured prominently in a single season. A group of characters,
mainly in the Baltimore Police Department, appear in every 1.3.4 External links
season.
The show is available on DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4.
1.3.1
Series overview
1.3.2
Episodes
Season 1 (2002)
Episode guide at HBO

List of The Wire episodes at the Internet Movie
Database
List of The Wire episodes at TV.com
1.4
Season 2 (2003)
Season 3 (2004)
List of awards and nominations

received by The Wire
The Wire has been nominated for a variety of dierent

awards including two Primetime Emmy Awards, fteen
NAACP Image Awards, two Edgar Awards (one win[1] ),
three Writers Guild of America Awards (one win), one
Directors Guild of America Award, and has also won a
Peabody Award.[2] The series has been nominated for forty
three industry awards and has won eight. It has also topped
several critics polls.
1.4.1
Industry awards
26
CHAPTER 1. OVERVIEW
Primetime Emmy Awards

NAACP Image Awards
TCA Awards
WGA Awards
Other awards
1.4.2
Critics polls
1.4.3
References
[1] Curtains Receives Edgar Award Nomination. Theatre Mania.

[2] George Foster Peabody Award Winners Book (page 73)".
University of Georgia. Retrieved 2007-10-16.
[5] 2007 Image Award nominees and winners. Hollywood
Reporter. 2007. Retrieved 2007-11-05.
Nominees. Television Critics Association.
Nominees. Television Critics Association.
[8] 2009 Writers Guild Awards Television, Radio, News, Promotional Writing, and Graphic Animation Nominees Announced. WGA. 2008. Retrieved 2008-12-12.
[9] 2008 Writers Guild Awards Television & Radio Nominees
Announced. WGA. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-13.
[10] Flood, Alison (October 22, 2009). British readers vote
Harlan Coben their favourite crime writer. London:
guardian.co.uk (Guardian News & Media). Retrieved October 28, 2009.
[11] 63rd Annual Peabody Awards, May 2004.
[12] Michael Malone (2006). Critics Poll. Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved 2009-04-05.
[13] James Poniewozik. 10 Best TV Shows. TIME. p. 184.
[14] TIME: Best and Worst of Television in 2002. TIME.
Chapter 2
Seasons and episodes

2.1 List of The Wire episodes
Season 4 (2006)

The Wire, a television drama series created by David Simon, premiered on June 2, 2002 on HBO in the United
States and ended on March 9, 2008. 60 episodes aired over
the shows ve seasons, plus three additional prequel shorts. Season 5 (2008)
Each episode has a running time of 55-60 minutes.
The Wire is set in Baltimore, Maryland; each season of the Main article: The Wire (season 5)
series focuses on a dierent part of the city. The show features a large ensemble cast; many characters are only featured prominently in a single season. A group of characters, Prequel shorts
mainly in the Baltimore Police Department, appear in every
season.
Three short lm vignettes set prior to the series events were
lmed during the fth seasons production. They were made
The show is available on DVD in Region 1, 2 and 4.
available via HBO On Demand during broadcast of the nal
season, and included as extras on the complete series DVD
box set.
2.1.1
Series overview
2.1.2
Episodes
When Bunk Met McNulty

Young Omar
Young Prop Joe
Season 1 (2002)
2.1.3
References
2.1.4
External links
Episode guide at HBO

Season 2 (2003)

Database
List of The Wire episodes at TV.com
2.2
The Wire (season 1)
Season 3 (2004)
The rst season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 2, 2002, concluded on September 8, 2002, and contained 13 episodes.
27
28
CHAPTER 2. SEASONS AND EPISODES
It introduces the drug-dealing Barksdale organization and undertake a sting operation to wrap up the case. Detective
the police detail that is investigating them.
Kima Greggs is seriously injured in the operation, triggering
an overzealous response from the rest of the department.
The rst season aired Sundays at 9:00 pm Eastern in the
This
causes the details targets to suspect that they are under
United States and was released on DVD as a ve-disc boxed
investigation.
set under the title of The Wire: The Complete First Season
on October 12, 2004 by HBO video.
2.2.1
Plot
The rst season introduces two major groups of characters:

the Baltimore police department and a drug dealing organization run by the Barksdale family. The season follows the
investigation of the latter over its 13 episodes.
Wallace is murdered by his childhood friends Bodie and

Poot, on orders from Stringer Bell, after leaving his secure placement with relatives and returning to Baltimore. D'Angelo Barksdale is eventually arrested with a
large quantity of drugs, and learning of Wallaces murder, is ready to turn in his uncle and Stringer. However,
D'Angelos mother convinces him to rescind the deal and
take the charges for his family. The detail manages to arrest Avon on a minor charge and gets one of his soldiers,
Wee-Bey, to confess to most of the murders, some of which
he did not commit. Stringer escapes prosecution and is left
running the Barksdale empire. For the ocers, the consequences of antagonizing their superiors are severe, with
Daniels passed over for promotion and McNulty assigned
out of homicide.
An investigation into a large Baltimore based drug dealing is triggered when detective Jimmy McNulty meets privately with judge Daniel Phelan following the acquittal of
D'Angelo Barksdale for murder after a key witness changes
her story. McNulty tells Phelan that the witness has probably been intimidated by members of a drug tracking empire run by D'Angelos uncle, Avon Barksdale, having recognized several faces at the trial, notably Avons second-in- 2.2.2 Production
command, Stringer Bell. He also tells Phelan that nobody is
investigating Barksdales criminal activity, which includes a Crew
signicant portion of the citys drug trade and several unsolved homicides.
David Simon is the series creator and head writer, show
Phelan takes issue with this and complains to senior Po- runner and executive producer. Alongside Simon, many of
lice Department gures, embarrassing them into creating a the creative team behind The Wire are alumni of Homicide
detail dedicated to investigating Barksdale. However, ow- and Emmy-winning miniseries The Corner. The Corner veting to the departments dysfunctionality, the investigation eran, Robert F. Colesberry, was also executive producer.
is intended as a faade to appease the judge. An interde- Colesberry is credited by the rest of the creative team as
partmental struggle between the more motivated ocers on having a large creative role for a producer, and Simon credthe detail and their superiors spans the whole season, with its him for achieving the shows realistic visual feel.[1] He
interference by the higher-ups often threatening to ruin the also had a small recurring role as Detective Ray Cole.[2]
investigation. The details commander, Cedric Daniels, acts Colesberrys wife Karen L. Thorson joined him on the
as mediator between the two opposing groups of police.
production sta.[3] A third producer on The Corner, Nina
for The
Meanwhile, the organized and cautious Barksdale gang is Kostro Noble, also stayed with the production sta
[3]
Wire
rounding
out
the
initial
four-person
team.
explored through characters at various levels within it. The
organization is antagonized by a stick-up crew led by Omar
Little, and the feud leads to several deaths. Throughout,
D'Angelo struggles with his conscience over his life of
crime and the people it aects.
Stories for the show are often co-written by Ed Burns, a former Baltimore homicide detective and public school teacher
who has worked with Simon on other projects including The
Corner.[3] The writing sta includes acclaimed crime ction
novelist George P. Pelecanos from Washington, D.C.[3][4]
Pelecanos has commented that he was attracted to the
project because of the opportunity to work with Simon.[5]
Sta writer Rafael Alvarez was a colleague of Simons from
The Sun and a Baltimore native with working experience
in the port area.[3][6] Another city native and independent
lmmaker, Joy Lusco Kecken, joined the writing sta and
served as the script coordinator.[3][7] David H. Melnick and
Shamit Choksey complete the writing sta.[3]
The police have little success with street-level arrests or

with securing informants beyond Wallace, a young lowlevel dealer and friend of D'Angelo. Eventually the investigation takes the direction of electronic surveillance, with
wiretaps and pager clones to inltrate the security measures
taken by the Barksdale organization. This leads the investigation to areas the commanding ocers had hoped to
avoid, including political contributions. When an associate
of Avon Barksdales is arrested by State Police and oers
to cooperate, the commanding ocers order the detail to Homicide alumnus Clark Johnson,[8] who directed several
2.2. THE WIRE (SEASON 1)

acclaimed episodes of The Shield,[9] directed the pilot, the
second episode, and the fth episode.[3] Another repeat director is Clement Virgo, who directed two episodes.[3] Single episode directors include Ed Bianchi, Joe Chappelle,
Gloria Muzio, Milo Manevski, Brad Anderson and Steve
Shill.[3] The season nale was directed by Tim Van Patten,
an Emmy winner who has worked on every season of The
Sopranos.[3] The directing has been praised for its uncomplicated and subtle style.[10]
Cast
The major characters of the rst season were divided between those on the side of the law and those involved in
drug-related crime. The starring cast comprised characters
from both groups. The investigating detail was launched
by the actions of Detective Jimmy McNulty (Dominic
West), whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems overshadowed his ability.[11][12][13] The detail was led
by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels (Lance Reddick) who faced
challenges balancing his career aspirations with his desire to
produce a good case.[11][14][15] Kima Greggs (Sonja Sohn)
was a capable lead detective who faced jealousy from colleagues and worry about the dangers of her job from her domestic partner.[11][16][17] Her investigative work was greatly
helped by her condential informant, a drug addict known
as Bubbles (Andre Royo).[11][18][19]
These investigators were overseen by two commanding
ocers more concerned with politics and their own careers than the case, Major William Rawls (John Doman) and Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie
Faison).[11][20][21][22][23] Assistant states attorney Rhonda
Pearlman (Deirdre Lovejoy) acted as the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse and also had a casual relationship with one of the ocers.[11][24][25] In the homicide
division, Bunk Moreland (Wendell Pierce) was a gifted,
dry-witted detective partnered with McNulty.[11][26][27]
29
Freamon (Clarke Peters) and Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
(Jim True-Frost).[38][39][40] Sydnor was a rookie detective
with a reputation for solid undercover work.[41] Though
not initially important players in the operation, Freamon
proved a quietly capable investigator with a knack for noticing tiny but important details, and Prez, while a liability on the street, turned out to be a natural at his desk
job.[11][42][43] McNulty and Bunk served in a homicide unit
squad led by Sergeant Jay Landsman (Delaney Williams),
the jovial squad commander.[11][44][45] Peter Gerety had a
recurring role as Judge Phelan, the ocial who started the
case moving.[11]
There were also several recurring characters in the Barksdale Organization. Loyal Wee-Bey Brice (Hassan Johnson) was responsible for multiple homicides carried out on
Avons orders.[46][47] Working under D'Angelo were Poot
Carr (Tray Chaney),[48] Bodie Broadus (J.D. Williams),[49]
and Wallace (Michael B. Jordan), all street-level drug dealers. Wallace was an intelligent but nave youth trapped
in the drug trade, Bodie a violent and determined young
dealer, and Poot a lascivious young man happy to follow rather than lead.[11][50][51] Omar Little (Michael K.
Williams), a notorious Baltimore stick-up man robbing
drug dealers for a living, was a frequent thorn in the side
of the Barksdale clan.[11][52][53]
2.2.3
Reception
On the other side of the investigation was Avon Barksdale's drug empire. The driven, ruthless Barksdale (Wood
Harris) was aided by business-minded Stringer Bell (Idris
Elba).[11][28][29][30][31] Avons nephew D'Angelo Barksdale
(Larry Gilliard Jr.) ran some of his uncles territory, but
also possessed a guilty conscience.[11][32][33]
The rst season received positive reviews from critics,[54]

some calling it superior to HBOs better-known "agship"
drama series such as The Sopranos and Six Feet Under.[55][56][57] One reviewer felt that the show was partially
a retread of themes from HBO and David Simon's earlier
works but still valuable viewing and described the series as
particularly resonant because it parallels the war on terror
through the chronicling of the war on drugs.[58] Another review postulated that the series might suer because of its
reliance on profanity and slowly drawn-out plot, but was
largely positive about the shows characters and intrigue.[8]
TIME Magazine named the rst season as the best TV show
of 2002 in their Top 10 Everything 2002.[59]
The rst season featured several signicant characters in

recurring roles. Like Detective Greggs, partners Thomas
Herc Hauk (Domenick Lombardozzi) and Ellis Carver
(Seth Gilliam) were reassigned to the detail from the
narcotics unit.[34][35] The duos initially violent nature
was eventually subdued as they proved useful in grunt
work, and sometimes served as comic relief for the
audience.[11][36][37] Rounding out the temporary unit were
detectives Leander Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson), Lester
Despite the critical acclaim, The Wire has received poor

Nielsen ratings, which Simon attributes to the complexity
of the plot, a poor time slot, heavy use of esoteric slang,
particularly among the gangster characters and a predominantly black cast.[60] Critics felt the show was testing the
attention span of its audience and felt that it was mistimed
in the wake of the launch of the successful crime drama The
Shield on FX.[58] However, anticipation for a release of the
rst season on DVD was high at Entertainment Weekly.[61]
30
Awards and nominations
[16] Character prole - Detective Shakima Kima Greggs.

HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
19th TCA Awards
[17] Cast & Crew - Sonja Sohn as Shakima Kima Greggs.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
Nomination for Program of the Year

Nomination for Outstanding Achievement in Drama
[18] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
Nomination for Outstanding New Program of the Year [19] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
2.2.4
[20] Character prole - Ervin Burrell. HBO. 2006. Retrieved

December 19, 2007.
Episodes
2.2.5
[21] Cast & Crew - Frankie R. Faison as Ervin Burrell. HBO.

2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[22] Character prole - William Rawls. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
December 19, 2007.
References

(DVD). HBO.
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved October 16,
2007.
14, 2007.
The Wire". Salon.com.
[5] Birnbaum, Robert. Interview: George Pelecanos. Identity
Theory. Retrieved September 17, 2007.
[6] Goldman, Eric. IGN Exclusive Interview: The Wire 's
York: Pocket Books. p. 10.
[8] Todd Weiser (2002). New HBO series The Wire taps into
summer programming. The Michigan Daily.
[9] Jim Shelley (August 6, 2005). Call The Cops. London:
The Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved May 25, 2010.
[23] Cast & Crew - John Doman as William Rawls. HBO.

[24] Character prole - Rhonda Pearlman. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[25] Cast & Crew - Deirdre Lovejoy as Rhonda Pearlman.
[26] Character prole - Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[27] Cast & Crew - Wendell Pierce as William Bunk Moreland. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[28] Character prole - Avon Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[29] Cast & Crew - Wood Harris as Avon Barksdale. HBO.
[30] Character prole - Stringer Bell. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
December 19, 2007.
[31] Cast & Crew - Idris Elba as Stringer Bell. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[10] Chris Barsanti (2004). Totally Wired. Slant Magazine.
[32] Character prole - D'Angelo Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved July 12, 2006.
[33] Cast & Crew - Larry Gilliard, Jr. as D'Angelo Barksdale.

[12] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[34] Cast & Crew - Seth Gilliam as Ellis Carver. HBO. 2008.
[13] Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. HBO.

[35] Cast & Crew - Domenick Lombardozzi as Thomas Herc

Hauk. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[14] Character prole - Lieutenant Cedric Daniels.

2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
HBO.
[36] Character prole - Thomas Herc Hauk. HBO. 2006.

[15] Cast & Crew - Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels. HBO.

[37] Character prole - Ellis Carver. HBO. 2006. Retrieved

December 19, 2007.
31
[38] Cast & Crew - Corey Parker Robinson as Leander Sydnor.

[39] Cast & Crew - Clarke Peters as Lester Freamon. HBO.
[40] Cast & Crew - Jim True-Frost as Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[41] Character prole - Leander Sydnor. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[42] Character prole - Lester Freamon. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[43] Character prole - Roland Prez Pryzbylewski. HBO.
[44] Character prole - Jay Landsman. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
December 19, 2007.
[45] Cast & Crew - Delaney Williams as Jay Landsman. HBO.
[46] Character prole - Roland Wee-Bey Brice. HBO. 2008.
[47] Cast & Crew - Hassan Johnson as Roland Wee-Bey
Brice. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[48] Cast & Crew - Tray Chaney as Malik Poot Carr. HBO.
[49] Cast & Crew - JD Williams as Preston Bodie Broadus.
[50] Character prole - Preston Bodie Broadus. HBO. 2006.
[51] Character prole - Malik Poot Carr. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[52] Character prole - Omar Little. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
December 19, 2007.
[53] Cast & Crew - Michael Kenneth Williams as Omar Little.
[60] David Simon (2004). Ask The Wire: David Simon. HBO.
[61] DVD Request of the Week. Entertainment Weekly. July
11, 2003.
[62] Episode guide - episode 01 The Target. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 24, 2006.
[63] Episode guide - episode 02 The Detail. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[64] Episode guide - episode 03 The Buys. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[65] Episode guide - episode 04 Old Cases. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[66] Episode guide - episode 05 The Pager. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[67] Episode guide - episode 06 The Wire. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[68] Episode guide - episode 07 One Arrest. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
[69] Episode guide - episode 08 Lessons. HBO. 2004. Retrieved September 5, 2007.
[70] Episode guide - episode 09 Game Day. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 2, 2006.
[71] Episode guide - episode 10 The Cost. HBO. 2004. Retrieved April 8, 2006.
[72] Episode guide - episode 11 The Hunt. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 26, 2006.
[73] Episode guide - episode 12 Cleaning Up. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 31, 2006.
[74] Episode guide - episode 13 Sentencing. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 4, 2006.
2.2.6
External links
[54] The Wire: The Complete First Season. Rotten Tomatoes.
Ocial website
[55] Alan Sepinwall (August 6, 2006). Taut 'Wire' has real

strength.. Newark Star-Ledger. p. 1.

Database
[56] Aaron Barnhart (2006). "'The Wire' aims higher: TVs nest
hour is back. Kansas City Star.
[57] Leslie Ryan (2003). Tapping The Wire; HBO Police Drama
Tops Television Weeks Semiannual Critics Poll List. Television Week.
List of The Wire season 1 episodes at TV.com
2.3
The Wire (season 2)
The second season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on June 1, 2003, concluded on August 24, 2003, and contained 12 episodes. It
[59] Poniewozik, James (December 12, 2002). Top 10 Every- introduces the stevedores of the Baltimore port and an inthing 2002. TIME. Retrieved February 5, 2012.
ternational smuggling organization led by a gure known
[58] Robert David Sullivan (2002).
Phoenix.
Slow Hand.
Boston
32
only as "The Greek", while continuing to examine the drugdealing Barksdale Organization and the Baltimore Police
Department. While continuing the series central themes
of dysfunctional institutions and the societal eects of the
drug trade, the second season also explores the decline of
the American working class, and the hardship its members
endure during the transition from an industrial to a postindustrial society.
The second season aired Sundays at 9:00 pm in the United
States. The season was released on DVD as a ve disc boxed
set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Second Season
on January 5, 2005 by HBO Video.
2.3.1
Plot
The second season, along with its ongoing examination of

the drug problem and its eect on the urban poor, examines
the plight of the blue-collar urban working class as exemplied by stevedores in the city port, as some of them get
caught up in smuggling drugs and other contraband inside
the containers that their port receives. In a season-long subplot, the Barksdale organization continues its drug tracking despite Avons imprisonment, with Stringer Bell assuming greater power.
crime ring and slowly work their way up the chain towards
The Greek, the mysterious man in charge. But Valchek,
upset that their focus has moved beyond Sobotka, gets the
FBI involved. The Greek has contacts inside the FBI and
starts severing his ties to Baltimore when he learns about
the investigation.
After a dispute over stolen goods turns violent, Sobotkas
son Ziggy is charged with the murder of one of the Greeks
underlings. Sobotka himself is arrested for smuggling; he
agrees to work with the detail to help his son, nally seeing
his actions as a mistake. However, the Greek learns about
this through the FBI and has Sobotka killed. The investigation ends with the fourteen homicides solved but the perpetrator already dead. Several drug dealers and mid-level
smuggling gures tied to the Greek are arrested, but he and
his second-in-command escape uncharged and unidentied.
The Major is pleased that Sobotka was arrested; the case is
seen as a success by the commanding ocers, but is viewed
as a failure by the detail.
Across town, the Barksdale organization continues its business under Stringer while Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale
serve prison time. D'Angelo decides to cut ties to his family
after his uncle organizes the deaths of several inmates and
blames it on a corrupt guard to shave time from his sentence.
Eventually Stringer covertly orders D'Angelo killed, faking
McNulty harbors a vendetta against his former commanders it as a suicide. Avon is unaware of Stringers duplicity and
for reassigning him to the marine unit, a job he'd feared be- mourns the loss of his nephew.
ing assigned and hates. When thirteen unidentied young Stringer also struggles with the loss of his drug suppliers and
women are found dead in a container at the docks, McNulty bad quality product. He again goes behind Avons back,
makes a spiteful eort to stick the murders within the juris- giving up half of Avons most prized territory, the towdiction of his former commander. Meanwhile, police Ma- ers, to the eastside Baltimore drug lord Proposition Joe in
jor Stan Valchek gets into a feud with Frank Sobotka, a exchange for a share of his supply. Avon, unaware of the
leader of the International Brotherhood of Stevedores, a c- arrangement, assumes that Joe and other dealers are moving
tional dockers union, over competing donations to their old into his territory simply because the Barksdale organization
neighborhood church. Valchek demands a detail to inves- has too few enforcers. He contracts a feared assassin named
tigate Sobotka. Cedric Daniels is interviewed, having been Brother Mouzone. Stringer deals with this by tricking his
praised by Prez, Major Valchecks son-in-law, and due to old adversary Omar into believing that Mouzone was rehis work on the Barksdale case. He is eventually selected to sponsible for the vicious killing of his partner in their feud
lead the detail assigned just to investigate Sobotka. Daniels in season one. Seeking revenge, Omar shoots Mouzone, but
is assured that when the investigation is successfully con- realizes Stringer has lied and calls 9-1-1. Mouzone recovcluded, he will move up to head a special case unit with ers and leaves Baltimore, and Stringer is free to continue his
personnel of his choosing.
business with Proposition Joe with new consent from Avon
Life for the blue-collar men of the port is increasingly hard
and work is scarce. As union leader, Sobotka has taken it
on himself to reinvigorate the port by convincing politicians
to support much-needed infrastructure initiatives. Lacking
the funds needed for this kind of inuence, Sobotka has become involved with a smuggling ring. Around him, his son
and nephew also turn to crime, as they have few other opportunities to earn money. It becomes clear to the Sobotka
detail that the dead girls are related to their investigation, as
they were in a container that was supposed to be smuggled
through the port. They again use wiretaps to inltrate the
Barksdale.
2.3.2
Cast
The second season continued to follow characters in the police and those involved with the Barksdale drug-dealing organization. The returning starring cast included Dominic
West as Ocer Jimmy McNulty,[1] whose insubordinate
tendencies and personal problems continued to overshadow
his ability.[2] Lance Reddick reprised his role as Lieutenant
33
Cedric Daniels, who was sidelined because of his placement 2.3.4 Awards and nominations
of case over career but used his political acumen to regain
some status.[3][4] Sonja Sohn played Kima Greggs, who had 20th TCA Awards
transferred to a desk job but could not resist the lure of a
good case.[5][6] Deirdre Lovejoy starred as assistant states
attorney Rhonda Pearlman, the legal liaison between the detail and the courthouse.[7][8]
Wood Harris and Larry Gilliard, Jr. reprised their roles as 2.3.5 References
newly incarcerated drug dealers Avon and D'Angelo Barksdale.[9][10][11][12] Idris Elba's character Stringer Bell took [1] Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. HBO.
over the operations of the Barksdale Organization.[13][14]
Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who continued to indulge [2] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Rehis drug addiction and act as an occasional informant.[15][16]
trieved December 19, 2007.
The police were overseen by two commanding ocers
more concerned with politics and their own careers than
the case, Colonel William Rawls (John Doman) and Acting
Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie Faison).[17][18][19][20]
Wendell Pierce portrayed homicide detective Bunk Moreland, who became more involved with the core case.[21][22]
Previously recurring guest star Clarke Peters joined the
starring cast and his character, veteran detective Lester
Freamon, joined the homicide unit as Morelands new
partner.[23][24]

HBO.

The new season also introduced a further group of charac- [7]

ters working in the Baltimore port area, including Spiros
Vondas Vondopoulos (played by Paul Ben-Victor),[25]
Beadie Russell (Amy Ryan),[26] and Frank Sobotka (Chris [8]
Bauer).[27] Vondas was the underboss of a global smuggling
operation,[28] Russell an inexperienced Port Authority o- [9]
cer and single mother thrown in at the deep end of a multiple
homicide investigation,[29] and Sobotka a union leader who
turned to crime in order to raise funds to save his union.[30] [10]
Cast & Crew - Deirdre Lovejoy as Rhonda Pearlman.

Character prole - Rhonda Pearlman. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
Cast & Crew - Wood Harris as Avon Barksdale. HBO.
Character prole - Avon Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
Also joining the show in season 2 were recurring

characters Nick Sobotka (Pablo Schreiber), Franks [11] Cast & Crew - Larry Gilliard, Jr. as D'Angelo Barksdale.
nephew;[31][32] Ziggy Sobotka (James Ransone), Franks
[33][34]
troubled son;
and The Greek (Bill Raymond), Von[12] Character prole - D'Angelo Barksdale. HBO. 2006. Redas mysterious boss.[35][36]
Returning guest stars included: Jim True-Frost as Detective Roland Prez Pryzbylewski;[37] Seth Gilliam as newly [13] Cast & Crew - Idris Elba as Stringer Bell. HBO. 2008.
promoted Sergeant Ellis Carver;[38][39] Domenick Lombardozzi as errant Detective Thomas Herc Hauk;[40][41] J.D. [14] Character prole - Stringer Bell. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
Williams as Barksdale crew chief Bodie Broadus;[42][43] and
December 19, 2007.
Michael K. Williams as renowned stick-up man Omar Lit[15] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retle.[44][45]
trieved January 15, 2008.
2.3.3
Episodes

December 19, 2007.
34



December 19, 2007.


[25] Cast & Crew - Paul Ben Victor as Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[26] Cast & Crew - Amy Ryan as Beatrice Beadie Russell.
[27] Cast & Crew - Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008.
[28] Character prole - Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO.
[29] Character prole - Beatrice Beadie Russell. HBO. 2008.
[30] Character prole - Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[31] Cast & Crew - Pablo Schreiber as Nick Sobotka. HBO.
[32] Character prole - Nick Sobotka. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.

December 19, 2007.
[46] Episode guide - episode 14 ebb tide. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 6, 2006.
[47] Episode guide - episode 15 collateral damage. HBO.
2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[48] Episode guide - episode 16 hot shots. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[49] Episode guide - episode 17 hard cases. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[50] Episode guide - episode 18 undertow. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[51] Episode guide - episode 19 all prologue. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[52] Episode guide - episode 20 backwash. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[53] Episode guide - episode 21 duck and cover. HBO. 2004.
Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[33] Cast & Crew - James Ransone as Ziggy Sobotka. HBO.

[54] Episode guide - episode 22 stray rounds. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[34] Character prole - Ziggy. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January

15, 2008.
[55] Episode guide - episode 23 storm warnings. HBO. 2004.

[35] Cast & Crew - Bill Raymond as The Greek. HBO. 2008.
[56] Episode guide - episode 24 bad dreams. HBO. 2004. Retrieved June 22, 2006.
[36] Character prole - The Greek. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[57] Episode guide - episode 25 Port in a Storm. HBO. 2004.


Pryzbylewski. HBO. 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
December 19, 2007.
2.3.6
External links
Ocial website
Database
35
2.4 The Wire (season 3)
case, Deputy Commissioner of Operations William Rawls

(John Doman) and Acting Commissioner Ervin Burrell
[19][20][21][22]
Wendell Pierce portrayed
The third season of the television series The Wire com- (Frankie Faison).
veteran
homicide
detective
Bunk
Moreland.[23][24]
menced airing in the United States on September 19,
2004, concluded on December 19, 2004, and contained 12 The new season saw several previously recurring characepisodes. It introduces Baltimore's local politicians and the ters assuming larger starring roles, including Seth Gilliam
upstart drug dealing Staneld organization while continuing as Sergeant Ellis Carver,[25] Domenick Lombardozzi as
to examine the Barksdale Organization and the Baltimore Detective Thomas Herc Hauk,[26] Detective Leander
Police Department.
Sydnor (Corey Parker Robinson),[27] Detective Roland
(Jim True-Frost),[28] Bodie Broadus (J.D.
The third season aired Sundays at 9:00 pm in the United Pryzbylewski
[29]
Omar Little (Michael K. Williams),[30] and
States. The season was released on DVD as a ve disc boxed Williams),
[31]
set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Third Season Major Howard Bunny Colvin (Robert Wisdom).
Colvin commanded the Western district where the Barkson August 8, 2006 by HBO video.
dale organization operated, and nearing retirement, he
came up with a radical new method of dealing with the drug
problem.[32] Herc and Carver joined the Western District
2.4.1 Production
Drug Enforcement Unit under Colvins command.[33][34]
Sydnor, a rising young star in the police department in seaCrew
son 1, returned to the cast as part of the major crimes
Following the death of Robert F. Colesberry, director Joe unit along with Pryzbylewski.[35][36] Bodie had been seen
Chappelle joined the production sta as a co-executive pro- gradually rising in the Barksdale organization since the rst
episode; he was born to their trade and showed a erce apducer and continued to regularly direct episodes.[1]
titude for it.[37] Omar had a vendetta against the Barksdale
Baltimore Sun writer and political journalist William F.
organization and gave them all of his lethal attention.[38]
Zorzi joined the writing sta in the third season and brought
A new starring character was also introduced in the third
a wealth of experience to the shows examination of Baltiseason: Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Gillen), an ambitious city
[2]
more politics.
councilman.[39][40]
Cast
Starring cast The third season returned the focus to an
investigation of the Barksdale Organization. It also introduced new characters including the rival Staneld Organization and local politicians. The returning starring cast
consisted of Dominic West as Detective Jimmy McNulty,
whose insubordinate tendencies and personal problems
continued to overshadow his ability.[3][4] Lance Reddick
reprised his role as Lieutenant Cedric Daniels, now commanding his own unit.[5][6] Sonja Sohn returned as Kima
Greggs, McNultys new partner within the unit.[7][8] Clarke
Peters reprised his character, veteran detective Lester
Freamon, who was once again working for Daniels.[9][10]
Deirdre Lovejoy starred as assistant states attorney Rhonda
Pearlman, the legal liaison between the unit and the
courthouse.[11][12]
Several members of the second season starring cast did

not return for the third season with the change in focus
and the termination of some characters storylines. Chris
Bauer (Frank Sobotka), Paul Ben-Victor (Spiros Vondas)
and Amy Ryan (Beadie Russell) all leave the starring cast
with the third season.[41][42][43][44] Ryan returns as a guest
star for a short scene at the end of the season.
Recurring roles Many guest stars from the earlier seasons reprised their roles. On the side of the street
Proposition Joe (Robert F. Chew), the East Sides cautious drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the
Barksdale Organization.[45][46] His lieutenant Cheese
(Method Man) became involved in the Major Crimes Unit
investigation.[47][47] Brother Mouzone (Michael Potts) returns to Baltimore looking for revenge.[48] Hassan Johnson
reprises his role as incarcerated Barksdale enforcer WeeWood Harris reprised his role as incarcerated drug king- Bey Brice.[49][50] Tray Chaney continues to portray Barkspin Avon Barksdale.[13][14] Idris Elba's character Stringer dale crew chief Poot Carr.[51][52] Leo Fitzpatrick returns as
Bell continued to run the Barksdale Organization in Avons hapless drug addict Johnny Weeks.[53][54]
absence.[15][16] Andre Royo returned as Bubbles, who con- Michael Hyatt and Shamyl Brown reprised their respectinued to indulge his drug addiction and act as an occasional tive roles as Brianna Barksdale and Donette with both
informant.[17][18]
characters dealing with the loss of D'Angelo BarksThe police were overseen by two commanding ocers dale.[55][56][57][58] Michael Kostro returned as the Barksmore concerned with politics and their own careers than the dales retainered defense attorney Maurice Levy.[59][60]
36
Isiah Whitlock, Jr. reprised his role as corrupt State Senator Clay Davis, who continued to be involved with Barksdale money.[61][62] Stringer continued to use Shamrock
(Richard Burton) to insulate himself from investigation.[63]
Background characters like Barksdale enforcers Tank and
Country also returned.[63] Omar Little's crew continued
to rob the Barksdale Organization and consisted of his
boyfriend Dante (Ernest Waddell), partners Tosha Mitchell
(Edwina Findley) and Kimmy (Kelli R. Brown), and advisor
Butchie (S. Robert Morgan).[63]

vision. Carvers squad includes Kenneth Dozerman (Rick
Otto),[96][97] Anthony Colicchio (Benjamin Busch), Lloyd
Truck Garrick (Ryan Sands), and Lambert (Nakia Dillard).[68] New rookie patrol ocer Aaron Castor (Lee Everett Cox), Brian Baker (Derek Horton) and Ocer Turner
(Darrell M. Smith) also featured.[68]
2.4.2
Episodes

Many guest stars also reprised their characters from the police department. Returning guest stars in the homicide unit
include Delaney Williams as Sergeant Jay Landsman,[64][65]
Ed Norris as Detective Ed Norris,[66][67] and Brian Anthony 2.4.3 Awards and nominations
Wilson as Detective Vernon Holley.[68] Al Brown and Jay
Landsman reprised their roles as patrol division ocers 57th Primetime Emmy Awards
Stan Valchek and Dennis Mello.[69][70][71][72] Michael Salconi recurred as veteran Western patrolman Michael San Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Setangelo.[68]
ries (George Pelecanos & David Simon) (Episode:
New recurring characters in the third season were also
Middle Ground)
spread between the Street and the Law.
The upstart Staneld Organization introduced several new roles:
Marlo Staneld (Jamie Hector), a ruthless leader seek- 2.4.4 References
ing to challenge Avons dominance;[73][74] Chris Part[1] Joe Chappelle biography. HBO. Retrieved October 13,
low (Gbenga Akinnagbe), Stanelds chief enforcer;[75][76]
2007.
Felicia Snoop Pearson (Felicia Pearson), Partlows
[77][78]
protege;
Norris Davis as rimshop owner and advi- [2] Goldman, Eric. IGN Exclusive Interview: The Wire 's
sor Vinson;[63] Brandon Fobbs as crew chief Fruit;[63] and
Melvin T. Russell and Justin Burley as young drug dealers Jamal and Justin.[63] The Barksdale Organization also [3] Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. HBO.
found several new recruits: Slim Charles (Anwan Glover),
[79][80]
Avons new chief enforcer;
Bernard (Melvin Jackson, [4] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. ReJr.), responsible for procuring disposable cell phones;[63]
and Dennis Cutty Wise (Chad Coleman), a newly re[5] Cast & Crew - Lance Reddick as Cedric Daniels. HBO.
leased convict uncertain of his future.[81][82]
The introduction of a political storyline brought many new
characters.[68] Glynn Turman played Mayor Clarence
Royce, the incumbent whom Carcetti planned to
unseat.[83][84] Cleo Reginald Pizana portrayed Coleman
Parker, Royces chief-of-sta.[85] Brandy Burre appeared as Theresa D'Agostino, a political campaign
consultant.[86][87] Frederick Strother performed as Odell
Watkins, a state delegate and political king-maker.[88][89]
Christopher Mann played Carcettis city council colleague
Anthony Gray.[90][91]

HBO.

Several new police characters also debuted with the third

season. Gregory L. Williams played Michael Crutcheld, a [10] Character prole - Lester Freamon. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
cantankerous homicide detective.[92][93] Joilet F. Harris had
a small role as Caroline Massey, a new ocer in the Ma- [11] Cast & Crew - Deirdre Lovejoy as Rhonda Pearlman.
jor Crimes Unit.[94][95] The focus on Colvins command of
the Western District introduced several new characters both
in Carvers Drug Enforcement Unit and in the Patrol Di- [12] Character prole - Rhonda Pearlman. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
37

[35] Character prole - Leander Sydnor. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[36] Character prole - Roland Prez Pryzbylewski. HBO.



December 19, 2007.

December 19, 2007.
[17] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[39] Cast & Crew - Aidan Gillen as Thomas Tommy Carcetti.

[40] Character prole - Thomas Tommy Carcetti. HBO.


[41] Cast & Crew - Chris Bauer as Frank Sobotka. HBO. 2008.

December 19, 2007.
[42] Cast & Crew - Paul Ben Victor as Spiros Vondas Vondopolous. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.

[43] Cast & Crew - Larry Gilliard, Jr. as D'Angelo Barksdale.


December 19, 2007.
[44] Cast & Crew - Amy Ryan as Beatrice Beadie Russell.

[45] Cast & Crew - Robert F. Chew as Proposition Joe Stewart.

[46] Character prole - Proposition Joe Stewart. HBO. 2008.

[47] Cast & Crew - Method Man as Melvin Cheese Wagsta.


[48] Character prole - Brother Mouzone. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.



Pryzbylewski. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.



[31] Cast & Crew - Robert Wisdom as Howard Bunny

Colvin. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[53] Cast & Crew - Leo Fitzpatrick as Johnny. HBO. 2008.

[32] Character prole - Howard Bunny Colvin. HBO. 2008.

[54] Character prole - Johnny. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.

December 19, 2007.
[55] Cast & Crew - Michael Hyatt as Brianna Barksdale. HBO.


[56] Character prole - Brianna Barksdale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
38
[57] Cast & Crew - Shamyl Brown as Donette. HBO. 2008.

[79] Cast & Crew - Anwan Glover as Slim Charles. HBO.

[58] Character prole - Donette. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[80] Character prole - Slim Charles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[59] Cast & Crew - Michael Kostro as Maurice Maury

Levy. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[81] Cast & Crew - Chad L. Coleman as Dennis Cutty Wise.

[60] Character prole - Maurice Maury Levy. HBO. 2008.

[82] Character prole - Dennis Cutty Wise. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[61] Cast & Crew - Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as R. Clayton Clay

Davis. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[83] Cast & Crew - Glynn Turman as Clarence Royce. HBO.

[62] Character prole - R. Clayton Clay Davis. HBO. 2008.

[84] Character prole - Clarence V. Royce. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[63] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 27,
2006.
[85] Character prole - Coleman Parker. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.

[86] Cast & Crew - Brandy Burre as Theresa D'Agostino.


December 19, 2007.
[87] Character prole - Theresa D'agostino. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[66] Cast & Crew - Ed Norris as Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[88] Cast & Crew - Frederick Strother as Odell Watkins. HBO.

[67] Character prole - Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[89] Character prole - Odell Watkins. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[68] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 22,
2006.
[90] Cast & Crew - Christopher Mann as Anthony Gray. HBO.

[69] Cast & Crew - Al Brown as Stanislaus Valchek. HBO.

[91] Character prole - Anthony Gray. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[70] Character prole - Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[92] Cast & Crew - Gregory L. Williams as Michael Crutcheld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[71] Cast & Crew - Jay Landsman as Dennis Mello. HBO.

[93] Character prole - Detective Michael Crutcheld. HBO.

[72] Character prole - Dennis Mello. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[94] Cast & Crew - Joilet F. Harris as Caroline Massey. HBO.

[73] Cast & Crew - Jamie Hector as Marlo Staneld. HBO.

[95] Character prole - Caroline Massey. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[74] Character prole - Marlo Staneld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[96] Cast & Crew - Rick Otto as Kenneth Dozerman. HBO.

[75] Cast & Crew - Gbenga Akinnagbe as Chris Partlow. HBO.

[97] Character prole - Kenneth Dozerman. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[76] Character prole - Chris Partlow. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[98] Episode guide - episode 26 Time After Time. HBO. 2004.

[77] Cast & Crew - Felicia Pearson as Felicia Snoop Pearson.

[99] Episode guide - episode 27 All Due Respect. HBO. 2004.

[78] Character prole - Felicia Snoop Pearson. HBO. 2008. [100] Episode guide - episode 28 Dead Soldiers. HBO. 2004.
[101] Episode guide - episode 29 Amsterdam. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 7, 2006.
[102] Episode guide - episode 30 Straight and True. HBO. 2004.
[103] Episode guide - episode 31 Homecoming. HBO. 2004.
[104] Episode guide - episode 32 Back Burners. HBO. 2004.
[105] Episode guide - episode 33 Moral Midgetry. HBO. 2004.
[106] Episode guide - episode 34 slapstick. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[107] Episode guide - episode 35 reformation. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
39
Crew
Playwright and television writer/producer Eric Overmyer
joined the crew of The Wire in the shows fourth season as a consulting producer and writer.[2] He had previously worked on Homicide. Overmyer was brought into
the full-time production sta to replace George Pelecanos
who scaled back his involvement to concentrate on his next
book and worked on the fourth season solely as a writer.[3]
Emmy-award winner, Homicide and The Corner writer and
college friend of Simon David Mills also joined the writing sta in the fourth season.[2] Regular writer Ed Burns
also became a producer on The Wire in the shows fourth
season.[2]
Cast
The focus of the fourth season shifted between a local

school, the mayoral election, police department politics and
[108] Episode guide - episode 36 middle ground. HBO. 2004.
action on the street corners. The returning starring cast
consisted of Dominic West as Ocer Jimmy McNulty,
[109] Episode guide - episode 37 mission accomplished. HBO. the formerly insubordinate detective who attempts to shed
his ability and his problems in favor of a better life.[4][5]
2004. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
Lance Reddick reprised his role as newly promoted Major
Cedric Daniels, now commanding the western district.[6][7]
One of Danielss sergeants within the district was Sergeant
2.4.5 External links
Ellis Carver, portrayed by Seth Gilliam.[8] Robert Wisdom reprised his role as former western district comman Ocial website
der Howard Bunny Colvin,[9] who has become a eld re List of The Wire episodes at the Internet Movie searcher after a short stint working in hotel security following his retirement from the Baltimore Police Department.
Database
The Major Crimes Unit sees a shift in personnel this season. Kima Greggs, portrayed by Sonja Sohn,[10][11] and
Lester Freamon, portrayed by Clarke Peters,[12][13] transfer
to the Homicide Unit after the new lieutenant of the Major
Crimes Unit ends the wire and halts Freamons investigation
of the Barksdale money. Corey Parker-Robinson portrays
Detective Leander Sydnor, one of two detectives who remain in the Major Crimes Unit after the arrival of the new
lieutenant.[14] Domenick Lombardozzi returned as Thomas
Herc Hauk, a former member of the Major Crimes Unit
whose work on the mayors security detail earns him a promotion to sergeant and a transfer back to his old unit after
Freamon and Greggs departure.[15][16]
The fourth season of the television series The Wire commenced airing in the United States on September 10,
2006, concluded on December 10, 2006, and contained
13 episodes. It introduces Baltimores school system and
several middle school students while continuing to examine the remnants of the Barksdale Organization, the ascendant Staneld Organization, the Baltimore Police Department and politicians.
Wendell Pierce portrayed veteran homicide detective Bunk
[17][18]
Deirdre Lovejoy starred as assistant states
The fourth season aired on Sundays at 9:00 pm in the United Moreland.
attorney
Rhonda
Pearlman, the legal liaison between the
States. The season was released on DVD as a four disc
[19][20]
Andre Royo returned as
unit
and
the
courthouse.
boxed set under the title of The Wire: The Complete Fourth
Bubbles,
who
continued
to
indulge
his drug addiction and
[1]
Season on December 4, 2007 by HBO video.
act as an occasional informant.[21][22] Jim True-Frost portrayed Roland Prez Pryzbylewski,[23] a former member
of the Major Crimes Unit who has become a teacher in an
2.5.1 Production
inner city school after inadvertently killing a fellow ocer
40
in season three.
Kimmy (Kelli R. Brown), and advisor Butchie (S. Robert

[59]
The police were overseen by two commanding ocers Morgan).
more concerned with politics and their own careers than the Many guest stars also reprised their characters from the pocase, Deputy Commissioner of Operations William Rawls lice department. Returning guest stars in the homicide unit
(John Doman) and Commissioner Ervin Burrell (Frankie include Delaney Williams as Sergeant Jay Landsman,[60][61]
Faison).[24][25][26][27] At city hall, Tommy Carcetti (Aidan Ed Norris as Detective Ed Norris,[62][63] and Brian AnGillen)[28][29] was an ambitious city councilman seeking thony Wilson as Detective Vernon Holley.[64] Al Brown and
to become mayor. Joining the cast for the fourth season Jay Landsman reprised their roles as Major Stan Valchek
was Reg E. Cathey as Carcettis deputy campaign manager, and Lieutenant Dennis Mello.[65][66][67][68] Michael Salconi
Norman Wilson.[28] Also joining the cast after having a re- recurred as veteran Western patrolman Michael Santancurring role during the third season was Glynn Turman as gelo.[64] Gregory L. Williams played Michael Crutcheld, a
Mayor Clarence Royce.[30]
cantankerous homicide detective.[69][70] Joilet F. Harris reas Caroline Massey, an ocer in the Major Crimes
On the streets, former Barksdale crew chief Bodie Broadus turned
[71][72]
Unit.
Joining the Major Crimes Unit this season is
[31][32]
(J.D. Williams)
joins the organization of new drug
Kenneth
Dozerman
(Rick Otto),[73][74] In the western dis[33]
kingpin Marlo Staneld (Jamie Hector).
Michael K.
Williams portrayed renowned stick-up man Omar Lit- trict, Carvers squad includes Anthony Colicchio (Benjamin
Garrick (Ryan Sands), and Lambert
tle.[34][35] Joining the cast this season after having a recur- Busch), Lloyd Truck
[64]
(Nakia
Dillard).
ring role in season three is Chad L. Coleman as Dennis
Cutty Wise, a reformed member of the Barksdale orga- In the political storyline,[64] Cleo Reginald Pizana returned
nization who has opened a boxing gym for neighborhood as Coleman Parker, Royces chief-of-sta.[75] Brandy Burre
children.
appeared as Theresa D'Agostino, a political campaign
consultant.[76][77] Frederick Strother performed as Odell
Two members of the third season starring cast did not return
[78][79]
for the fourth season with the change in focus and the termi- Watkins, a state delegate and political king-maker.
Christopher Mann played Carcettis city council colnation of those characters storylines. Wood Harris (Avon
[80][81]
Maria Broom returns as Marla
Barksdale)[36][37] and Idris Elba (Stringer Bell)[38][39] leave league Anthony Gray.
Daniels, the estranged wife of Major Daniels who is runthe starring cast at the beginning of the fourth season.
ning for a seat on the city council.[82]
Recurring characters Many guest stars from the earlier seasons reprised their roles. On the side of the street
Proposition Joe (Robert F. Chew), the East Sides cautious
drug kingpin, became more cooperative with the Staneld
Organization after the death of Stringer Bell.[40][41] His
lieutenant, and nephew, Cheese (Method Man) continued to elude the Major Crimes Unit investigation.[42][42]
Hassan Johnson reprises his role as incarcerated Barksdale
enforcer Wee-Bey Brice.[43][44] Former Barksdale enforcer
Slim Charles (Anwan Glover) returned as a new recruit to
Proposition Joes organization.[45][46] Several members of
the Staneld Organization introduced in season three also
returned: Chris Partlow (Gbenga Akinnagbe), Stanelds
chief enforcer;[47][48] and Felicia Snoop Pearson (Felicia
Pearson), Partlows protg.[49][50] Tray Chaney continues
to portray former Barksdale crew chief Poot Carr, who
joins the Staneld organization this season.[51][52]
Michael Hyatt reprised her role as Brianna Barksdale.[53][54]
Michael Kostro returned as the defence attorney Maurice
Levy.[55][56] Isiah Whitlock, Jr. reprised his role as corrupt
State Senator Clay Davis whose involvement with Barksdale money causes him trouble with the Major Crimes
Unit.[57][58] Omar Little's crew shifted focus to the Stanseld Organization and the New Day Co-op and consisted
of his new boyfriend Renaldo (Ramn Rodrguez), partner
The fourth season also saw the return of two former starring
characters from the second season: Amy Ryan as Ocer
Beadie Russell, an ocer at the port and Jimmy McNultys
domestic partner, and Paul Ben-Victor as Spiros Vondas,
the second in command of the Greeks drug smuggling operation.
The shift of focus to the schools saw the introduction
of four young actors in major recurring roles this season, Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie Weems;[83]
Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagsta;[84] Julito McCullum as
Namond Brice;[85] and Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee.[86]
The characters are friends from a West Baltimore middle
school.[87][88][89][90] Other new characters from the school
included Tootsie Duvall as Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly;[82] David Parenti (Dan DeLuca), a Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland who works with Bunny
Colvin in the school to study potential violent oenders;[91]
Stacie Davis portrayed Miss Duquette, a doctoral student
who works with Parenti and Colvin; Aaron Bug Manigault
(Keenon Brice), Michael Lees younger brother; Kenard
(Thuliso Dingwall), one of the younger members of Namond Brices circle of friends;[92] and Richard Hidlebird as
Principal Claudell Withers.[93]
2.5.2
Reception
The fourth season of The Wire has been universally lauded

and hailed as one of the best seasons of television ever produced. It is listed as one of the highest rated individual
TV seasons of all time on Metacritic with a score of 98
out of 100 based on 21 criticsincluding 17 perfect score
reviews.[94]
11th Satellite Awards
Nomination for Best Drama Series
Writers Guild of America Awards
41

HBO.
[9] Cast & Crew - Robert Wisdom as Howard Bunny
Colvin. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
Award for Best Drama Series
Nomination for Best Drama Episode (David Simon &

Ed Burns) (Episode: Final Grades)

23rd TCA Awards

2.5.3
Episodes

[19] Cast & Crew - Deirdre Lovejoy as Rhonda Pearlman.
All episodes were made available by HBO six days earlier

[20] Character prole - Rhonda Pearlman. HBO. 2006. Rethan their broadcast date, via On Demand.[95]
2.5.4
References
[1] The Wire - Want Some Holiday Scoop?

Release
Date, Lower-Than-Typical Cost for HBOs 4th Season.
TVShowsOnDVD.com. September 3, 2007. Retrieved
November 26, 2007.
14, 2007.
2007.
[21] Cast & Crew - Andre Royo as Bubbles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
Pryzbylewski. HBO. 2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.
December 19, 2007.
[4] Cast & Crew - Dominic West as Jimmy McNulty. HBO.


[5] Character prole - Jimmy McNulty. HBO. 2006. Retrieved December 19, 2007.

December 19, 2007.
42
[28] Cast & Crew - Aidan Gillen as Thomas Tommy Carcetti.

[50] Character prole - Felicia Snoop Pearson. HBO. 2008.

[29] Character prole - Thomas Tommy Carcetti. HBO.

[30] Cast & Crew - Glynn Turman as Clarence Royce. HBO.

2008. Retrieved August 6, 2008.

[53] Cast & Crew - Michael Hyatt as Brianna Barksdale. HBO.


[54] Character prole - Brianna Barksdale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[33] Character prole - Marlo Staneld. HBO. 2004. Retrieved August 14, 2006.
[55] Cast & Crew - Michael Kostro as Maurice Maury

Levy. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.



December 19, 2007.
[57] Cast & Crew - Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as R. Clayton Clay

Davis. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.


[59] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 27,
2006.


December 19, 2007.

December 19, 2007.
[40] Cast & Crew - Robert F. Chew as Proposition Joe Stewart.

[62] Cast & Crew - Ed Norris as Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[41] Character prole - Proposition Joe Stewart. HBO. 2008.

[63] Character prole - Ed Norris. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[42] Cast & Crew - Method Man as Melvin Cheese Wagsta.

[64] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved July 22,
2006.

[65] Cast & Crew - Al Brown as Stanislaus Valchek. HBO.


[66] Character prole - Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[45] Cast & Crew - Anwan Glover as Slim Charles. HBO.

[67] Cast & Crew - Jay Landsman as Dennis Mello. HBO.

[46] Character prole - Slim Charles. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.
[68] Character prole - Dennis Mello. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

January 15, 2008.

[69] Cast & Crew - Gregory L. Williams as Michael Crutcheld. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.

January 15, 2008.

[49] Cast & Crew - Felicia Pearson as Felicia Snoop Pearson.

[71] Cast & Crew - Joilet F. Harris as Caroline Massey. HBO.

[72] Character prole - Caroline Massey. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[73] Cast & Crew - Rick Otto as Kenneth Dozerman. HBO.
[74] Character prole - Kenneth Dozerman. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[75] Character prole - Coleman Parker. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[76] Cast & Crew - Brandy Burre as Theresa D'Agostino.
[77] Character prole - Theresa D'agostino. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[78] Cast & Crew - Frederick Strother as Odell Watkins. HBO.
43
[94] The Wire: Season 4. Metacritic. Retrieved July 15, 2012.

[95] Sepinwall, Alan (December 31, 2007). The Wire week 1
thread for the On Demand'ers. Whats Alan Watching?.
[96] Episode guide - episode 38 boys of summer. HBO. 2004.
[97] Episode guide - episode 39 Soft Eyes. HBO. 2006. Retrieved August 9, 2006.
[98] Episode guide - episode 40 Home Rooms. HBO. 2006.
[99] Episode guide - episode 41 Refugees. HBO. 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2006.
[79] Character prole - Odell Watkins. HBO. 2008. Retrieved [100] Episode guide - episode 42 Alliances. HBO. 2006. ReJanuary 15, 2008.
trieved October 9, 2006.
[80] Cast & Crew - Christopher Mann as Anthony Gray. HBO.
[101] Episode guide - episode 43 Margin of Error. HBO. 2006.
January 15, 2008.
[102] Episode guide - episode 44 Unto Others. HBO. 2006. Retrieved November 1, 2006.
[82] Character prole - Marla Daniels. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
July 22, 2006.
[83] Cast & Crew - Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie
Weems. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[103] Episode guide - episode 45 Corner Boys. HBO. 2006. Retrieved November 9, 2006.
[84] Cast & Crew - Maestro Harrell as Randy Wagsta. HBO. [104] Episode guide - episode 46 Know Your Place. HBO. 2006.
[85] Cast & Crew - Julito McCullum as Namond Brice. HBO. [105] Episode guide - episode 47 Misgivings. HBO. 2006. Re2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
trieved March 29, 2007.
[86] Cast & Crew - Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee. HBO. 2008.
[106] Episode guide - episode 48 A New Day. HBO. 2006. ReRetrieved January 15, 2008.
trieved March 29, 2007.
[87] Character prole - Namond Brice. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[107] Episode guide - episode 49 Thats Got His Own. HBO.
[88] Character prole - Michael Lee. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
January 15, 2008.
[89] Character prole - Randy Wagsta. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 15, 2008.
[90] Character prole - Duquan Dukie Weems. HBO. 2008.
2006. Retrieved March 30, 2007.

[108] "The Wire episode guide - episode 50 Final Grades. HBO.
2006. Retrieved October 17, 2007.
2.5.5
External links
[91] Character prole UM Professor David Parenti. HBO.

Ocial website
[92] Character prole Kenard. HBO. 2004. Retrieved October 29, 2006.

Database
[93] Character prole Principal Claudell Withers. HBO.

44

The fth and nal season of the television series The Wire
commenced airing in the United States on January 6, 2008,
and concluded on March 9, 2008; it contained 10 episodes.
The series continued to examine the Baltimore police department, the Staneld organization and city hall while introducing a ctionalized version of the Baltimore Sun newsroom.
2.6.1
Production
HBO announced on September 12, 2006 that it commissioned a fth and nal season consisting of 13 episodes,[1][2]
which was later reduced to ten.[3] On April 30, 2007, production for Season 5 ocially began. Filming wrapped
early in the morning of September 1, 2007 and the rst
episode aired on January 6, 2008.[4]
temporary slang.[5] Series creator David Simon further expanded on the thematic content of season ve in an interview with Fancast/Inside TV.[6] Critic David Zurawik saw
the unifying theme of the season as public and private
lies, particularly those perpetuated by the media and told
by Jimmy McNulty in protest against cutbacks in the police department.[7] TV Guide writer Matt Roush also saw
the central theme as lies and characterized it as deeply and
darkly ironic.[8]
Promotion
A preview for Season 5 of The Wire aired on HBO on October 28, 2007 and was later made available on YouTube.[9]
HBO sent critics the rst seven episodes on DVD in December 2007.[7][10][11]
HBOs On Demand and multiplatform marketing division
approached creator David Simon about producing exclusive on demand content and three short prequel clips were
produced that take place prior to the linear storyline of
the show.[12][13] The clips were made available via Amazon.com from December 5 and through HBOs on demand
service from December 15.[12][13] The rst video takes
place in 1962 and focuses on the school days of drug kingpin Proposition Joe; the second is set in 1985 and focuses
on Omar Little making an early robbery; the third video is
set in 2000 and shows the rst meeting of Jimmy McNulty
(played by Dominic West) and Bunk Moreland (Wendell
Pierce).[14] The clips aired after Season 5 episodes as they
premiered starting January 6, 2008.[15]
In an interview with Slate on December 1, 2006, David

Simon said that Season 5 would be about the media and
media consumption.[2] A major focus would be journalism,
which would be dramatized through a newspaper modeled
after The Baltimore Sun. The theme, according to Simon,
would deal with what stories get told and what don't and
why it is that things stay the same.[2] Issues such as the
quest for prot, the decrease in the number of reporters,
and the end of aspiration for news quality would all be addressed, alongside the theme of homelessness. In the same
interview, Simon indicated that no other theme seemed substantial enough to warrant a sixth season, except possibly the
large inux of Latinos into Baltimore. He noted, however,
that since no writer on the show spoke Spanish or had any Locations
intimate knowledge of the citys Latino population, the eld
At that Night at the Wire event, fans were allowed to tour the
work would be too cumbersome.[2]
Baltimore Sun newsroom constructed for the show. The real
At the Night at the Wire event on June 9, 2007, Simon
newspaper allowed the show to use their name but stipulated
stated that Detective Sydnor is the only character who rethat no current employees could appear in the series.[5] The
mains morally clean by the end of the show, but not pernewsroom was an entirely built set constructed at the shows
fectly since after all, this is The Wire. He also hinted that
out-of-town soundstage.[5]
Mayor Carcetti might make a run for governor.
The actual Washington Post newsroom was also featured, as
The series continued the shows examination of the devaluone reporter visits for an interview.[16] The Wire is the rst
[5]
ing of human life and institutional dysfunction. The inproduction to be allowed to lm at the location; even the lm
creased scope of the season to include the media allowed
All the Presidents Men about the papers role in breaking
this theme to be explored through an examination of the
the Watergate scandal had to build a set to represent the
people who are supposed to be monitoring all this and
paper.[16]
[5]
sounding the alarm the journalists. In particular Simon has spoken about the devaluing of the reporter in terms
of downsizing a newspaper sta and the management ex- Cast
pecting to do more with less when he asserts that in reality, you can only do less with less.[5]
It was rumored in August 2007 that Homicide: Life on the
The series realism has been reported as being maintained Street stars Richard Belzer[17] and Clark Johnson[18] would
particularly through the accurate dialogue and use of con- guest star in the fth season. Johnson was later conrmed as
45
tor Clay Davis,[19] Michael Kostro as defense attorney
Maurice Levy, and Neal Hu as Mayoral chief of sta
Michael Steintorf.[19][20]
In addition to Johnson, joining the main cast in the journalism story line were Thomas McCarthy as morally challenged reporter[4] Scott Templeton[19] and Michelle Paress
as reporter Alma Gutierrez.[19]
New starring cast member Clark Johnson as editor Augustus Gus

Haynes.
Season 4 main cast members Frankie Faison, Jim TrueFrost, Robert Wisdom, and Chad L. Coleman, who
played Ervin Burrell, Roland Prez Pryzbylewski, Howard
Bunny Colvin and Dennis Cutty Wise, respectively, had
recurring but not starring roles in the season.
Other returning guest stars included Steve Earle as
drug counsellor Walon;[19] Anwan Glover as Slim
Charles;[19] Robert F. Chew as drug kingpin Proposition
Joe;[21] Method Man as drug lieutenant Melvin Cheese
Wagsta;[19] Felicia Pearson as the eponymous criminal
enforcer Felicia Snoop Pearson;[19] Chris Ashworth as
former enforcer for the Greeks Sergei Serge Malatov;
Wood Harris as fallen kingpin Avon Barksdale; Marlyne
Aack as city council president Nerese Campbell;[19][21]
and Amy Ryan as McNultys domestic partner Beadie
Russell.[19] The return of guest stars from past seasons was
described in reviews as a reward to loyal viewers.[8]
joining the starring cast to play Gus Haynes,[19] a city editor who tries to hold the line against dwindling coverage,
buyouts, and pseudo-news.[5] The New Yorker described
an early scene from the season where Haynes rants about a
reporter inserting a charred doll into scenes of res to eke
more sympathy from his readers.[5] Johnson also directed
the nal episode of the show.[4] In the episode Took,
Belzer made a cameo appearance as John Munch, the police
detective he has portrayed since 1993 on Homicide (1993
1999) and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (19992013). New recurring guest stars included David Costabile, Sam
Freed, Bruce Kirkpatrick, Todd Scoeld, Kara Quick, and
The majority of the starring cast from the fourth season
Donald Neal.[21]
returned. On the police front, Dominic West returned as
Jimmy McNulty[19] with a larger storyline than the fourth Continuing the shows trend of using non-professional acseason;[20] John Doman as Deputy Commissioner William tors and real-life Baltimore gures,[7] several ex-Baltimore
Rawls;[19][21] Seth Gilliam as Western district Sergeant Ellis Sun reporters appeared in recurring roles.[5] Rebecca CorCarver;[19][21] Corey Parker Robinson as Major Case Unit bett, who was Simons former editor at the Baltimore Sun
detective Leander Sydnor;[19][21] Deirdre Lovejoy as pros- and now works at the New York Times, had a recurring
ecutor Rhonda Pearlman;[19][21] Clarke Peters as veteran role.[5] Writer and former political reporter William F.
Detective Lester Freamon;[19][21] Wendell Pierce as veteran Zorzi gained further screen time after his season 1 cameo.[5]
homicide Detective Bunk Moreland;[19][21] Lance Reddick Steve Luxenberg, the editor responsible for hiring Simon
as Colonel Cedric Daniels;[19][21] and Sonja Sohn as Detec- at The Sun, also had a role.[5] Simons wife Laura Lippman also appeared[5] as a reporter in an early scene alongtive Kima Greggs.[19][21]
side Michael Olesker, another former Sun reporter.[7] BalIn the political storyline, Aidan Gillen returned as amtimore attorney Billy Murphy appeared as a lawyer for corbitious Mayor Tommy Carcetti;[19][21] as well as Reg
rupt Senator Clay Davis, and former senator and current ra[19][21]
E. Cathey as political aide Norman Wilson;
and
dio host Larry Young conducted a ctional interview with
Domenick Lombardozzi as troubled defense investigator
the character.[7] Former police commissioner Ed Norris re[19]
Thomas Herc Hauk.
turned in his recurring role as a homicide detective with the
In the street, Jamie Hector returned as West-side drug king- same name.[7]
pin Marlo Staneld.[19][21] Also returning for the street storyline were Andre Royo as heroin addict Bubbles;[19][21]
and Michael K. Williams as underworld legend Omar Lit- Crew
tle.[19][21]
Former recurring characters who joined the main cast were
Tristan Wilds as Michael Lee,[19] Gbenga Akinnagbe as
Chris Partlow,[19] Jermaine Crawford as Duquan Dukie
Weems,[19] Isiah Whitlock, Jr. as corrupt State Sena-
Creator David Simon continued to act as the shows executive producer and show runner.[5][21] Nina Kostro
Noble once again served as the shows other executive
producer.[21] Joe Chappelle reprised his co-executive pro-
46
ducer role and continued to direct episodes.[21] Ed Burns

once again served as a writer and joined Chappelle as a
co-executive producer.[22] Karen L. Thorson returned as a
producer.[21] George Pelecanos produced the sixth episode
of the series only - his rst production work since the third
season.[19][22][23]
Political journalist William F. Zorzi continued to write for
the show and guide the political storylines.[5] Acclaimed
crime ction novelist Pelecanos returned as a writer and
contributed his seventh episode to the series.[5] Pelecanoss
fellow crime novellists Richard Price and Dennis Lehane
also returned as writers. Chris Collins returned as a sta
writer[5] and contributed his rst script.[22] David Mills contributed an episode, completing the writing team.[19]

Nomination for Outstanding Individual Achievement
in Drama (David Simon)
2.6.3
Episodes

All episodes except "30" were made available by HBO
six days earlier than their broadcast date, via On Demand.[14][15]
New star Clark Johnson also helmed the nal episode after
previously directing the pilot. Other returning directors for
the fth season included Ernest Dickerson, Anthony Hem- 2.6.4 References
ingway, Agnieszka Holland, Dan Attias, and Seith Mann.
Series star Dominic West made his directorial debut. Hus- [1] John M. Higgins (September 12, 2006). HBO Renews The
Wire". Broadcasting & Cable. Retrieved January 25, 2012.
band and wife directing team Scott and Joy Kecken were
[19]
also rst time directors on the fth season.
[2] Meghan O'Rourke (2006). Behind The Wire". Slate.com.
2.6.2
Reception
The fth season received universal acclaim from critics,

scoring 89 out of 100 based on 24 reviews on Metacritic.[24]
In reviewing the rst seven episodes of the fth season
David Zurawik of the Baltimore Sun said that while there is
greatness in the seven episodes, the major newspaper storyline contain[s] nothing that matches the emotional power
and sociological insight of the show at its best.[25] Matt
Roush of TV Guide favorably reviewed the series calling it
brilliantly bleak and a landmark series.[8] Brian Lowry
of Variety characterised the series look at the media as the
most realistic portrayal of a newsroom in lm and television
history.[26]
60th Primetime Emmy Awards
Nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Drama Series (Ed Burns & David Simon) (Episode: "30")
Writers Guild of America Awards
Nomination for Best Drama Series
24th TCA Awards
Award for Heritage Award
[3] David Mills. Just to tease you fans of The Wire". Retrieved March 14, 2007.
[4] Wiltz, Teresa (September 3, 2007). Down to The Wire":
Its a Wrap for Gritty TV Series. Washington Post. Retrieved September 3, 2007.
[6] One on One with David Simon. Retrieved November 2,
2007.
[7] David Zurawik (2007). Fact and ction, down to The
Wire". The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[8] Urban Renewal for L&O and The Wire. TV Guide. 2007.
Archived from the original on May 8, 2008. Retrieved December 19, 2007.
[9] Preview of The Wire Season 5. Retrieved November 2,
2007.
[10] Charlie McCollom (2007). ""The Wire returns. San Jose
Mercury News. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[11] Kevin Thompson (2007). Merry Christmas to me! The
Wire comes early!". Palm Beach Post. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[12] Andrew Wallenstein (2007). HBOs Wire plugs in VOD
vignettes. The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the
original on May 27, 2008. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[13] Sean O'Neal (2007). HBO oers free Wire prequels.
A.V. Club. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
47
[14] Oscar Dahl (2007). HBO releases three prequel videos for
The Wire"". Buddy TV. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[35] "The Wire episode guide - episode 58 Clarications. HBO.

[15] HBO'S 'The Wire' Preps Back Stories: Three short lms
will precede launch of fth season in January.. EUR Web.
[36] "The Wire episode guide - episode 59 Late Editions. HBO.

2008. Retrieved March 10, 2008.
[16] Amy Argetsinger and Roxanne Roberts (June 5, 2007).

The CIA Has A New Man On a Special Mission -- to Hollywood. The Washington Post. Retrieved October 20, 2007.
[17] Oldenburg, Ann (August 5, 2007). Belzer character
Munches more scenery. USA Today. Retrieved August
8, 2007.
[18] Just to tease you fans of The Wire.... Undercover Black
Man. February 28, 2007. Retrieved February 28, 2007.
[19] About the Show. HBO. 2007. Retrieved December 12,
2007.
[20] HBO Re-Hangs 'Wire' in January. Zap 2 It. 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[21] HBOs Award-Winning Drama The Wire Returns to Movie
Central and The Movie Network For a Fifth and Final Season. Movie Central. 2007. Retrieved December 7, 2007.
[22] Season 5 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved December 12,
2007.
14, 2007.
[24] The Wire: Season 5. Metacritic. Retrieved February 23,
2011.
[25] "'The Wire' loses spark in newsroom storyline. Baltimore
Sun. 2007. Retrieved December 30, 2007.
[26] Brian Lowry (December 21, 2007). "'The Wire' gets the
newsroom right. Variety. Retrieved December 22, 2007.
[27] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less.
[28] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Unconrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved January 22, 2008.
[29] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
[30] "The Wire episode guide - episode 54 Transitions. HBO.
[31] "The Wire episode guide - episode 55 React Quotes. HBO.
[32] "The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian Aspect. HBO. 2008. Retrieved February 29, 2008.
[33] "The Wire episode guide - episode 57 Took. HBO. 2008.
Retrieved February 29, 2008.
[34] Full cast and crew for The Wire: Took, IMDB.com.
[37] "The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30". HBO. 2008.

Retrieved March 10, 2008.
2.6.5
External links
Ocial website
Database
Chapter 3
Characters
3.1 List of The Wire characters
This section includes the pupils, sta and Education Board

employees from the school system depicted on the show.
The following is a listing of ctional characters from the

HBO series, The Wire. Note that some characters allegiances or positions may have changed over time; and, al- 3.1.5 The Docks
though the series has ended, the placement below is generally meant to reect their most recent situation. Also, some Main article: Characters from the docks of The Wire
specic plot lines may be revealed in a characters description.
This section includes the stevedores and their families as
well as the criminal organization that controls smuggling
through the Baltimore docks.
3.1.1
The Law
3.1.6
Main article: Law enforcement characters of The Wire
The Paper
Main article: Journalists of The Wire

Law enforcement is an integral part of The Wire, and characters in this eld range from those enforcing the law at
The fth season features an examination of a ctionalized
street level up to those setting laws city wide.
version of The Baltimore Sun and introduced several journalist characters.
3.1.2
Politicians
3.1.7
Main article: Politicians of The Wire
Starring cast
Characters in this section include the state and city ocials, 3.1.8 A to Z
both honest and corrupt, depicted in the series.
Contents
3.1.3
The Street
Main article: Street-level characters of The Wire
Characters in this section range from homeless drug addicts

up to drug king-pins in charge of entire criminal empires.
3.1.4
C
D
E
The Schools
Main article: School system of The Wire
G
48
3.1. LIST OF THE WIRE CHARACTERS
49
Bell, Russell Stringer
Big Guy
Big Roy
Blocker, Wendell Orlando
Bond, Rupert
Bratton, Savino
Brice, De'Londa
Brice, Namond
Brice, Roland Wee-Bey
Broadus, Preston Bodie
Brown, Bobby
Brother Mouzone
Bubbles
Burrell, Ervin
Butchie
W
X
Y
Z
C
Campbell, Nerese
Cantrell, Walter
Carcetti, Jen
Carcetti, Thomas Tommy
A
Aimee
Carr, Malik Poot
Artis, Anton Stinkum
Carver, Ellis
Asher, Jimmy
Castor, Aaron
Cheryl
Chess
Bailey, John
Christeson
Baker, Brian
Cole, Ray
Barksdale, Avon
Colicchio, Anthony
Barksdale, Brianna
Colvin, Howard Bunny
Barksdale, D'Angelo
Country
Barlow, Frank
Cousins, Reginald Bubbles
Ben-Eleazer, Eton
Coxson, Nat
Bernard
Crutcheld, Michael
50
D
CHAPTER 3. CHARACTERS
G
Garrick, Lloyd Truck
D'Agostino, Theresa
Gerard
Daniels, Cedric
Gerry
Daniels, Marla
Ghost
Dante
Glekas, George AKA Double G
Davis, R. Clayton Clay
Gray, Anthony
Dawson, Zenobia
The Greek
The Deacon
Greggs, Shakima Kima
Dee-Dee
Gutierrez, Alma
Delores
Demper, Steven
Hauk, Thomas Herc
DiBiago, Bruce
Haynes, Augustus Gus
DiPasquale, Gary
Hendrix, Ricardo AKA Fat-Face Rick
Diggins, Claude
Hilton, Marquis Bird

Holley, Vernon
Donette
Hucklebuck
Donnie
Hungry Man
Donut
Donnelly, Marcia
I
Innes, Shardene
Dozerman, Kenneth
J
Jamal
Judkins, Crystal
Fitzhugh, Terrance Fitz
Justin
Fletcher, Mike
Johnson, Herbert De'Rodd AKA Puddin
Foerster, Raymond
Frazier, Warren
Frazier, Randall
Freamon, Lester
K
Kenard
Kimmy
Klebanow, Thomas
Frog
Koutris, Kristos
Fruit
Krawczyk, Andy
3.1. LIST OF THE WIRE CHARACTERS

L
51
N
La La
Nathan, Ilene
Lamar
Norris, Ed
Lambert
Landsman, Jay
O
O-Dog
Lee, Michael
Old Face Andre
Lee, Raylene
Levy, Maurice
Little Big Roy
Pakusa, Thomas Horseface
Little Kevin
Parenti, David
Little Man
Parker, Coleman
Little, Omar
Partlow, Chris
Luxenberg, Steven
Pearlman, Rhonda
Pearson, Felicia Snoop
Perkins, Eunetta
Mahon, Patrick
Perry
Malatov, Sergei
Phelan, Daniel
Manigault, Aaron Bug
Phelps, Tim
Manigault, Devar
Phil-Boy
Marimow, Charles
Polk, Augustus
Price, Damien Lavelle AKA Day Day
Massey, Caroline
Price, Je
Maui
Pryzbylewski, Roland Prez
McArdle, White Mike

McGinty, Shaun Shamrock
McNulty, Elena
McNulty, Jimmy
McNulty, Michael
McNulty, Sean
Rawls, William
Reed, Bobby
Renaldo
Mello, Dennis
Reese, Amanda
Metcalf,"Monk
Rico
Mitchell, Tosha
Ronnie Mo
Moreland, Bunk
Royce, Clarence
Motley, Vernon Ott
Russell, Beatrice Beadie
52
S
CHAPTER 3. CHARACTERS
W
Sampson, Grace
Wagsta, Calvin Cheese
Santangelo, Michael
Wagsta, Randy
Sapper
Wallace
Sherrod
Walker, Eddie
Slim Charles
Walon
Sobotka, Frank
Watkins, Odell
Sobotka, Joan
Weeks, Johnny
Sobotka, Louis
Weems, Duquan Dukie
Sobotka, Nick
Whiting, James
Sobotka, Ziggy
Williams, Karim
Spamanto, Johnny Fifty
Williamson, Kintel
Spry, Jay
Wilson, Norman
Squeak
Wise, Dennis Cutty
Staneld, Marlo
Withers, Claudell
Sterling
Wright, Brandon
Stewart, Proposition Joe

Stokes, Albert
Sydnor, Leander
Y
Z
T
Tank
Taylor, Marvin
Templeton, Scott
Tilghman, Dwight
Torret
Twigg, Roger
Tyson, Darnell
U
V
Valchek, Stanislaus
Vinson
Vondopoulos, Spiros Vondas
Zorzi, Bill
3.1.9
References
Chapter 4
Police
4.1 Police of The Wire
Current department commanders
The Police Of The Wire includes many starring characters

who play a major role in the ctional HBO drama series
The Wire. This ctionalized version of the Baltimore Police
Department has been examined in great detail across several
departments and there are also many supporting characters
in the Department.
William Rawls Main article: William Rawls
Rawls is Acting Commissioner on a temporary basis. Rawls

is caucasian, and Mayor Tommy Carcetti is unwilling to attempt a permanent promotion fearing that it would not be
acceptable to the politically inuential and largely African
American ministers. Rawls is a careerist and is feared by
many of his subordinates. He has been known to punish
anyone who crosses him with transfers to undesirable posts.
It is hinted at throughout the series that Rawls is a closeted
4.1.1 Command
homosexual. This is most clearly evident in Season Three
when he is seen patronizing a gay bar. Also in season four
The department is led by a Police Commissioner assisted grati is seen on a wall in the bathroom at the police station
by Deputy Commissioners of Operations (often shortened stating that Rawls Sucks Cock. Rawls is played by John
to Deputy Ops) and Administration. The Police Commis- Doman.
sioner answers directly to the city mayor and outlines the
departmental goals enforced by the Deputy CommissionCedric Daniels Main article: Cedric Daniels
ers. The Deputy Ops wields a great deal of power and is
responsible for the day-to-day activity of the departments
district and investigative unit commanders. The Admin Daniels is the Deputy Commissioner of Operations. He is
Deputy oversees the Internal Investigations Division (IID) a direct commanding ocer of many of the shows charand other units. The real life chain of command from the acters in earlier seasons. Daniels previously worked as a
Commissioner downwards is Deputy Commissioner, Chief, lieutenant in the Eastern District Drug Enforcement Unit,
Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, Major, Captain, Lieutenant, CID Narcotics Unit, and was the rst commander of the
Sergeant, and Detective/Ocer. However, in the series, MCU. Daniels is promoted to Major and Western District
any mention of the ranks of Chief, Lieutenant Colonel, and Commander after his successful case work in the MCU. He
Captain is omitted. Presumably this is to avoid confusion draws Carcettis attention as a young and capable African
and make the relationships between dierent members of American commander and is quickly promoted to CID
the hierarchy clearer to the viewer. Detectives fall into a Colonel. He is eventually promoted to Police Commisrank that coincides with their administrative position. The sioner, but resigns to practice law. Daniels is played by
Criminal Investigations Division, commanded usually by a Lance Reddick
Colonel, is the division responsible for the Homicide unit,
Narcotics unit, and Major Crimes Unit (MCU) amongst
others. The IID, homicide unit, and narcotics unit are Stanislaus Valchek Main article: Stanislaus Valchek
each led by a Major while MCU is commanded by a lieutenant. A Major commands each of the nine patrol districts Valchek is the Deputy Commissioner of Administration.
- the Central, Northern, Northeastern, Eastern, Southeast- Valchek was previously the Southeastern District commanern, Southern, Southwestern, Western and Northwestern der and his grudge against Frank Sobotka led to the formation of a specialised detail which became the Major Crimes
districts.
53
54
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Unit. Valchek is well connected with the citys politicians, Ervin Burrell Main article: Ervin Burrell
and was promoted because of his political association with
Mayor Carcetti. Valchek is played by Al Brown.
Burrell is a by-the-book careerist ocer who reached the
level of Commissioner. Initially appointed as an Acting
Commissioner, Burrell negotiated for a permanent postBobby Reed
ing with the Royce administration. When Carcetti replaced
Royce he immediately began looking to depose Burrell. He
Played by: Tony D. Head
is eventually forced to resign in a scandal over manipulation
Appears in:
of crime statistics but receives a highly paid replacement
job in order to leave quietly. Burrell is played by Frankie
Season one: "The Buys"; "Lessons" (uncredited);
Faison.
"The Hunt" and "Cleaning Up".
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and
"Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Misgivings" (uncredited)
Reed is a Major in the Baltimore Police Department and
commands the Internal Investigations Division. He is very
loyal to Ervin Burrells command often more emphasized in
protecting Burrells command status than rigorously investigating individual ocers. He often appears with discrediting evidence about ocers for Burrell to use as blackmail.
Raymond Foerster
Played by: Richard DeAngelis
Appears in:
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The
Buys"; "The Wire"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt" and
"Sentencing".
Season three: "Time After Time "; " All Due
Respect "; "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True";
"Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission Accomplished".
In the rst season Reed investigates the brutality charges

made against Roland Prez Pryzbylewski for blinding a
teenager in one eye. Reed dismisses the witnesses based
upon their criminal records but suspends Prez from street
Season four: "Refugees"
duty pending a Grand Jury hearing. Reed then intervenes
when the Barksdale detail stop State Senator Davis driver
Raymond Foerster was a Major and unit commander of the
(who received a bag full of cash from a Barksdale soldier)
Baltimore narcotics division in season one. According to
and again when Daniels tries to withhold the location of a
Season 4, he served 39 years on the force suggesting he
Barksdale stash house to protect his investigation.
joined the BPD in 1967. When Judge Phelan questioned
In the third season, Reed attends the weekly comstat meet- Deputy Commissioner Burrell about the Barksdale operaings of Ervin Burrell and William Rawls. In the fourth tion, it was Majors Foerster and Rawls who faced his subseseason, Reed briey appears when Burrell is contemplating quent wrath and demands for more information. Foersters
the best method to keep his appointed position as commis- response was to ask his shift lieutenant Cedric Daniels for
sioner.
a report and he then assigned Daniels and his team to the
Barksdale detail.
When Danielss investigation became drawn out and relied
upon wiretaps and surveillance, Foerster took the side of
Deputy Commissioner Burrell against Daniels when he tried
Warren Frazier
to explain the necessity of this technique to reach the heads
Played by: Dick Stilwell
of the organization. Foersters and Burrells insistence on
using buy busts led to the operation that resulted with the
Appears in:
shooting of Detective Greggs. Foerster visited Greggs in the
hospital with many other command ocers and appeared
Season one: "The Hunt".
anxious when trying to nd a tape recorder to replay the
Frazier is the Commissioner in season one. He gives the last transmissions before she was shot.
order for city-wide raids following the shooting of Kima Foerster was promoted to colonel and took over as comGreggs. As actor Dick Stilwell died in a real-life car acci- mander of the criminal investigations division when Rawls
dent after appearing in this single episode,[1] his character was promoted to deputy commissioner of operations. He
is retired and replaced by Ervin Burrell as commissioner.
was replaced as the Narcotics Major by George Smith, an
Former members
4.1. POLICE OF THE WIRE
55
associate of Major Colvin. He attended Rawls weekly com- Command

stat meetings and worked with Sergeant Jay Landsman in
running the homicide division. He was put under intense
Jimmy Asher
pressure to keep the murder rate down.[2]
In season four, Foerster continued to command CID. He
was involved with the management of the murder of a states
witness that became a politically important case. Burrell
ordered Foerster to replace veteran investigator Ed Norris
with Kima Greggs, now a rookie homicide detective. Foerster realizes Burrell hopes to slow the investigation. He assumes Burrells intent was to prevent the investigation from
revealing the victims witness status as a possible motive for
the murder before the upcoming mayoral election. Foerster
argues with Burrell and Rawls about the decision and discussed it with Jay Landsman. Foerster suered from cancer
during this time and was often absent from work. Repeated
courses of chemotherapy failed to cure the disease. Landsman announced the Colonels death to the homicide unit
stating that he served 39 years in the department without
leaving a trace of bitterness or hatred with any ocers, a
miraculous career by BPD standards. A police wake was
held at an Irish bar in his honor. He was replaced as C.I.D.
colonel by Cedric Daniels at a promotion ceremony following his death.
Played by: Gene Terinoni

Appears in:
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Home Rooms"
and "Thats Got His Own".
Season ve: "More With Less"
Asher is a lenient lieutenant who was handpicked to command the Major Crimes Unit by Lester Freamon with the
approval of Cedric Daniels. He normally lets the detectives do as they wish while working on his beach house in
Delaware. He was briey reassigned to a telephone unit
and replaced by Lieutenant Charles Marimow for purposes
of properly supervising the Major Crimes Unit under the
orders of Deputy Commissioner Rawls. With Daniels promotion to C.I.D. colonel, Asher is reinstalled as commander
of the unit again as Freamon feels he will eectively let the
detectives do what they need to make a case without interActor Richard DeAngelis died of cancer after lming ference from the commissioners oce.
scenes for the fourth season.[3]
Lester Freamon Main article: Lester Freamon
4.1.2
Major Crimes Unit
Freamon is a quiet and methodic veteran detective who

makes major contributions to the units investigations. He
is the units de facto commander, as he lays out their investigative strategies and specically chose Lieutenant Asher
to be the shift Lieutenant due to his lenient, hands-o attitude.
The Major Crimes Unit was established by Cedric Daniels

in season three as part of a prior agreement with Commissioner Ervin Burrell. The units main responsibility is to
build cases against high-prole targets responsible for murder, drug distribution and money laundering in Baltimore.
The unit was originally formed by a group of detectives
dumped upon Daniels by shift Lieutenants to make a case
Detectives/Ocers
against Avon Barksdale. It is currently under the command
of the Criminal Investigation Division and is run by Lester
Freamon even though on paper it is commanded by Lieu- Kenneth Dozerman
tenant Asher.
In the rst season the details oce is located in the basement of a downtown building where the only redeeming features are working telephones and electricity. In the second
season, the detail is moved into an old building located at
1911 South Clinton Street in the southeastern part of town
leased by the Transportation Authority courtesy of Major
Valchek. The oce remains the permanent location of the
unit when it is formed in season three.
Current members
Played by: Rick Otto

Appears in:
Season three: "Time After Time", "All Due Respect" and "Back Burners".
Season four: "Refugees", "Alliances", "Know
Your Place", "Misgivings", "Thats Got His
Own" and "Final Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less", "Clarications",
"Late Editions", and "30".
56
Dozerman is a plainclothes ocer in the Baltimore police department. In season three he worked narcotics in
Sergeant Ellis Carver's drug enforcement unit squad in the
Western District. He became friends with Herc and Carver
while working in the squad accompanying them in various
activities o duty. Dozerman was shot and injured in a buy
bust operation gone awry and decommissioned from duty
for the rest of the season. His attempted murder was the
catalyst for Major Colvin's Hamsterdam experiment as
Colvin wanted to reduce crime and not see any more of his
men get hurt. Dozermans service weapon was also stolen,
prompting Bunk Moreland to have to search for it. When
the weapon was found, it was returned to Dozerman at a
press conference.[2]
In season four, Dozerman transferred to the Major Crimes
Unit when his friend Herc transferred in, lling the gap left
by Greggs and Freamon leaving. Dozerman took part in
Lieutenant Charles Marimow's rst series of failed raids as
unit commander. Following these raids he helped Herc to
set up video surveillance of Marlo Staneld. Dozerman remained in the unit as an ally to both Herc and Leander Sydnor who mentored Dozerman on his investigative strategies.
All three detectives maintained a dislike for Marimows
caustic command style often fearing the repercussions that
he had threatened them with. Dozerman remained in the
unit following Marimows departure and Hercs suspension
under the new leadership of Lester Freamon.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Cedric Daniels Main article: Cedric Daniels
Daniels left the unit when he was promoted to Major, taking
the District Commander post in the Western.
Charles Marimow
Played by: Boris McGiver
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms", "Refugees",
"Alliances", "Corner Boys", "Misgivings", "Thats Got
His Own".
Marimow is a lieutenant in the Baltimore Police Department. He is installed as the commander of the Major
Crimes Unit by William Rawls based on his hostile reputation to properly supervise the units detectives and prevent them upsetting politicians after Lester Freamon issued
a series of subpoenas on them over suspicion of graft. Marimow renews the units focus on more obviously violent
drug dealers and closes down their wiretaps on Marlo Staneld. His caustic command style drives away Lester Freamon and Kima Greggs, the units best two detectives, leaving him with only Leander Sydnor and Caroline Massey.
His units stang problems are solved when Sergeant Herc
Hauk transfers back, bringing Ocer Dozerman with him.
Marimow
and Herc develop an immediate mutual dislike
In Season ve, Dozerman is still with Major Crimes workwhich
worsens
over their tenure.
ing with the detail on the row house serial murders. He still
meets his old Western district DEU buddies for drinks along Marimow is one of the most disliked commanders of the
with Herc. After Major Crimes is disbanded, Dozerman is Baltimore police department, as he has a reputation for besent to tactical division by Colonel Daniels.
ing a "Trojan Horse", "Virus", and a Unit Killer. It is
stated by Sgt. Jay Landsman that Marimow does not cast
o talent lightly. He heaves it away with great force. Marimow is also unafraid to threaten his subordinates careers
Jimmy McNulty Main article: Jimmy McNulty
as a means of punishing them for insubordination or similar deances. He prides himself on being a streetwise comMcNulty is a dedicated Baltimore police ocer with many
mander and having worked his way up through the ranks.
personal problems.
While Marimow has worked hard to earn his rank, his hostile command style has established his negative reputation
throughout the department.
Leander Sydnor Main article: Leander Sydnor
He believes it would be easy to topple Marlo Staneld, but
his rst series of raids fail, as he underestimates his targets.
Sydnor is a young, married detective in the Baltimore Ma- Marimow orders his men to take Staneld down, leading
jor Crimes Unit with a talent for investigative work and the Herc to break several rules by hiring a lip reader to spy on
stomach for drawn-out cases. Sydnor has been part of the Staneld, and using a video camera without a court order or
Major Crimes Unit throughout seasons one, three, and four Marimows approval. Marimow accurately suspects Herc
of the show.
of lying to him about the source of his information. Herc
also has Internal Investigations Division (IID) complaints
sent to the oce for attempted arrests based on misinforFormer members
mation. Marimow vows to Herc that he would be happy to
attend his execution at an IID trial if he could prove he
Command
was lying. Marimow leaves the Unit when Cedric Daniels
57
becomes the Criminal Investigations Division colonel and

reinstalls Lester Freamon and Lieutenant Asher.
Season one: "The Detail"; "The Buys"; "Old

Cases"; "The Pager" and "The Wire".
Show creator David Simon left the Baltimore Sun after a

bitter feud with editor William K. Marimow. Simon chose
to name an unsympathetic character after his old enemy.[4]
Season two: "Collateral Damage" (uncredited)

and "Hot Shots" (uncredited).
Season ve: "Late Editions".
Thomas Herc Hauk Main article: Thomas Herc Polk was an aging detective from the property unit who
Hauk
worked briey in the Barksdale and Sobotka details. He
is often called Auggie by his partner Pat Mahon. He is
generally
regarded as a hump, since he has not made a
Herc was a capable narcotics detective but his tendency tosingle
case
in property crimes over their last ten years. He
wards brutality and acting without thinking held up his cais
also
an
alcoholic.
reer progression as a member of the Barksdale and Sobotka
details. To improve his chances of making sergeant he
transferred to the Mayors security detail. He returned to
the Major Crimes Unit as a newly promoted sergeant. Herc
is red from the department after an Internal Investigation
Division hearing.
Detail members
After his partner Mahon retired due to injury, Polk considers deliberately injuring himself to follow in his partners
footsteps. Unable to follow through on his plan, he becomes
despondent and goes on a drinking binge. He misses several
days work and nally shows up drunk at 9am. Lieutenant
Daniels tells him to take sick leave for his alcohol problem
or work wet. Polk opted for sick leave and is o until the
case is closed.
In the second season, he is briey assigned to the rst

Sobotka detail under Lieutenant Grayson. When Major
Valchek complains about the unit being full of humps,
Daniels
is put in command and Polk is moved back to propA detective on Daniels narcotics shift who followed him
erty.
into the Barksdale and Sobotka details. He left the detail
in season 2 for a drug enforcement unit sergeant posting in In the ninth episode of the fth season, Polk makes a small
the Western District.
cameo, as the ocer running the evidence control locker in
Ellis Carver Main article: Ellis Carver
Patrick Mahon
Played by: Tom Quinn
one of the precincts. After helping Commissioner Daniels

locate a crucial piece of evidence, Daniels tells Polk that
hes glad he landed okay. Displaying his usual sarcasm,
Polk replies Yeah...beats working.
Appears in season one: "The Detail"; "The Buys" and

Michael Santangelo For a full character description see
"Old Cases".
Western District section, below.
Mahon was an elderly detective from the property unit who Original Barksdale detail member partnered with Jimmy
briey worked with the Barksdale detail. Dubbed as a de- McNulty. He was dumped from homicide by Major Rawls
partmental hump, he and his partner Polk had not made a for refusal to act as an insider in on Rawls behalf. Santansingle case in property crimes over their last ten years. The gelo took a post driving the narcotics wagon in the Western
two were also regarded as a pair of drunks who were inca- District.
pable of driving soberly. He is punched by Bodie Broadus, a
young drug dealer, when the detail raid the low rise projects.
Mahon takes early retirement following his injury, and is Unit members
last seen encouraging Polk to do the same. Along with his
counterpart Polk, his name is a reference to the Irish phrase
Shakima Kima Greggs Main article: Kima Greggs
pg mo thin (pogue mahone), or kiss my arse.
Augustus Polk
Played by: Nat Benchley
Appears in
Daniels protege who mentored Herc and Carver while in

Narcotics. She transferred to homicide when Lieutenant
Marimow came into the unit as he was a caustic commander
who was dicult to work for. When Marimow left, she
remained in homicide due to the higher pay.
58
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski Main article:

Prez Pryzbylewski
Roland there are typically three homicide squads in Baltimore, on

rotating shifts). The unit is currently under the C.I.D. supervision of Colonel Cedric Daniels.
Prez was the son-in-law of deputy commissioner Stan

Valchek who had a knack for tracing phone patterns and
money accounts but was inept on the streets. Prez left
the department after accidentally shooting a plainclothes
African American ocer Derrick Waggoner.
Caroline Massey
Played by: Joilet F. Harris
Appears in
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due
Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Reformation" and
"Middle Ground".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Refugees".
Ocer Massey joined the show in season three as a member
of the Major Crimes Unit under Lieutenant Cedric Daniels.
Massey is a world-weary ocer with a penchant for sarcasm and cutting coupons. She was particularly adept at
deciphering the slang used by Barksdale drug dealers on
wiretaps of cellular phones. Her diligent work manning
wiretaps earned the respect of Lester Freamon when she
was part of his successful undercover operation to supply
pre-wiretapped phones to the Barksdale organization.
In season four, Massey continued to work with the Major
Crimes Unit and settled into her role. When the unit was
assigned Lieutenant Marimow as a commander, Freamon
transferred out. Massey and Sydnor were left to face Marimow closing down their wiretaps and ordering raids on
weeks old targets.[2][5]
4.1.3
Homicide unit
The Homicide Unit of the Baltimore City Police Department is responsible for the investigation of all unexplained
deaths that take place within Baltimore City. (They are
also responsible for investigating all police-related shootings, and, because the homicide unit is generally regarded
as containing the best detectives on the police force, they
are often given high-prole cases which are not necessarily
homicides.) A clearance rate of 50% or more for the year
is aimed for and the Unit is amongst the most demanding in
the Criminal Investigations Division. Sergeant Landsmans
squad is typically the focus of the show, though there is at
least one other squad (according to David Simons book,
Like the real department described in David Simon's

Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, the unit uses a
red-black system of tracking cases where red is the color
for an open/not cleared case and black is the color for
a closed/cleared case. Additionally similar slang such as
dunkers (easy cases), whodunits (dicult cases), and
redball (media attention gaining cases) are used to describe the various cases. Victims who are not associated
with the drug trade or other crime are often referred to as
taxpayers.
A running practical joke within the unit is to cut a sleeping
detectives necktie with scissors and pin them to a notice
board in the unit oce. Detectives often fall asleep in the
oce (or on stakeout) because of the overtime demands and
have at times worked double and triple shifts as they have
dealt with multiple murders. This was used most prominently in the third season.
Current members
Jay Landsman Main article: Jay Landsman (The Wire)
Landsman is a squad sergeant in the homicide unit who must
divide his loyalties between his men and his superiors.
Frank Barlow
Played by: Michael Stone Forrest
Appears in:
Season one: "The Target"
Season ve: "Not for Attribution", "Took" (uncredited), "Clarications"
Frank Barlow is a Caucasian detective in the homicide unit
who rst appeared as the primary detective at the trial of
D'Angelo Barksdale. Despite having two witnesses, Barksdale is found not guilty due to witness intimidation in the
court room. Barlow appears later in the series with open
murders of homeless men that his colleague Jimmy McNulty ties into his fabricated serial killer. Barlow then sees
that McNulty is falsifying paper work on the homeless murders case to provide resources for detectives to investigate
unrelated cases. Barlow blackmails McNulty into providing
funds for him to take a long weekend to play golf in South
Carolina.

Christeson
Played by: Dennis Hill
Appears in:
Season ve: "More with Less", "Took",
"Clarications", "Late Editions" and "30".
Christeson is a young African American detective who is
the homicide units newest detective. He rst appears assisting detectives Moreland and Norris on a polygraph-bycopier where an idiotic suspect confesses to a homicide.
Christeson is the rst detective whom Jimmy McNulty covers for the homeless killer and he is granted overtime to
solve a case which the departments upper command interferes with.
Michael Crutcheld
59
discovery of the bodies being left all over the city by the
Staneld Organization. Crutcheld ended season four investigating murders at the hands of the Staneld Organization.
In season ve Crutcheld remains with Sergeant Jay Landsman's homicide squad. Crutcheld helps Bunk to manipulate a confession from DeShawn Williams. Crutcheld
buys Monell, another involved party, a McDonalds meal
and parades the boy in front of Bunks interrogation room to
lead Bunks suspect to believe his friend had turned against
him.[6][7] When departmental cut backs lead to withholding
of overtime Crutcheld secures part-time work as a security guard to replace his lost pay. Crutcheld is assigned
a triple homicide case and partnered with Detective Kima
Greggs. The victims are Junebug, his wife and bodyguard
and Crutcheld notes that the killing was a professional
hit.[8]
According to Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets, there
was actually a caucasian detective in the Baltimore Police
Department homicide division named Michael Crutcheld.
Played by: Gregory L. Williams

Appears in:
Season three:
"Back Burners", "Moral
Midgetry", "Slapstick" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Home Rooms", "Soft Eyes",
"Refugees", "Alliances", "Margin of Error",
"Unto Others", "Corner Boys", "A New Day" and
"Final Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less", "Unconrmed
Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Took",
"Clarications", and "30".
Shakima Kima Greggs Main article: Kima Greggs

Greggs is a tenacious investigator and a rookie homicide detective. She was a key member of the Major Crimes Unit
and proved herself on both the Barksdale and Sobotka investigations. She struggles to balance her life as a police
ocer with her role as a potential mother with her partner.
Vernon Holley
Played by: Brian Anthony Wilson
Appears in:
Crutcheld is an African American detective in the homicide unit whose name is mentioned earlier in the series
but who does not appear on screen until season three. He
was the primary detective at the murder that took place in
Major Colvin's free zone and withheld the investigation
at Colvins request. Colvin then helped create a dunker
case having his suspect turned in after threatening the drug
dealers in the free zone.
Season one: "The Wire" and "The Hunt".

Season two: "Port in a Storm" (uncredited).
Season three: "All Due Respect" (uncredited),
"Dead Soldiers", "Hamsterdam"; "Slapstick";
"Reformation" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Soft Eyes", "Alliances", "Margin

In season four, Crutcheld played a bigger role appearing
of Error", "Unto Others", "Corner Boys", "A
with Vernon Holley getting an identication of Omar LitNew Day" and "Final Grades".
tle as a murder suspect from Old Face Andre. When Bunk
Season ve: "React Quotes", "The Dickensian
Moreland wanted to re-examine the case, Crutcheld disAspect", "Took", and "30".
played his anger over Bunk wanting to reverse one of his
clearances. Crutcheld then promised to reverse a clearance of Bunks as payback for going back on a solved case. Holley is an African American detective in the Baltimore
When Ellis Carver left a message for Bunk, Crutcheld Police Department homicide unit under the command of
deliberately threw it away, causing a lengthy delay in the Major Rawls and later Colonel Foerster followed by Cedric
60
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Daniels. Holley often works with Norris, Bunk, or Crutcheld and is one of the units more short tempered and physically intimidating detectives. He rst appeared with partner
Ed Norris and caught the case of the murder of Omar Littles boyfriend Brandon. They recognized a connection to
the recent murder of Omars crew member Bailey because
both corpses were found in Kevlar vests. They called in
their colleague Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale details
work secured a conviction for the murder against soldier
Wee-Bey Brice.
According to Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets,

there was actually an African American detective in the
Baltimore Police Department homicide division named
Vernon Holley. The real life Holley has worked in security
for the Baltimore Ravens.[10]
Following the shooting of detective Kima Greggs, Holley

found her condential informant Bubbles paging her from
a payphone. Holley assumed he was a suspect and had uniformed ocers bring him in for an interrogation. Believing Bubbles to be the shooter, Holley came in to interrogate Bubbles in an accusatory and threatening manner and
when Bubbles was unable to respond to his questions, Holley quickly lost his temper and started to beat him. The
beating kept on until Sergeant Landsman restrained Holley
with Bubbles asking for McNulty. When Jimmy came up,
the situation was cleared up and Holley lied about Bubbles
trying to attack him as a means of justifying the beating.
Bunk is a well liked and procient member of the homicide

unit. Although he is a capable detective, Bunk is a known
alcoholic with a penchant for indelity.
In season two Holley was briey seen investigating the murder of Frank Sobotka. In season three he is assigned to
investigate the murder of Tosha Mitchell and Tank and
later the shooting of Stringer Bell, both working with Bunk
Moreland. During this season, he was also seen called to
duty for other investigations as the citys homicide rate was
rapidly approaching 300 murders for the year.
In season four, Holley initially works as the secondary investigator on Norris case of a murdered states witness
named Braddock that becomes a red ball case. Later in
that investigation, he is replaced by Kima Greggs for political reasons. Holley and Crutcheld are then seen catching the case of a delivery woman murdered in the convenience store of Old Face Andre. They interview Andre who
quickly identies Omar Little as the killer in a photo array. When Omar is arrested he manages to convince Bunk
Moreland he is innocent and Bunk asks Crutcheld and
Holley to re-open the case. Crutcheld refused to entertain the idea[2] but Holley agrees that Andre was a possible
drug dealer and went with Bunk to the crime scene reluctantly. At the scene revisitation, Bunk viewed evidence conrming Omars innocence in the shooting as he stated that
Andres store was a drug stash house, Andres story made
no sense, and he most likely did the implication of Omar
for ripping of his stash. Holley and Bunk then reappeared
with a grand jury summons where at the courtroom, Holley
managed to intimidate Andre both physically and legally to
have him confess his role in lying about the murder. Holley
ends Season 4 assisting Crutcheld, Norris, and Bunk in
the investigations of murders caused by Marlo Stanelds
crew.[9]
William Bunk Moreland Main article: Bunk Moreland
Ed Norris
Played by: Ed Norris
Appears in:
Season one: "The Wire", "The Cost", "The
Hunt" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Stray Rounds"
Season three: "Time After Time", "All Due Respect" and "Dead Soldiers".
Season four: "Boys of Summer", "Soft Eyes",
"Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error",
"Unto Others", "A New Day" and "Final
Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less", "Transitions",
"React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect" (uncredited), "Took", and "30".
Norris is a homicide detective who has been in the unit
for 15 years since 1991 according to Season 4. Norris and his squad mate Vernon Holley rst appeared assigned to the case of the murder of Omar Littles boyfriend
Brandon. They recognized a connection to the recent murder of Omars crew member Bailey because both corpses
were found in Kevlar vests. They called in their colleague
Jimmy McNulty and the Barksdale details work secured a
conviction for the murder against soldier Wee-Bey Brice.
Norris was also lead detective on the shooting of Wendell
Orlando Blocker and Kima Greggs this time working with
Detective Ray Cole. This case was also solved when WeeBey confessed to the shooting.
In season two he appeared briey when investigating the
shooting of a child by a stray bullet. In season three he attended the wake of his colleague Ray Cole. Norris remains
with the homicide unit in season four when he is the lead
investigator in the politically important murder of a states
61
witness. He is briey taken o the case and replaced with

Greggs, now a rookie in the squad, in order to slow progress
because of pressure from the Mayor. Norris is soon reinstated when this story is leaked to the press. He works
alongside Greggs to maintain a coverup story that they were
always working together. Norris secures an informant for
the witness murder, but his attempt to break the story right
before the election leads to him and Greggs being sent o
to a security detail at a polling station for the day. Norris continues to pursue this lead after the election, however
Greggs solves the case with a careful recanvassing of the
crime scene before he is able to make progress. She earns
Norris respect with her work although he responds to the
knowledge that the shooting was random with incredulity
because of the political ramications it had.[2]
Ray Cole was a somewhat inept member of Sergeant Landsmans homicide squad under the command of William
Rawls.
Season three: "Dead Soldiers", Mission Accomplished (uncredited)
Cole was played by the shows executive producer, Robert

F. Colesberry, who died unexpectedly of complications
from heart surgery. The characters wake was in part a tribute to Colesberry. In all subsequent seasons, the opening
titles showed Coles photo next to his con at the wake.
Cole was the lead investigator of the death of Anton

Stinkum Artis. His colleague Bunk Moreland told him
that there was information about the case as part of a wiretap investigation that Bunks partner Jimmy McNulty was
involved in. The information would jeopardize the wiretap
so they promised they would give it to Cole when the case
closed. McNulty never intended to give Cole the information because the perpetrator was his informant Omar Little.
Cole was secondary investigator on the shooting of Wendell

Orlando Blocker and Detective Kima Greggs. Cole
achieved a clearance in the case working alongside lead investigator Detective Ed Norris when the case was solved
Norris is played by ex-police commissioner of Baltimore with a confession from Wee-Bey Brice.
and convicted felon Ed Norris.[11] His cameo appearances are a source of irony on the show, and he is often Cole was initially assigned the fourteen Jane Doe homigiven dialogue bemoaning the state of the Baltimore Police cides that Rawls had tried to avoid. Jimmy McNulty was
responsible for proving the cases fell under Rawls jurisDepartment.[12]
diction. McNulty called Cole collateral damage when discussing Coles misfortune with Bunk. Landsman reassigned
Winona
the case to Bunk and Lester Freamon because he felt he
needed his most capable detectives on it.
Appears in:
Cole died unexpectedly and the department held a wake for
him. Landsman gave a eulogy for Cole at the wake.[2]
Season two: "Ebb Tide", "Hard Cases"
Season four: "Soft Eyes", "Refugees", "Corner

Boys"; "Know Your Place", "A New Day", "Final
Grades".
Winona is a recurring background character who maintains

The Board at the oces of the BPD Homicide Division. Lester Freamon Main article: Lester Freamon
She is a middle-aged African-American woman with a distinctive, bouant red hairdo. Detective McNulty greets her Freamon is a methodical detective who was very skilled at
by name in episode 14.
homicide investigations but was once kicked out of the unit
for angering the Deputy of Operations. He was let back in
by William Rawls on two occasions transferring out on both
Former members
to be of more assistance in leading the Major Crimes Unit.
Ray Cole
Played by: Robert F. Colesberry
Appears in:
Freamon is a methodical and competent homicide detective

who was exiled to the Pawn Shop Unit for thirteen years
(and four months) for angering the then-Deputy of Operations. He was transferred to the Barksdale detail in Season
One, later returning twice to the Homicide unit.
Season one: "The Target" (uncredited); "The

Detail" (uncredited); "The Wire" (uncredited);
"The Cost" (uncredited); "The Hunt" (uncredited); "Sentencing" (uncredited).
Season two: "Ebb Tide" (uncredited); "Collateral

Damage" (uncredited); "Undertow (uncredited);
"Stray Rounds" (uncredited).
McNulty was one of the homicide units better detectives

until his insubordination drew the ire of his commander
Major Rawls. Rawls had him transferred out of homicide
62
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
at the end of season one, although he did return in Season jokingly referring to them as humps and mopes. Mello
Five.
was once again given command of the Western district after
Daniels promotion to C.I.D. colonel at least until a new Major is given district command. Incidentally, the actor who
William Rawls Main article: William Rawls
plays Dennis Mello is a retired Baltimore detective named
Jay Landsman, and was the real-life basis for the character
Rawls was a Major in homicide promoted to Criminal In- of the same name in the show.
vestigations Division Colonel and then Deputy Commis- Mello appeared with Colvin during the accidental shooting
sioner of Operations. He was a ruthless and feared com- of a nine-year-old child going o of Colonel Rawls' commander of the unit who expected nothing less than unwa- mand to shake the district down for all known drug dealers
vering loyalty and competence from his detectives.
to get a murder suspect. Mello comments that it was too
4.1.4
Western District
The Western District (along with the Eastern District as

shown in Season 3) of the Baltimore Police Department is
one of the citys most violent districts and is located in the
middle of West Baltimore at 1034 North Mount Street. The
Western District has been examined in greater depth than
any other on The Wire and was the center of the major investigations in seasons one, three and four.
Current sta
Command Currently, the Western District is administered by Major Dennis Mello, former deputy to Howard
Colvin, who was forced into retirement.
Dennis Mello
Played by: Jay Landsman
Appears in:
Season 2: "Stray Rounds" (uncredited).
Season 3: "Time After Time"; "All Due
Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Hamsterdam";
"Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Back
Burners"; "Reformation"; "Middle Ground" and
Season 4: "Boys of Summer"; "Margin of Error";
"Misgivings"; "A New Day"; "Final Grades".
Season 5: "More With Less", "Took"
Mello rst appeared on the series as Western District administrative lieutenant and Major Bunny Colvins second
in command and condante before Colvins forced retirement. Mello then ran the district until Major Daniels was
named district commander. Mello ran briengs for the
Western district at roll call maintaining a sense of humor,
typically dismissing the men with don't get captured and
bad a child had to die before locking all the drug dealers up
while Colvin questions what it is they are really doing.
He accompanied Colvin to comstat meetings. Mello was
aware of Colvins Hamsterdam free zone where he allowed drug dealing to go unpunished. Mello was worried,
but did not report Colvins actions to his superiors. Colvin
protected Mello following the discovery of Hamsterdam by
their superiors and after Colvins departure, Mello was temporarily promoted to Western District Commander. The
two remained friends.
In season four Mello returned to his post of administrative
lieutenant as Major Daniels was granted the district commander post. Mello worked closely with Daniels and the
two tried to convince Ocer McNulty to take a position
in their operations unit. Both rated his capabilities highly
but could not convince him to leave his position in patrol.
Daniels, however, remembering McNultys past insubordination, viewed McNultys position as a patrolman as a selfredeeming job and was more understanding of McNultys
desire to work as a patrolman. Mello was given command
of the Western district again when Daniels was promoted
to Criminal Investigations Division colonel. Mello continues to give charismatic roll call briengs including readying
his men for polling station duty and introducing the murder
warrant for Omar Little. When Commissioner Burrell tried
to reassert his command of the force by juking the stats,
the district commanders were told to increase the number
of arrests in their districts whether they be felonies or minor infractions. After seeing his ocers at work, he went to
Daniels to discuss the orders patrol had been given. Mello
was personally opposed to this statistical posturing claiming that while the troops were increasing the minor infraction arrests, they were locking up the neighborhood people
in the process. Claiming that half of his ocers felt the
same way, he then asked who they were doing this for as
the election was over. Daniels informed Mayor Carcetti
who then initiated a new order for the department to no
longer make arrests based on statistical quotas but rather
quality felonies, something Daniels had been lobbying for.
Mello then was later seen commanding the Western troops
to do the complicated (by Baltimore Police standards which
Mello jokingly states is uncomplicated only if ocers went

to college or were born by women who did not drink alcohol
while they were pregnant) task of searching empty homes
for bodies at the request of former district major Cedric
Daniels and detective Lester Freamon.[2][13]
63
Season ve: "More With Less"; "Unconrmed
Reports"; "Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and
"30".
The character is named after a real-life Captain Dennis Bobby Brown is a Western District uniformed ocer. He
Mello, who was the Western District commander when Ed was the rst ocer on scene at the shooting of William
Gant. He was also at the Brandon Wright crime scene. DeBurns was an ocer.[14]
tective Jimmy McNulty later enlisted Brown to help watch
the home of Wallace. In season 3 when Major Colvin instiEllis Carver Main article: Ellis Carver
tutes the Hamsterdam initiative Brown is one of the ocers
freed up to be assigned to investigate complaints rather than
Sergeant Carver is SIC (Sergeant in Charge) of the Western perform radio car patrols and he solves a church burglary
District under Major Mello. At the end of the series Carver case.
is promoted to Lieutenant.
Brown was later present with Sergeant Ellis Carver to both
warn and arrest Namond Brice for selling drugs on a preindicted corner. In season ve Brown is livid about the withUniformed Patrolmen
holding of his overtime pay and is insubordinate in Carvers
rst roll-call brieng as Sergeant in charge. Brown is involved in a parking lot brawl with another ocer over the
Brian Baker
poor state of a vehicle he hands over.[7] [15] Later, Brown
is the rst ocer at a suspicious death that is investigated
Played by: Derek Horton
by Detective McNultythe death is later ruled natural as
Appears in
predicted by Brown and McNulty.[8] Browns character is
the same Baltimore police ocer also called Bob Brown,
played by the same featured in David Simons miniseries,
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due ReThe Corner. Bobby J. Brown is also featured in The Corner
spect"
as another ocer.
Season four: "Misgivings"; "A New Day" (uncredited).
Aaron Castor
Season ve: "Took" (uncredited)
Baker is a rookie patrolman assigned with Castor to the
Western District under the command of Bunny Colvin in
Season three. He and Castor are both forced by Colvin to
carry a compass until they can correctly identify the north
direction. In Season four, Baker teams with ocer Jimmy
McNulty to arrest two people for a string of felony church
burglaries. McNulty allows him credit for the arrest, later
concurring with Bunk Moreland that Baker could be good
police.
Bobby Brown
Played by: Bobby J. Brown
Appears in
Season one: "The Target" (uncredited); "The
Wire" (uncredited) and "The Cost" (uncredited).
Season three: "Middle Ground" (uncredited).
Season four: "Refugees"; "Know Your Place";
"Misgivings"; "A New Day" (uncredited).
Played by: Lee E. Cox

Appears in
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect" and "Moral Midgetry" (uncredited)
Reports"
Castor is a rookie patrolmen, assigned with Baker to the
Western District under the command of Howard Colvin in
season three. He and Baker are both ordered by Colvin to
carry a compass until they can correctly identify the north
direction. He is apparently the nephew of former Baltimore
Police ocer Lloyd Castor, whom Major Colvin has dubbed
as good police. In season ve Castor is rst seen warning
his new Major, Dennis Mello, about a brawl in the district
parking lot.[7] Later, Castor is the rst ocer at the triple
homicide of Junebug and his wife and associate investigated
by Detective Kima Greggs. Castor fails to notice a child
hiding in a closet when he secures the scene and Greggs
hears the child when she arrives.[8]
64
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Michael Santangelo
Played by: Michael Salconi
Appears in
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "The
Buys"; "Old Cases"; "The Wire"; "One Arrest";
"Game Day"; "The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Cleaning
Up" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and "Mission
Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Margin of Error"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day".
and pension contributions. He remains a patrolman in the

Western District in season four, when McNulty transfers in
alongside him. During a counter-terrorism seminar, he was
the rst ocer to point out the uselessness of Western District ocers learning anti-terrorism tactics in a crime ridden
district. Santangelo is also one of several ocers present for
the arrest of Omar Little on a murder warrant.[2]
Eddie Walker
Played by: Jonnie Louis Brown
Appears in:
Season four: "Soft Eyes"; "Margin of Error";
"Unto Others"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day".
Season ve: "Transitions", "Took", and "30".

Walker is a corrupt African American patrolman in the
Mike Sanny Santangelo is an Italian American ocer re- Western District. He is a violent bully, who is feared and
sponsible for driving the district arrest van in the Baltimore loathed by Namond, Michael, and the other young drug
dealers in the area, and several times is seen brutalizing
Police Department's Western District.
them. He is rst seen stealing money from Randy and later
In season one, Santangelo is an eight-year veteran in the he steals bootleg DVDs from Bubbles, after Bubbles atHomicide Unit.[16] Santangelo was sent with Jimmy Mc- tempted to report a robbery. He is the arresting ocer for
Nulty into the Barksdale detail by William Rawls to spy on Omar Little, stealing a ring from him in the process. After
McNulty. Rawls sent him to the detail because Santangelo Walker breaks Donuts ngers for giving him more paper
was one of the units more inept homicide detectives, with work to do after a car chase, Michael orchestrates an act of
a clearance rate of less than 40%, whose excuse for his per- revenge. When Walker exits a club late one night, Donut
formance is a lack of easy cases. He tries to resist, saying runs down the sidewalk keying cars; Walker chases him
that it isn't his job to inform on a fellow cop, so Rawls or- into an alley, where Michael and Namond are waiting for
ders him either to solve one of his open cases, all of which him. Michael makes Walker drop to his knees at gunpoint
are dicult cases, inform on McNulty or leave the Homi- and sees the ring that Walker stole from Omar (who stole
cide Unit altogether. Sergeant Landsman recommends a it from Marlo, who took it from Old Face Andre); he takes
psychic, Madame LaRue, and Santangelo, in desperation, it before Namond drenches Walker with paint. Walker tells
follows her instructions to bury a doll in the murder victims fellow ocers that he was attacked by Bloods. Walkers atgrave. That evening, McNulty solves another of the open titude earns him the respect of more zealous ocers and the
cases, and Santangelo, though pleased, doesn't understand disdain of others, such as Jimmy McNulty. McNulty later
why a dierent case was solved. Landsman tells him that describes Walker as an asshole, while talking to Bodie
the psychic was meant as a joke and that Bunk and Mc- Broadus.
Nulty did his work for him. With the clearance, Santangelo
is able to refuse Rawls demands and is grateful enough to
tell McNulty that Rawls wants him red.
Plainclothes Ocers
Santangelo is demoted to patrol ocer at the end of season one for failing to give Rawls any more information. In
Anthony Colicchio
season two, he is seen briey as a beat ocer, arresting
Bubbles and Johnny when they try to steal medical supplies
Played by: Benjamin Busch[17]
from an ambulance. In season three, he drives the Western
district prisoner transport vehicle under the command of
Major Colvin. When he encounters former Barksdale detail
members McNulty and Kima Greggs, Santangelo mentions
that he is happy at being a patrolman as his job is easier:
"Straight and True"; "Homecoming"; "Back
he is no longer a detective, he no longer deals with dicult
Burners"; "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick" and
commanders like Rawls and still takes home the same pay

Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Alliances"
(uncredited); "Margin of Error"; "Misgivings";
"Thats Got His Own" and "Final Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less", "Transitions"
Anthony Tony Colicchio is a narcotics ocer in Sergeant
Ellis Carver's drug enforcement unit squad in the Western
District of Baltimore. He was often partnered with fellow squad members Herc Hauk and Lloyd Truck Garrick. Colicchio is part of the operation that resulted in the
shooting of Ocer Dozerman. Along with the rest of the
squad, Colicchio is involved in policing drug tolerant zones
set up by his district commander Major Colvin without the
knowledge of his superiors. It is Colicchio who inspires the
name Hamsterdam, after citing Amsterdams liberal drug
laws as a metaphor for Colvins new policies. As Colicchio is zealously committed to using brute force to ght the
war on drugs, he describes the drug-free zones as moral
midgetry.
65
Appears in:
Respect"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners";
"Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"
and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"; "Corner Boys"; "Know Your
Place"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day"; "Thats Got
His Own" and "Final Grades".
Season ve: "More With Less"; "Clarications";
"Late Editions"
Lloyd Truck Garrick is an African American narcotics
ocer in Sergeant Ellis Carver's squad in the Western District of the Baltimore Police Department, often partnered
with fellow squad members Herc, Lambert and Colicchio.
Garrick was part of the operation that resulted in the shooting of Ocer Dozerman. Along with the rest of the squad
Garrick was involved in policing drug tolerant zones set up
by his district commander Howard Bunny Colvin without
the knowledge of his superiors. He was with Herc when
he phoned the paper to report Colvins actions and again
when he met with a reporter. In season 4, Truck appeared
briey at a useless lesson for Western police on counterterrorism and once assisting Herc and Carver.[2] In Season
5, Truck appears with the Western District ocers who are
frustrated by the lack of overtime pay due to city cutbacks.
During Detective Jimmy McNulty's homeless killer case,
McNulty has Western District Sergeant Ellis Carver detail
ocers to track Marlo Staneld's crew including ocers
Brown, Dozerman, and Truck.
Colicchio remains in Carvers squad in season four, and

Carver tries to bring him around to his new way of doing
thingsgetting to know the street dealers and cultivating
informants. Colicchio takes part in Lieutenant Marimow's
failed raids in the Western district. Colicchio is also present
for the arrest of Omar Little on a murder warrant, relishing nally bringing in the legendary criminal.[2] With his
overzealous attitude, Colicchio is delighted to participate in
the arrest hike ordered by Commissioner Burrell to appease
the citys politicians. He appears outside a bar with other
ocers, causing a near riot with their quality of life violation arrests against people with open alcohol containers.
(Major Colvin had compared Hamsterdam to the practice
of not enforcing violations of open-container laws when the
bottles were obscured by paper bags.) Colicchios method
of policing, however, supports the Broken Windows The- Lambert
ory.[18]
Played by: Nakia Dillard
In season ve, Colicchio remains in the Western District
Appears in:
drug enforcement unit[7] and continues to take a combative
approach to his work. He is the subject of an Internal InSeason three: "Time After Time"; "All Due
vestigation Division investigation after he attacks a teacher
Respect"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners";
who had asked him to move a vehicle while he was makReformation.
ing an arrest. Carver refuses to back Colicchio when he
shows no remorse for his action, and actually charges him
with conduct unbecoming an ocer and excessive force. Lambert is an African American narcotics ocer in
Colicchio accuses Carver of being a rat, but Carver is not Sergeant Ellis Carver's Drug Enforcement Unit in the Westdeterred by the damage to his reputation.[19]
ern District of the Baltimore Police Department, often seen
Colicchio is played by Benjamin Busch, who spent two tours with fellow squad members Herc, Anthony Colicchio, and
Lloyd Truck Garrick. He was part of the operation that
of duty in Iraq with the U.S. Marine Corps.[20]
resulted in the shooting of Ocer Dozerman. After Dozermans shooting the D.E.U.'s hand-to-hand operations were
Lloyd Truck Garrick
suspended as Major Colvin did not want to see any more
of his men come close to death over a minimal amount of
Played by: Ryan Sands
drugs.[2]
66
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Former sta
Pryzbylewski. Cantrell and Daniels are both candidates for

the next post of major, and because of Daniels insubordinaMajor Howard Bunny Colvin Main article: Howard tion while conducting the Barksdale investigation, Cantrell
Bunny Colvin
receives the promotion at the end of the rst season. He is
seen again in season four commanding the Southern District
Colvin was the veteran Major and District commander who and preparing new mayor Tommy Carcetti for a ride-along.
was forced out of the department due to his Hamsterdam
experiment that de-criminalized drugs, despite this causing Claude Diggins
a reduction in felonies.
Played by: Jerey Fugitt
Kenneth Dozerman Dozerman was a friend of Carver
and Herc in the DEU that moved into the Major Crimes
Unit in season 4.
Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Undertow"; "All Prologue"; "Duck and Cover";
"Storm Warnings" and "Port in a Storm".
Thomas Herc Hauk Main article: Thomas Herc Diggins is a Baltimore police department Marine Unit ofcer who partners Jimmy McNulty when he is assigned to
Hauk
the unit. He advises McNulty on how to make the best of
the situation, but McNulty hates the fumes. Diggins is forA former D.E.U. member who was a partner of Ellis giving of McNultys time away from the unit and shares his
Carver. He left the Western District to work on the Mayors own boat with Bunk Moreland and McNulty to pose as a
security detail.
shing craft when observing Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos. He has a noticeable Baltimore accent .
Randall Frazier
McNulty was a former beat ocer who became a detective.
He returned to patrol in season 4 but after the death of an
informant, he rejoined the Homicide Unit.
4.1.5
Others
The following are former ocers or assistant police not part

of a District, Administrative, or Criminal Investigation Division.
Walter Cantrell
Played by: Dave Trovato
Appears in
Season one: "The Detail" and "Sentencing" (uncredited).
Season four: "Unto Others" (uncredited).
Played by: Erik Todd Dellums

Appears in
Season one: "The Detail"
Season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"
and "All Prologue"
Season three: "All Due Respect"
Frazier is a Baltimore police department medical examiner.
He is involved in the investigation of the death of William
Gant. Later he was responsible for the autopsies of fourteen unidentied women found at the Baltimore docks. He
helped Jimmy McNulty to prove that the deaths occurred in
the city jurisdiction by establishing time of death based on
the air supply in the container the bodies were discovered
in. He also linked the bodies to a specic plastic surgery
clinic by identifying a breast implant type that several of
the women shared and tracing the serial number. This information helped the detectives to establish that the women
were sex trade workers.
Walter Cantrell is a major and the Southern District commander. He is rst seen in season one where he is a
lieutenant and commands Roland Prez Pryzbylewski and Beadie Russell
Leander Sydnor. Lieutenant Cedric Daniels bargains with
Cantrell to have the highly competent Sydnor assigned to Main article: Beadie Russell
the Barksdale detail to compensate for taking the erratic
67
Russell is a port authority police ocer and a single mother unit arrest everyone in The Pit as he assumed them a suswho develops an interest in case work following a chance pect for being around that area. In Season 3, he appeared
discovery.
at the rank of Major commanding QRT and Tactical units
city wide no longer actively participating in the raids. He
helped plan and lead the raid to shut down Hamsterdam
Marvin Taylor
at the orders of Deputy Rawls. He was present with Rawls
nding the body of drug addict Johnny Weeks who was then
Played by: Barnett Lloyd
taken to the morgue in a squad car as a means of preventing the media from linking the death to the Hamsterdam
Appears in
experiment.
Season three: "Time After Time"; "All Due Respect"; "Dead Soldiers"
4.1.6
Relatives
Taylor is an African American Major who was the acting

Cheryl
commander of the Eastern District. Under pressure from
the Mayors oce, Ervin Burrell is told to start coming
Played by: Melanie Nicholls-King
down on the department to reduce the crime rate by any
means possible. As Taylors district had a low number of
Appears in
felony arrests and handgun conscations in addition to a
high number of homicides in a very short period of time,
Deputy Rawls angrily tells him that he had eight hours to get
Season one: "The Target"; "Old Cases"; "The
a grip on his district or he would be red. Cedric Daniels
Cost"; "The Hunt" and "Sentencing".
and Jimmy McNulty then arrested an eastside drug dealer
Season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Hard Cases"; "All Pronamed Cheese whom they suspect of being responsible
logue"; "Storm Warnings" and "Port in a Storm".
for some of the murders in his district. When insucient
evidence against Cheese or any other suspected murderSeason three: "All Due Respect" and "Back
ers is present, Rawls berates him one last time at a Comstat
Burners".
meeting, after which Commissioner Burrell relieves Taylor
Season four: "Know Your Place"
of command. This is intended as an example to all the other
commanders in the department, that if they did not improve
Season ve: "Transitions",
their statistics they will also be replaced.
Torret
Played by: Derren M. Fuentes
Appears in
Cheryl is Kima Greggs' live-in partner; she works in the

television news industry and often worries about Kimas
safety as a police ocer. She hopes that Kima will take
a less dangerous job and start a family with her. She also
appears to do most of the cooking and cleaning in the relationship.
After Kimas shooting, Cheryl insists that she take a desk

job. Kima acquiesces for a time, but eventually returns to
Season two: "Stray Rounds"
investigative work in the second season. Cheryl jealously
insists on accompanying Kima when she goes to interview
Season three: "Middle Ground", "Mission Aca contact in a strip club. She nds this hard to understand,
complished"
until Kima shows her the conditions in which fourteen girls
Lieutenant Torret is an African American ocer who ap- were murdered.
pears in charge of the Quick Response Team (QRT) when In season two, Cheryl becomes pregnant by articial insemthey are required for raids and arresting criminals. He rst ination, and in season three, the couple have a baby boy.
appeared in Season 1 leading the search for Savino and then Kima begins to spend less time at home, and Cheryl is left to
commanding the unit to surround Avon Barksdale's strip deal with motherhood alone. Kima eventually realizes she
club during his arrest. In Season 2, he appeared leading the does not want to be a parent, and moves out of their shared
raid on the Franklin Terrace towers when a nine-year-old home. Kima is behind on her child support for much of
child was accidentally shot and killed by a stray round in season four, but gets some overtime in homicide and visits
a shootout between drug dealers. In that raid he had the Cheryl, who is now happy with her new partner.
Season one: "The Hunt", "Cleaning Up"
68
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Elena McNulty
Season one:
"Sentencing".
"The Wire";
"Lessons" and
Played by: Callie Thorne
Season two: "Hot Shots".
Appears in:
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Straight and

True" and "Slapstick".
Season one: "Old Cases" and "The Cost".

Season two: "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases";
"Undertow"; "All Prologue" and "Backwash".
Season four: "Misgivings"

Season ve: "React Quotes"
Sean is Elena and Jimmy McNulty's oldest son. He lives

with his mother and his brother Michael following his parents separation but still sees his father. Jimmy teaches
his sons the front and follow technique and when he spots
Season four: "Misgivings"
Stringer Bell in a market he has them follow him. Michael
and Sean manage to record Stringers number plate, which
aids their fathers investigation. In a brief appearance in the
Elena is Jimmy McNulty's estranged wife. They have two fourth season, he says he wants to be a rock star.
children together Sean and Michael.
Season three:
"Time After Time";
"Hamsterdam" and "Straight and True".
Elena is angered by Jimmy due to catching him in bed with Michael Barnes McNulty
another woman. She uses her lawyer to try to destroy Jimmy
throughout the rst season as much as she can. She is also
Played by: Antonio Cordova
protective of her sons and worries that Jimmy is a danger Appears in:
ous inuence on them because of his drinking. When he exposes them to danger by having them tail the subject of his
Season one: "Old Cases"; "The Wire" and
investigation, Stringer Bell, she les for an emergency or"Lessons".
der to prevent him from seeing the boys. At the court hearing, the judge convinces them to work out arrangements
Season three:
"Time After Time";
between themselves.
"Hamsterdam"; "Straight and True" and
"Slapstick".
In season two Elena is seen at work as a realtor showing a
house to Nick Sobotka. Jimmy tries to initiate a reconcilSeason four: "Misgivings"
iation with Elena and considerably cleans up his drinking
habits and behaviour. The two sleep together, but in the
morning Elena asks Jimmy to leave as she feels it would be
Michael is Elena and Jimmy McNulty's younger son. He
unfair on her sons for them to see him in the house.
lives with his mother and his brother Sean following his
In season three, Elena is established as seriously dating a parents separation but still sees his father. Michael plays
man named Dennis who appears at Orioles Baseball games soccer and Jimmy tries to attend his games. Jimmy teaches
in the front row wearing a suit and spending most of the his sons the front and follow technique and when he spotted
game talking on a cell phone. Jimmys partner Bunk More- Stringer Bell in a market he had them follow him. Michael
land suspects that Dennis is a downtown lawyer due to his and Sean managed to record Stringers number plate, which
appearance and mannerisms.
aided their fathers investigation. In a brief appearance in
In season four, Elena sees that Jimmy is becoming more the fourth season, he says he wants to be a video game destable as a patrolman and states to him that If I knew you signer.
were going to grow up to be a grown up... suggesting that
she wishes she was the one reaping the benets of this new
4.1.7 Actual BPD Ocers who have apJimmy McNulty.
peared
Sean James McNulty

Played by: Eric Ryan
Appears in:
The following is a list of actual Baltimore Police Department ocers who have appeared on the show at some point.
Many of these ocers were either commanders of the department or featured ocers in the David Simons books of
The Corner and Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.

Gary D'Addario
69
Other ocers mentioned
recurring character
The following is a list of other Baltimore Police DepartFormer Baltimore Police Department Major who was fea- ment ocers who have been mentioned on the show at some
tured homicide unit shift lieutenant in David Simons point. Many of these ocers were either commanders of
Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets. He appears recur- the department or featured ocers in the David Simons
ringly as a grand jury prosecutor named Gary DiPasquale. books of The Corner and Homicide: A Year on the Killing
Streets.
Leonard Hamm
Season ve: "Not for Attribution"
Former Baltimore Police Department Commissioner who
appears as a midnight shift homicide detective in Season 5.
Jay Landsman
Ed Burns Mentioned in: :Season three: "Slapstick"

Former Baltimore Police Department narcotics detective
turned school teacher who co-authored The Corner with
David Simon.
Michael Crutcheld recurring character of the same

name
Former Baltimore Police Department homicide detective

mentioned in David Simons Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets who spawned a character of the same name
Former Baltimore Police Department Sergeant who was
played by actor Gregory L. Williams throughout the series.
featured homicide unit sergeant in David Simons Homicide:
A Year on the Killing Streets. He appears recurringly as
Western District Administrative Lieutenant turned Major
Richard Garvey Mentioned in :Season one: "Cleaning
Dennis Mello.
Up" Baltimore Police Department homicide detective featured prominently in David Simons 'Homicide: A Year on
the Killing Streets'. He is mentioned by his last name as the
Edward Norris
detective investigating the murder of Nakeysha Lyles.
recurring character
Recurring character
Former Baltimore Police Department Commissioner who Vernon Holley recurring character of the same name
appears as a recurring character of the same name working
as a homicide detective.
mentioned in David Simons Homicide: A Year on the
Killing Streets who spawned a character of the same name
played
by actor Brian Anthony Wilson throughout the seJimmy Rood
ries.
Season four: "Boys of Summer"
Roger Nolan Mentioned in :Season one: "The Target"
Baltimore Police Department C.I.D. Major who appears as
Former Baltimore Police Department Sergeant who was
a patrolman in Season 4 who encounters mayoral candidate
featured homicide unit sergeant in David Simons Homicide:
Tommy Carcetti.
A Year on the Killing Streets. Nolans name is mentioned as
the sergeant of another homicide unit in the department.
Donald Worden
Worden is a former Baltimore Police Department homicide
detective featured in David Simons Homicide: A Year on
the Killing Streets who appears as a midnight shift homicide
detective in season ve. He is also mentioned in episodes in
season one (The Pager), season three ("Slapstick"), and
season ve ("Not for Attribution").
Rick Requer Mentioned in :Season ve: "Transitions"

featured in David Simons Homicide: A Year on the Killing
Streets who spawned a character named Oscar Requer
played by actor Roscoe Orman in Season 5. Requer was
the basis for the character of Bunk Moreland.
70
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.1.8
References
[1] Dick Stilwell, 59; Career Military Ocer Played Police

Roles in Films. Los Angeles Times. December 4, 2002.
4.2
Jimmy McNulty
For other people of the same name, see James McNulty

(disambiguation).
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.

[3] Actor De Angelis of 'The Wire' Dies at 73. Yahoo! News.
2006. Archived from the original on 2006-01-04. Retrieved
2006-01-01.
[4] David Simon at My Nemesis (Stoop Storytelling Series)
[5] Character prole - Ocer Caroline Massey. HBO. 2004.
2008. Retrieved 2008-01-14.
Jimmy McNulty is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by English actor Dominic West.
McNulty is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department,
and he is of Irish heritage. While he has proven himself to be a talented and determined detective, he is disliked by many of his superiors, and occasionally his colleagues, because of his over-estimated and outwardly arrogant sense of self-worth and ability, his disdain for authority, and his unwavering disrespect forand insubordination
ofthe chain of command.
When o the job, he has frequent problems involving

alimony, alcoholism, child support, and relationships. McNulty is nonetheless a clever, resourceful police ocer, and
though not above manipulation and deceit, he is generally
[8] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
moral. He is central to many of the successful high-end
The Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
drug investigations that take place within the series.
[7] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire.
Season 5. Episode 1. HBO.
[9] Character prole - Vernon Holley. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

2008-02-12.
4.2.1
Character storyline
[10] BaltimoreRavens.com Front Oce. Retrieved 27 November 2013.

[11]
[12]
[13]
[14]
McNulty grew up in the Lauraville neighborhood of Baltimore. His father was an employee for Bethlehem Steel beNeil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainfore being laid o in 1973. After a year of attending Loyola
ment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
College in Maryland, McNulty joined the Baltimore Police
Department
when his girlfriend Elena (whom he later marCharacter prole Detective Edward Norris. HBO. 2006.
ried)
became
pregnant. In his rst few years in the Police
Department he proved himself to be an eective patrolCharacter prole - Lieutenant Dennis Mello. HBO. 2004. man in the Western District under the command of Major
Colvin. After assisting Detective Ray Cole in solving a
homicide (Cole had arrested the wrong man), he was proKing, Jim (2006-12-04). 3rd Exclusive David Simon moted to detective and assigned to the homicide unit, where
Q&A. Borderline Productions. Retrieved 2008-03-15.
he was partnered with Bunk Moreland.
[15] Character prole - Ocer Bobby Brown. HBO. 2008.

[16] Character prole - Michael Santangelo. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-28.
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
Season one
Before the start of the series, McNulty had noticed that drug
kingpin Avon Barksdale was expanding his organizations
Cast & Crew - Benjamin Busch as Anthony Colicchio. territory, and had successfully beaten several murder prosHBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-24.
ecutions. McNulty was responsible for the formation of the
Barksdale detail following the trial of D'Angelo Barksdale,
Character prole - Anthony Colicchio. HBO. 2008. Re- who is found not guilty after a witness changes her story in
trieved 2008-01-24.
court. In the Judges chambers, McNulty is frank about his
observations and the lack of investigation so far, promptDan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
ing Judge Phelan to call Deputy Commissioner Ervin Bur5. Episode 4. HBO.
rell. McNultys commander, Major Rawls, is furious with
Vassar Alum Provides Marines-Eye View of Iraq War him for going around the chain of command. McNulty tells
through Photo Exhibit. Retrieved 2008-06-27.
Bunk that he hopes this investigation will lead to a case that
4.2. JIMMY MCNULTY
71
means something to him. Sergeant Jay Landsman asks McNulty what unit he would least like to be assigned to, and
McNulty says that he nds the diesel fumes in the Marine
Unit intolerable.
is no more than an exercise in intellectual vanity and an

opportunity to demonstrate the departments shortcomings.
Daniels tells him that everyone has known this all along but
that the case has taken on meaning for those involved.
Because of McNultys conversation with Judge Phelan, a

case unit is formed, initially consisting of Narcotics Lieutenant Cedric Daniels and his squad of Kima Greggs, Ellis
Carver, and Herc Hauk. Deputy Burrell then asks his majors and shift lieutenants to send additional detectives for
the investigative detail. As Burrell has made it clear that the
case is no more than a cosmetic exercise, most of the ofcers sent are drunken or incompetent humps. McNulty
himself is also assigned to the unit. Daniels and McNulty
argue about how to handle the case at their rst meeting:
McNulty, after seeing an FBI drug sting, suggests surveillance and wiretaps, but Burrell has ordered Daniels to put
together a quick and simple case to appease Phelan. Soon
after the investigation begins, McNulty learns from his
friend in the FBI, Special Agent Fitzhugh that Daniels had
been investigated for having a suspiciously large amount of
liquid assets. McNultys relationship with Daniels continues to be complicated by their mutual distrust.
The detail succeeds in arresting Wee-Bey Brice for shooting Kima, Bird Hilton for murdering a states witness,
and both D'Angelo and Avon Barksdale. McNulty almost
convinces D'Angelo to testify against Avon but, ultimately,
D'Angelo takes a twenty-year sentence instead. When the
Barksdale investigation closes, Rawls reassigns McNulty to
the marine unit, having learned from Landsman that this is
precisely where McNulty does not want to go.
The detail is assigned assistant states attorney Rhonda

Pearlman as a prosecutor, with whom McNulty is having a
casual sexual relationship. McNulty is ocially separated
from his wife, who limits his contact with his two sons,
Sean and Michael. While shopping with them one afternoon, McNulty spots Stringer Bell, and sends his sons to
tail him and get his license plate number. When Elena nds
out, she seeks an emergency order to stop him from seeing
his sons. She is also angry that he continues to see Pearlman
casually.
Working on the Barksdale detail, McNulty becomes friends
with Lester Freamon, who had previously been exiled to the
pawn-shop unit for thirteen years (and four months) for his
insistence on charging a politically connected fence. Freamon often tries to temper McNultys aggressive attitude towards Lt. Daniels. Frustrated that Barksdales dealers do
not use cell phones, they decide to clone the dealers pagers
instead. They also work together to convince Daniels to allow them to do better police work.
With the help of Kima Greggs, McNulty tracks down the
elusive Omar Little, gaining his respect and cooperation.
Omar agrees to testify against Bird Hilton. His assistance
also leads to McNulty inadvertently solving one of Santangelos old cases; a grateful Santangelo in turn reveals that he
is a mole for Rawls, who is looking for an excuse to re McNulty. Kima introduces McNulty to her CI Bubbles. When
she is shot in a buy-bust sting operation gone wrong, McNulty is guilt-ridden, though even Rawls assures him that
the shooting is not his fault. McNulty has a frank discussion with Daniels in which he admits that the Barksdale case
Season two
McNulty is bored at his new job in the Marine Unit, where
he is partnered with Claude Diggins. While on harbor patrol, he spots the body of a dead woman in the water. When
Rawls argues the case is not in his jurisdiction, McNulty,
seeking revenge, spends three hours poring over wind and
tide charts to prove the death occurred within city limits.
When Beadie Russell nds thirteen dead women in a shipping container on the Baltimore docks, initially determined
to be accidental deaths, McNulty again intervenes and, with
the help of the medical examiner, proves that the deaths
were not accidental: the air pipe to the container was deliberately closed o, and, with the help of a mining engineer,
they are able to determine when this happened and prove
that the ship was within the city limits at that time. The
case is given to Bunk and Freamon, much to their chagrin,
as they had spent the previous night celebrating with McNulty and lauding his revenge eorts against Rawls, never
anticipating that these dicult cases would end up getting
reassigned to them.
To make amends, McNulty promises to discover the identity of the girl found dead in the water, but is ultimately unable to do so. Bunk Moreland is also pressuring McNulty
to nd Omar, who is needed to testify against Bird. McNulty coerces Bubbles into tracking down the elusive stickup man, and Omar testies successfully.
McNulty signs an agreement that he will pay alimony, believing it to be unnecessary because he can still salvage his
marriage. He decides to give up alcohol and detective work,
two of the main reasons for the breakup of his marriage.
When Elena conrms the marriage is over, he grows despondent, and drinks more heavily than ever.
When Danielss unit is recreated to investigate Frank
Sobotka, a vengeful Rawls refuses to allow Daniels to have
McNulty. McNulty seems to accept this with good grace,
but tries to help the detail unocially. Daniels persuades
Rawls to let McNulty return to the unit by taking on the
murders of the fourteen women. McNultys rst assign-
72
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
ment is to go undercover as a client visiting a local brothel, Season four

much to the amusement of his colleagues. He also irts
with Beadie Russell, who has been assigned to Daniels de- McNultys role was drastically scaled down in the fourth
tail, though he seems to shy away from a relationship.
season. He has moved in with Russell and her two children,
While on surveillance, McNulty watches Spiros Vondas, an and is enjoying his life as a patrolman in the Western district
associate of the shady gure known as The Greek, send a alongside Sergeant Ellis Carver. His beat includes the cortext message. He reasons that the time and location of the ner Bodie Broadus is working on behalf of Marlo Staneld.
text could be used to retrieve it from the phone companys Both Major Daniels and Administrative Lieutenant Mello
databases; it is from this message that the detail learn that ask McNulty to do investigative work in the district but he
declines. Mello is disappointed but Daniels realizes that
the Greek had shut down his operations.
McNulty has been able to get his life in order while working
After McNulty learns from Bubbles that Stringer Bell and as a patrolman. Though other ocers make arrests for staProposition Joe are sharing territory, he begins investigating tistical purposes, McNulty focuses on quality arrests. This
them on his own time, convinced that he can gather enough is exemplied by the arrest of two burglars who were stealevidence to prompt Daniels to focus the MCUs attention ing from churches. In the process he mentors Ocer Baker,
on Bell.
a younger patrol ocer in the Western, whom he and Bunk
Moreland end up referring to as good police. He also signicantly reduces his drinking, sometimes resolving to stay
sober despite pressure from his friends. Bunk and Freamon are amazed and slightly dismayed at how much Jimmy
Season three
has changed, and Elena expresses regret for having left him,
saying if I would have known you'd grow up to be a grownMcNulty returns to a detective position when the Major
up. McNulty soon begins to miss the Major Crimes Unit,
Case Unit is formed in season three, but is disappointed that
and quietly begins getting closer to Bodie, hoping to turn
their target is not Stringer Bell. He begins looking into the
him into an informant against Marlo. After Monk Metcalf
Barksdales anyway, nding out about D'Angelos supposed
sees Bodie with McNulty, Bodie is killed as a precaution.
suicide and Avons early release. Investigating D'Angelos
McNulty feels guilty, and rejoins the Major Crimes Unit,
death, he quickly realizes that D'Angelo was murdered.
much to the delight of Freamon and Daniels.
McNulty reconnects with his old commanding ocer from
the beginning of his career, Major Colvin, to set up the
Barksdale organization as the Major Crimes Units primary Season ve
target. McNulty circumvents the chain of command again
to set up an investigation of Barksdale, as Daniels is not Season ve opens with McNulty returning to old habits afinterested in the quality of the units assigned case targets, ter a frustrating year-long investigation of the vacant murblaming his rank in the department for his lack of case tar- ders yielded no results. When the Major Crimes Unit is
get interests. Angered by McNultys back burning attitude, closed down, McNulty is despondent, telling himself that he
Daniels tells McNulty, When the cus go on Stringer, you was talked into rejoining the unit by Commands promises
need to nd a new home, you're done in this unit!" Even of departmental reform. McNulty is transferred back to
Freamon thinks McNulty should be more loyal to Daniels. Homicide and his frustration manifests in heavy drinking
[2][3]
McNulty begins a relationship with political consultant and womanizing despite his relationship with Russell.
Theresa D'Agostino, but he realizes that she is only interested in him physically. In their last meeting, he also realizes that she is trying to use him as an inside source of
information when she starts inquiring about Colvin and the
rumors about Hamsterdam. He eventually grows dissatised and feels less fullled. Largely due to Freamons work,
the Unit implicates Stringer Bell, but he is murdered before
McNulty can arrest him. After Avon is arrested, Daniels
reevaluates his decision to get rid of McNulty, but McNulty
realizes he has no life outside his work and graciously declines Daniels oer to keep him in the unit. He transfers
to patrol in the western district, which he remembers as
the happiest time of his life, and begins a relationship with
Beadie Russell.[1]
McNulty faces further frustration in the Homicide Unit

when he cannot obtain a working vehicle to get to an accidental death scene. Waiting at the morgue, he nds Baltimore County homicide detectives Nancy Porter and Kevin
Infante arguing with a new medical examiner. Porter explains that they were assigned an accidental death and the
paramedics grabbed the decedents neck to move him from
behind a toilet. The medical examiner noticed signs of
strangulation and intends to rule the death a homicide. McNulty is amazed that post-mortem strangulation is indistinguishable from strangulation which causes death. McNulty is drinking heavily on the job when assigned another
probable overdose case with Bunk. McNulty disrupts the
crime scene to make it seem that a struggle occurred. Bunk
4.2. JIMMY MCNULTY

is outraged but McNulty continues, choking the corpse,
stating that there is a serial killer in Baltimore. Bunk
leaves, wanting no part of McNultys actions. McNulty
repositions the body to encourage bruising that indicates
strangulation.[4][5]
McNulty then searches for old cases to link to his fake strangulation to create the impression of a serial killer. He nds
an old strangulation of a homeless man investigated by late
detective Ray Cole, and doctors the case le to create connections to his own murder. McNulty also nds a strangulation of a homeless man investigated by Frank Barlow and
notices a red ribbon tied around the victims wrists. McNulty inserts mention of a red ribbon into the Cole case
le and visits the morgue to tie a ribbon on his decedents
wrist. McNultys decedent is ruled a death by strangulation by the medical examiner. After Landsman ignores
these serial murders, McNulty approaches Alma Gutierrez of The Baltimore Sun to generate publicity for them.
His plan fails, however, when the story is relegated to the
middle of the paper instead of the front page. Bunk repeatedly warns McNulty that his path leads to self-destruction;
Lester, however, approves of McNultys project and suggests that it needs sensationalism to succeed. McNulty continues to drink heavily and cheats on his domestic partner
Beadie Russell.[6][7]
McNulty and Freamon collaborate to enhance the media
appeal of their serial killer story. McNulty nds that most
dead homeless men are concentrated in the Southern District at night time. Freamon puts McNulty in touch with his
old patrol partner Oscar Requer, who agrees to notify them
of dead homeless men in the district. Freamon also devises
a plan to show maturation in their serial killers pattern and
acquires dentures to create bite marks on the victim.
McNulty and Freamon canvass an area where the homeless
gather at night. McNulty doubts that actual canvassing is
needed on their false case. Freamon believes it will make
their reports veriable and protect them from the potential
consequences of their plan. McNulty complains Landsman
barely noticed his work on the case, but Freamon reminds
him that if their plan works, the case will attract more interest and sloppiness could be their downfall.
73
the decedent to show bite marks and defensive wounds.[8]
When investigating the homeless killer, McNulty and detective Greggs travel to Quantico, Virginia for FBI assistance. McNulty realizes its a waste of time because he and
Freamon have provided the police department with false information on the killer. McNulty also realizes that he can no
longer falsify murders on real corpses as there is too large a
police presence, so he instead takes a mentally ill homeless
man o the streets of Baltimore and stages a photograph
of a murder to send to Scott Templeton of the Baltimore
Sun, claiming that the man will never be seen again, before taking him to a homeless shelter in Richmond, Virginia
with fake identication suggesting that he is from Cleveland,
Ohio, so that he cannot easily be found.
Furthermore, McNulty has been voicing the killer all along
giving the FBI the only means of tracking it. After doing the
voice analysis, the FBI provide McNulty and Greggs with
a psychological prole of the homeless killer, inadvertently
giving a near-perfect description of McNulty:
The suspect is most likely a white male in his late twenties to late thirties, who is not a college graduate, but feels
superior to those with advanced education, and is likely employed in a bureaucratic entity, possibly civil or public service. He has a problem with authority and a deep-seated
resentment for those that have impeded his progress professionally. The sexual nature of the killings is thought to
be a secondary motivation and the lack of DNA or saliva
in the bite marks suggests possible postmortem staging. He
may be struggling with lasting relationships and potentially
a high functioning alcoholic with alcohol being used as a
trigger in the crimes. The suspects apparent resentment of
the homeless may indicate a previous personal relationship
with a homeless person or the targeting may simply be an
opportunity for the killer to assert his superiority and intellectual prowess.
McNulty appears sheepish as his character aws are spelled

out for him. McNulty confesses to Greggs, who informs
Deputy Commissioner for Operations Cedric Daniels. A
furious Daniels (with Pearlman accompanying him) meets
with Acting Commissioner Bill Rawls, States Attorney Rupert Bond, and the Mayors oce. Daniels and Rawls conMcNulty returns home to a confrontation with Beadie Rus- front McNulty, informing him that this will be his last CID
sell. She criticizes his behavior and drinking, which he case.
claims is due to the case he is working. She reminds him of He starts by solving a new crime in the 'serial killer case'. A
the strength of their relationship and says she used to dis- mentally ill homeless man McNulty had met on his previous
believe those who warned of his self-destructive behavior. canvas has started using the modus operandi of McNultys
When McNulty tells Russell that he must respond to an- serial killer. McNulty brings the man, his nal criminal,
other call because he is chasing a serial killer, she says he is to justice. After attending a detectives wake (of sorts) in
chasing more than that referencing his philandering. She his and Lesters honor (they have been told they will never
warns him not to return if he does not want to be there.
again be allowed to do real police work), McNulty leaves the
McNulty attends a further death with Freamon on Re- bar sober and returns home, where he and Beadie have recquers tip. McNulty fakes another homicide and mutilates onciled. The next day, McNulty returns to the Richmond
74
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
shelter and nds that the man he took there disappeared after a couple of days. He nds him elsewhere in the city and
drives him back to Baltimore. On the way back, McNulty
stops his car, gets out and looks at the city, leading to the
series-ending montage.
dition tape for the part was recorded with him as the sole
actor leaving spaces for the lines that would be spoken back
to him. The producers were amused by the tape and agreed
that they had to give him an audition.[16]
4.2.4
4.2.2
References
Critical response and analysis

Jim Shelley of The Guardian has described the character

as irresistibly charming, a classic anti-hero; a modern-day
Rockford.[9] Entertainment Weekly said that the character was exemplary of the funky feel of the show citing his [3] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less.
naturalistic dialogue, soulful voice and easy rapport with
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
his African-American work partners.[10] The character has
been described as defying genre conventions although his [4] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
actions drive several plot points he is not quite the central character implied by the shows opening or promotional [5] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Rematerial.[11] Flak Magazine also picked McNulty as a cenports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
tral character and commented on the uncommon experience of having the main character t to a standard police [6] Joy Kecken & Scott Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
character archetype (He has poor impulse control. Hes
personally fearless and outspoken, and he bangs babes like a
hunchback rings bells...) but also exposing the archetype as
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
self-destructive and emotionally immature.[12] Salon.com
described McNulty as The heart, soul and oft-impaired [8] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
nervous system of The Wire"", again selecting him as a
central character. Salon also chose McNultys pride as his
main character trait, saying that this aspect of his personal- [9] Jim Shelley (2005-08-06). Call The Cops. London: The
Guardian. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
ity made him a successful investigator and a failure in most
other aspects of his life.[13] Entertainment Weekly picked [10] Wire Power. Entertainment Weekly. 2002-06-28. ReMcNulty as oering one of the shows most wicked ironies:
trieved 2007-10-03.
he is one of the characters you would expect to be on the
side of law and order as a police detective but they de- [11] Jon Garelick (2004). ""A man must have a code - listening
in on The Wire.. Boston Phoenix. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
scribe him as a boozing cop who pisses on authority and
[14]
order.
[12] James Norton (2005). The Wire vs. The Sopranos. Flak
magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
4.2.3
Origins
The Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
David Simon, the characters creator, has described his goal

of presenting McNulty as ambiguous in his motivations. [14] Gillian Flinn (2004). TV 2004 The 10 Best. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
Based on his experiences with real detectives, he feels that
most crime dramas present their police characters with the [15] Ian Rothkerch (2002). What drugs have not destroyed, the
falsehood that they care deeply about the victims in the
war on them has. Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
cases they are investigating. Simon states that in his experience a good detective is usually motivated by the game [16] Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New
York: Pocket Books.
of solving the crimehe sees the crime as an insult to his
intellectual vanity and this gives him motivation to solve
it.[15]
The character was originally named Jimmy McArdle but 4.3 Kima Greggs
because no one liked the name, executive producer Robert
F. Colesberry suggested renaming him Jimmy McNulty (af- Detective Shakima Kima Greggs is a ctional character his maternal grandmother). Dominic Wests original au- ter on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Sonja
4.3. KIMA GREGGS
75
Sohn. Greggs is a police detective in the Baltimore Police Department who is a dedicated ocer and capable detective with some o-the-job issues. Openly lesbian, she
has had problems involving indelity, alcohol, and relationships. Greggs played a key role in all of the shows main
cases.
Greggs was shot and wounded in an undercover buy bust

operation ordered by Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell.
The sting relied on Wendell Orlando Blocker, a front
man for the Barksdale organization and license holder for
Orlandos. Orlando was arrested by narcotics police and
turned over to the Barksdale detail when they diligently
checked to see if any of the names Orlando gave them were
under investigation. Orlando was killed in the failed sting
and Greggs was shot before she could retrieve the weapon
4.3.1 Biography
she had hidden in the vehicle they were using. By the time
her backup arrived on the scene the shooters had ed. The
Season 1
Barksdale details wiretaps identied those responsible as
the soldiers Savino, Wee-Bey and Little Man. Both Savino
Kima was a narcotics detective working alongside Detecand Wee-Bey were arrested and Little Man was murdered
tives Ellis Carver and Thomas Herc Hauk and under shift
before the police could reach him.
lieutenant Cedric Daniels in Major Foersters narcotics division. She outshone her colleagues on several occasions,
but was held in high esteem by the two due to her abilities. She cultivated a relationship with her Condential In- Season 2
formant, Bubbles, a Baltimore drug addict, who became a
useful contact due to his extraordinary memory for faces. Greggs recovered fully from her injuries and took a desk
Greggs lived with her partner Cheryl, a broadcast journal- job in the narcotics unit, at the request of her girlfriend
ist, and was studying for a law degree from home, having Cheryl, who feared her getting injured again and hoped to
been pressured to do so by Cheryl.
start a family. Greggs was teased by her old partner Herc
Greggs was assigned the task of putting a le together on and missed the action of street work.
the Barksdale organization in the controversy generated by She joined the investigation of Frank Sobotka under Lieuthe acquittal of D'Angelo Barksdale. She was then as- tenant Daniels at his request. Her return to street duty
signed to the Barksdale detail and made lead detective by Lt. caused major friction between herself and Cheryl, now
Daniels. Greggs managed to obtain invaluable information pregnant with a child.
from Bubbles, who correctly identied Barksdale Organization members on the street and worked out the methods Greggs worked with Prez to investigate the vice aspects of
of their operation. Detective Jimmy McNulty and Kima the smuggling ring linked to Frank Sobotka. They located
worked closely together during the Barksdale case. Greggs a brothel operating out of a high class apartment building
using women illegally brought into the country and held
became friends with McNulty and introduced him to Bubbles. When Bubbles conrmed to McNulty that Kima was like prisoners. Greggs contact Shardene Innes was useful
in providing links to the exotic dancing world that pointed
a lesbian, Jimmy complimented Kima, claiming the only
other competent female detective he worked with was also a them towards the whorehouse. Cheryl insisted on accompanying Kima to the strip clubs, showing a jealous streak.
lesbian. McNulty jokingly added from there that they could
both have fun talking about pussy. Greggs told him be- When Kima showed Cheryl photos of the girls killed in a
ing open about her sexuality kept attention from male col- failed attempt to smuggle them into the country Cheryl beleagues away. They spent hours together in surveillance and gan to be more understanding. Cheryl also makes a decision
put in more time trying to track down the legendary stick- to become pregnant through articial insemination this seaup man Omar Little. They managed to get Omars attention son and asks for Kimas support in raising the child. Greggs
after he got into a war with the Barksdale organization, dur- however is not interested in parenting and only goes through
ing which Omars lover and stick-up partner was murdered, reluctantly.
and persuaded him to testify against Barksdale soldier Bird Later McNulty rejoined the team and Greggs worked with
for the murder of William Gant.
him to inltrate the apartment building by setting him up as
Greggs provided a second useful condential informant a potential customer. Their hard work resulted in the arrest
while working with Lester Freamon. They persuaded of the madam and other members of the detail solved the
D'Angelos new girlfriend Shardene Innes to turn against deaths of the other girls.
him by providing her with evidence that the Barksdale crew
were responsible for the death of a friend of hers. Shardene
met D'Angelo through working as a hostess at Orlandos, a
strip club and front for the Barksdale organization.
Greggs moved on to trying to investigate the leaders of the

smuggling ring but the detail found the trail ran dry just as
they were closing on The Greek and his lieutenant Spiros
Vondas.
76
Bubbles was arrested near the end of Sobotka case and
called on his connection to Greggs to get out of trouble. He
turned Greggs and McNulty onto investigating the link between East side drug kingpin Proposition Joe and their old
target Stringer Bell. Greggs and McNulty soon acquired
photos of the two meeting together.[1][2]
Season 3
Greggs continued working with Lieutenant Daniels when
the Major Case Unit was formed. The unit initially tried
to build a case against Proposition Joe. They found that
they made little progress through their wiretaps because
the key members of Joes organization did not talk on the
phone. The case broke down when the unit arrested Melvin
Cheese Wagsta on suspicion of murder when in reality
he was talking about shooting his pet dog over the wiretap.
With Proposition Joe aware of the wiretaps Daniels decided
the unit had to move on.
Greggs became something of a rogue element alongside
McNulty. The two pursued the Barksdale organization even
when the unit was supposed to be focused on Park Heights
drug dealer Kintel Williamson. Freamon became exasperated with Greggs lack of respect for Daniels. Greggs also
became dissatised with her personal life now that Cheryl
had her baby and began to cheat on her. Greggs went far
enough to admit that she only agreed on the baby as a means
of appeasing Cheryl. Eventually Greggs decided she had
made a mistake and the two reconciled.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
ical gures. Greggs was responsible for delivering the subpoena to campaign fundraiser Andy Krawczyk. Freamon
convinced the others that they would be protected from the
politicians because they were under close scrutiny at election time.
The unit focused on Marlo Staneld's organization now that
he had control of West Baltimore. They quickly gathered
probable cause for wiretaps on key Staneld lieutenants
Fruit and Monk Metcalf. Fruit was murdered but Bunk
Moreland from homicide faithfully delivered his cellphone
to the unit allowing them to establish more of the Staneld network. Greggs was responsible for surveillance of
a drug dealer supplied by Staneld, Old Face Andre. She
determined that his re-supply was delivered to a convenience store that he ran. The detail felt they were making progress when they recorded Marlo talking to Andre on
Monks phone. Greggs even recognised the sound of gunshots in the background and wondered why Marlo was taking shooting practice when they had been unable to tie him
to any drug murders.
Because of the subpoenas, Commissioner Ervin Burrell was
threatened by Mayor Clarence Royce for trying to charge
his campaign fundraisers weeks before the election. Deputy
Commissioner William Rawls suggested that the problem
be solved by giving the unit proper supervision and installed Lieutenant Charles Marimow as the new commander. Marimow ordered the unit to stop investigating the
Barksdale money trail and to close down their investigation
of Staneld. Marimow reasoned that they should be making
faster cases against street level dealers tied to violence. Dismayed at this change in direction Greggs decided to transfer out of the unit. She went to Major Daniels to ask for
a position in his district. Daniels insisted that Greggs was
too skilled an investigator for district work but oered to
help her move laterally. He secured Greggs a position in
the homicide unit by asking Rawls.
The Barksdales became involved in a turf war with Marlo

Staneld and the unit shifted their focus back to them. The
unit inltrated the Barksdale organization with wiretaps
and had many of their key players tied in a case including
Stringer Bell. Bell was murdered before the Major Crimes
Unit could arrest him; he was given up by Avon as their
friendship broke down. Avon was arrested, but on the basis of a tip from Bell before his death rather than the units Greggs transfers into Jay Landsman's squad and is joined by
casework. At the close of the season Daniels was promoted Freamon. She faces merciless teasing from her colleagues.
Greggs is further embarrassed when she is ordered to take
to Major and left the unit.[3]
over the Braddock case - an investigation of a murdered witness - because of pressure to slow the investigation. A further indignity occurs when the story of the reassignment is
Season 4
leaked to the press and the original investigator, Ed Norris,
Greggs and Freamon became the de facto leaders of the unit is reassigned as the primary. Greggs, Norris and Landsman
when Daniels was promoted to commander of the Western attend a press conference intended to defuse the story with
District. Their new commander Lieutenant Jimmy Asher the facade that Greggs and Norris were working together
was a friend of Freamons and was a lenient commander all along. When Greggs and Norris attempt to interview a
focused on his retirement and building a beach house. As prisoner who claims to have information about the shooting,
a result, Asher did not mind what they did leaving them to their investigation is again scuppered by Rawls who orders
go about the investigation without any chain of command them to work uniform duty at a polling station. Rawls exinterference. As elections approached Freamon picked up plains to Landsman that whichever way the case goes, it will
the investigation of the Barksdale money trail and served hurt the chances of one of the mayoral candidates who are
subpoenas for nancial records on many high-ranking polit- neck and neck in the polls. After the election, Greggs is
4.4. BUNK MORELAND

able to proceed with the investigation. She interviews the
main suspect in the case but comes to the conclusion that
he is innocent. Greggs then picks out a detail in the case
which leads her back to the crime scene, where she spots a
ricochet mark in a nearby wall. Greggs realizes that Braddock was killed accidentally by a stray bullet, not because
he was a witness.
77
tions with McNulty.[12]
A major alliance in previous seasons, Greggs and Bubbles
do not come in contact with each other after Bubbles decided to pursue a full rehabilitation following the events of
season 4. No longer an informant, Bubbles achieves a full
rehabilitation and reconciles with his sister.
In Episode 9, Greggss paycheck reveals her address as 847

N Calvert St, No. 3, in Mount Vernon neighborhood, al- 4.3.2 References
though the zip code of 21218 would place the address fur[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
ther north, on 33rd St near the former Memorial Stadium
site. Her bi-weekly pay, including the substantial overtime
from two major cases, is $2,521.53.
HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
Season 5
Greggs is drafted into the reconstituted major crimes unit
by Lester Freamon. They spend a year investigating the
Staneld Organization and their potential links to the vacant
house murders. Greggs is frustrated when nancial problems at city hall lead to withholding of the departments
overtime pay. Eventually the major crimes unit is closed
down by Mayor Tommy Carcetti and Greggs is transferred
back into the homicide unit.[4][5]

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Greggs is assigned as the primary investigator on a home in- [8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
vasion and triple homicide. The murder was committed by
Chris Partlow and Snoop and the victims were a drug dealer
named Junebug, his partner and his bodyguard. Junebugs [9] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
two children are witnesses to the crime. One child ed the
scene but Greggs nds the other still hiding in the closet. [10] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
She arranges for the child to be taken in by social services.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Greggs and her partner on the case Michael Crutcheld
recognize that the killings are professional in nature be2008. Retrieved 2008-06-30.
cause of the disabling of security cameras outside the house
and the pattern of the wounds.[6][7] Continuing budget con- [12] "The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30-". HBO. 2008.
straints mean that Crutcheld is quickly taken o the case
and Greggs is left to work alone.[8][9] Greggs visits the child
witness to try to get a statement but the child remains withdrawn. Greggs decides to try and reconnect with Cheryl and 4.4 Bunk Moreland
her son Elijah and arranges for him to stay overnight.[10]
After McNulty confessed to Greggs that he created the fake
serial killer, Greggs was stunned and angry about the deception and waste of resources.[11] She reported McNulty and
Freamon to Daniels, which led to the end of their careers in
the Police Department. At McNulty and Freamons 'wake'
commemorating the end of their police careers, Greggs arrives late and admits to them both that she blew the whistle.
McNulty says she did the right thing and shakes hands with
her before going home, and Freamon invites her into the bar
to drink with him and his former colleagues. Kima is last
seen on a homicide call with Bunk, enjoying lighthearted
conversation with him that echoed Bunks earlier conversa-
William The Bunk Moreland is a ctional character

on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Wendell
Pierce. Bunks character is based on a retired Baltimore
City Police Detective named Rick Requer and nicknamed
the Bunk, an ocer who joined the force in 1964 as
a Western District patrolman who eventually moved into
the Homicide Division.[1] Like his partner Jimmy McNulty,
Bunk is shown to be a thoroughly competent and generally
moral detective, with similar problems related to indelity
and alcohol abuse (although not to the extent of his partner).
He is however more mindful than Jimmy of the chain of
command in the department.
78
4.4.1
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Character storyline
impasse, and Bunk and Freamon come under heavy criticism from a frustrated Colonel Rawls for releasing the ship
Bunk attended Edmondson High School in West Baltimore, without getting statements.
where he played lacrosse. He lives in Randallstown, MD, a
Bunk also worries about the William Gant murder; states
predominantly African American suburb of Baltimore, with
attorney Ilene Nathan threatens to drop the charges if the
wife Nadine and three children. Bunk worked as a patrolpolice cannot nd key witness Omar Little. Bunk repeatman in Baltimores Southwestern District before becoming
edly reminds McNulty of this, and eventually McNulty nds
a homicide detective.
Omar with help from Bubbles. Omar testies, and Bird is
imprisoned for a maximum term.
Season 1
Later, Bunk and Russell return to the port in Philadelphia
Bunk serves as Jimmy McNulty's lone ally in the homicide
unit, informing him of its happenings while chiding him
for getting involved in the Barksdale case. He is also the
primary investigator for the murder of William Gant, who
testied against D'Angelo Barksdale. Omar Little informs
Bunk that the shooter is a Barksdale soldier called Bird, and
agrees to testify against him in court. Because of this, Bunk
persuades his colleague Detective Cole not to arrest Omar
for the murder of Stinkum. When Omar is at the police
station, Bunk discovers they went to the same high school,
beginning an ongoing association between the two.
and nd video evidence implicating Sergei, whose testimony leads to the solving of the Jane Doe murders, as well
as aiding the Major Case units investigation into Frank
Sobotka.
Season 3
When the city deals with ve homicides in one night, Bunk

must leave his son with McNulty at an Orioles game to investigate one. He quickly recognizes the scene of Omar
Littles drug robberies, and (wrongly) believes one of the
victims (Tosha Mitchell) to be an innocent taxpayer. He
becomes incensed, and obsesses over her death, continuAt Landsmans insistence, Bunk and McNulty review the ing to investigate it even after his superior ocers Landsold Deirdre Kresson murder, which ultimately turns out to man, Colonel Raymond Foerster and Rawls order him to
be related to the Barksdales, and is solved as part of the nal nd the stolen weapon of Ocer Kenneth Dozerman, who
arrests of D'Angelo Barksdale and Wee-Bey Brice.
was nearly killed in a failed drug bust led by Sergeant Ellis
Carver. They all consider the weapons recovery a top priority, though he thinks it is a frivolous use of his abilities.
Season 2
Bunk meets with Omar, confronting him about the innoBunk is partnered with Lester Freamon in Homicide, and cent victim. Omar informs him that she was part of his
they are quickly recognized as the squads best detectives. crew, and says he would never kill an innocent person. As
This reputation leads Landsman to assign them to investi- Omar states that no one will talk to Bunk about the murgate the deaths of fourteen Jane Does in a shipping con- der, and that she died in the game, Bunk makes Omar feel
tainer on the docks, a seemingly impossible case. They are guilty about his negative inuence on the world due to the
detailed with Ocer Beadie Russell from the Port Author- collapse of their old West Baltimore neighborhood. Bunk
ity, who initially found the bodies. The women suocated says that predators like Omar are all that still exist in their
old neighborhood, which was once a community despite its
after an air pipe was deliberately closed o.
Bunk and Freamon track down the ship which carried the hardships. To assuage this guilt, Omar nds Dozermans
package, and hold it in port in Philadelphia to question the gun and returns it to Bunk.
After one night of particularly heavy drinking, McNulty has
to pick Bunk up from a womans house. Bunk has locked
himself in her bathroom and burned his clothing so that his
wife will be unable to nd trace evidence of his having slept
with the woman.
crew. None of the crew admit to speaking English, and

Bunk and Freamon let the ship go after learning that two
crewman jumped ship after Baltimore. Based on a few
sparse facts, Bunk and Freamon deduce (correctly) that the
women were prostitutes being smuggled from overseas, that
one of the girls was murdered by a sailor after refusing sex,
and the rest were killed for witnessing the crime. The murderer is one of those who ed, so the investigation is at an
Bunk is also one of the investigators of Stringer Bell's murder, during which Bunk uses the acronym BNBG - Big
Negro, Big Gun - to sum up witness Andy Krawczyk's
stereotypical description of the murderer.[2] Bunk realizes
Omar was the shooter but does not conclude the case. After the investigation, he tells McNulty the citys homicide
rate will probably reach 300 by New Years, noticing how
McNulty has slowed down on his consumption of alcohol.
4.5. LESTER FREAMON

Season 4
Bunk investigates the murder of Fruit, one of Marlo Staneld's drug dealers. He is unable to nd his main suspect,
Curtis Lex Anderson, and it becomes clear that Lex was
murdered, but no leads are forthcoming. At the same time,
Bunk is surprised at McNultys seemingly successful attempts to get his life back on track.
79
Landsman points out that Bunk is simply changing the date
while submitting essentially the same report. Bunk angrily
asserts that he is forced to repeat his requests as he is still
waiting for the crime lab to process evidence on 14 of the
22 murders. Bunk nally gets a DNA match on Chris Partlow for an unrelated murder, but agrees to delay his case in
order to allow the Marlo Staneld wire tap to continue.
Moreland is last seen investigating a homicide with Greggs,

Omar Little contacts Bunk after Chris Partlow framed him engaging in jovial conversation similar to that he used to
for murdering an innocent woman in a convenience store share with McNulty.
robbery. Bunk initially ignores him, reasoning that Omar
was guilty of several other unproven murders (including
Stringer Bell), but Omar appeals to his sense of honor. He 4.4.2 References
tracks down new evidence proving that Omars witness Old
[1] Simon, David (2006) [1991]. Post Mortem. Homicide:
Face Andre lied, leading to Omars release. In exchange,
A Year on the Killing Streets (4th ed.). Owl Books. p.
Bunk extracts a promise from him to never kill again.
641. ISBN 0-8050-8075-9. Rick 'The Bunk' Requer left
to man the departments retirement services bureau, though
his homicide incarnation lives on in Wendell Pierces portrayal of the legendary Bunk Moreland on The Wire, right
down to the ubiquitous cigar.
Freamon transfers back to Homicide, and the two are partnered again. Freamon manages to nd Lexs body and, in
the process, more than twenty other bodies, all of which
are linked to Marlo Staneld after Bunk gets key testimony
from Lexs mother.
Season 5

Bunk rst appears interrogating and manipulating a young

murder suspect. With Detective Ed Norris and Sergeant Jay
Landsman, Bunk gives the suspect a fake polygraph using
a photocopier to coerce a real confession. Bunk and his
colleagues are dealing with cutbacks, including no overtime
pay, until the citys nancial situation resolves. The scal
problems cause the closure of the major crimes unit and
the reassignment of Detectives Jimmy McNulty and Kima
Greggs to Landsmans squad.[3][4]
McNulty and Bunk are assigned a probable overdose.
When they arrive, McNulty creates choking bruises on the
body and stages the scene to suggest a strangulation. McNulty tells Bunk that he plans to create the illusion of a serial
killer; Bunk leaves in disgust.[5][6] Bunk cannot sleep that
night and returns to the homicide unit, disgusted again to
nd McNulty still there, drinking and poring over case les.
Bunk warns McNulty about the potential consequences of
his actions, including prison time, but McNulty refuses
to back down. McNulty alters an old case le and further details of the probable overdose to create links to an
open strangulation case being investigated by Frank Barlow. Bunk is forced to watch his machinations. Bunk enlists
Freamon to talk sense into McNulty, but this plan backres
when Freamon decides that the plan could work and makes
suggestions to improve it by sensationalizing the killer.[7][8]

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[7] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
4.5
Lester Freamon
Lester Freamon is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by actor Clarke Peters. Freamon is a detective in the Baltimore Police Department's Major Crimes
Unit. He is a wise, methodical detective, whose intelligence
and experience are often central to investigations throughout the series, particularly with respect to uncovering networks of money laundering and corruption.
4.5.1
Character background and plot relations
Bunk remains angry at McNulty and refocuses his attention on the vacant house murders. Bunk delivers a report Detective Lester Freamon is a veteran of the force who esto Landsman that is placed immediately into a desk drawer. tablished a reputation as what Bunk Moreland called natu-
80
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
ral police for his instincts, tenacity and intelligence. Before

joining the force he served in the military. It is revealed in
season 2 that he had fought in the Vietnam War. His rst
major unit was Homicide, but in 1989, acting against the
orders of the Deputy Commissioner, he charged a politically connected fence to coerce his testimony in a homicide
case. Though the case was successfully closed, the Deputy
still had Freamon transferred to the Pawnshop unit as a punishment after being told by Freamon that the Pawnshop
unit was the one place he did not want to go. Freamon eventually spent thirteen years (and four months) in the assignment, until he had been completely forgotten by management. Deskbound for more than a decade, Freamon began making dollhouse furniture, a hobby which provides
him with a substantial supplemental income, but also contributes to his eccentric reputation among fellow police. At
the end of the series it was revealed that Freamon had joined
the department in 1974 or 1975, having worked 32 years
at his retirement. Coincidentally, Freamon had joined the
department around the same time as ousted commanders
Commissioner Ervin Burrell and Major Howard Bunny
Colvin (both of whom joined in 1973) yet had never obtained rank, focusing solely on police work.
After Detective Greggs is shot, Freamon tracked a page

made by Wee-Bey Brice, one of the shooters, to a pay phone
where he found evidence implicating the other shooter,
Little Man. He then used a contact from his pawn shop
days (now working for a phone company) to trace call patterns and pinpoint Wee-Beys whereabouts, leading to his
arrest and conviction.
Freamon proved himself adept at building a case through

the use of a wiretap; he recognized patterns of pager
messages and telephone calls, which led to several breakthroughs in the Barksdale case, most notably nding the
main stash house in Pimlico. He also led the investigation into the Barksdales nancial records and uncovered
their various political connections, instructing Sydnor and
Pryzbylewski in the mechanics of following the paper trail.
He also recruited Shardene Innes, one of the dancers in
Barksdales strip club, as an informant, beginning a romantic relationship with her in the process.[1]
union. Though he continued to assist Bunk and Russell

in the Homicide investigation, his primary focus became
the investigation of smuggling through the Baltimore ports.
On Russells advice, Freamon convinced Daniels to clone
the ports computers to track container movements. They
were able to follow containers being moved illegally to a
warehouse, ultimately linking Sobotka to the criminal activities of The Greek. The investigation closed with several
arrests and, in the process, Freamon identied a dismembered body killed by The Greeks crew as being one of the
crewmen who jumped ship. Bunk and Freamon solved the
Following the dissolution of the detail, Major Rawls noted

Freamons competence as a detective and transferred him
back into Homicide. Rawls had made room for Freamon in
Homicide by dumping McNulty to the Marine Unit in the
fashion that Freamon had predicted.
Season 2
Freamon was partnered with Bunk Moreland, and they

were quickly recognized as the best detectives in Homicide.
Landsman assigned them a seemingly impossible case involving the deaths of fourteen Jane Does. They were detailed Beatrice Beadie Russell, the ocer from the Port
Authority who had initially found thirteen of the bodies in
a shipping container, as a liaison for the investigation. The
women in the container suocated after the air pipe was
deliberately closed o and a fourteenth victim, killed and
Season 1
thrown overboard the previous night, was later tied to the
When the initial Barksdale detail was formed, Freamon was case.
transferred in because he was viewed as a useless hump, Freamon and Bunk traveled to the Philadelphia port where
and the senior management had no intention of providing they held the vessel that had delivered the container to Baltigood detectives who would make a substantial case. Af- more. They attempted to question the crew, none of whom
ter overhearing an ohand comment by Detective Greggs, would admit to speaking English. They eventually let the
Freamon tracked down a photo of Avon Barksdale, nally ship go after learning that two crewmen had jumped ship
giving the unit a face to put to the name. He further im- after Baltimore. Based on the few facts they had, Freamon
pressed his colleagues when he found D'Angelo Barksdale's and Bunk deduced that the women were prostitutes being
pager number at an abandoned stash house. Impressed by smuggled in from overseas, that one of the girls was murFreamons capabilities, fellow detective Jimmy McNulty in- dered by a sailor after refusing sex, and that the rest were
quires about him in a conversation with Bunk who tells him killed for witnessing the crime. The murderer was one of
Freamon is an ex-homicide detective. Later, while at the those who ed, leaving the investigation at a dead end. Freabar with Freamon, McNulty nds out that he was sent to the mon and Bunk were severely rebuked by a frustrated Rawls
Pawn Shop unit for angering the then-Deputy Ops. Frea- for releasing the ship without getting statements.
mon then warns McNulty that he will probably suer a sim- Freamon was relieved to be assigned, at Daniels request, to
ilar fate at the conclusion of the case.
the detail investigating Frank Sobotka and the dockworkers
4.5. LESTER FREAMON

Jane Doe homicides after Sergei, facing a possible death
sentence, gave them the details they needed, and Landsman and Rawls were again content with the Homicide units
clearance rate.
Season 3
Freamon stayed with Daniels in the now-permanent Major
Crimes Unit, building a case against their assigned target,
a drug dealer named Kintel Williamson. Throughout the
Season Freamon acted as a mediator between Daniels and
McNulty. McNulty clashed with Daniels over the investigative targets and was urged by Freamon not to attempt any
insubordinate moves, as Daniels had been the commanding ocer who got McNulty out of the marine unit. When
the units focus returned to the Barksdales, Freamon was
stumped by the new strategy of using disposable cellular
phones, nishing their pre-paid minutes before a wiretap
could be approved. He masterminded a scheme wherein he
went undercover as a con artist selling illegally recharged
disposable phones (already wiretapped) to a Barksdale underling to whom Bubbles had been able to introduce him.
Avon Barksdale himself was caught in a safehouse lled
with illegal weapons and returned to prison, though an alsoimplicated Stringer Bell was murdered before he could be
arrested.[2]
81
ens his protgs Greggs and Sydnor, whom he claims will
be the victim of Freamons mistakes. Freamon agrees to
allow the wiretap to be disconnected, but refuses to work
under Marimow.
Out of respect for his shrewd investigative tactics, Rawls
transfers Freamon back into the Homicide Unit, where
Bunk has been investigating the murder of Staneld drug
dealer Fruit and the disappearance of suspect Curtis Lex
Anderson. They both recognize that Staneld likely had
Lex killed in retribution, but are unable to nd the body
anywhere. Freamon further observes that Staneld is not
tied to any murders since the Barksdale Gang War ended,
and begins to scour Baltimore for any trace of the bodies he
knows must be hidden somewhere.
Herc unwittingly provides Freamon with a key clue, a nail
gun he noticed when he pulled over Chris and Snoop.
Pryzbylewski, now a teacher, provides second-hand information through one of his students, Randy Wagsta, who
knows where Lex was killed. While checking abandoned
row houses in that immediate area, Freamon notices that
one of the doors was nailed in while the others were screwed
shut, and realizes that Lexs body must be in that house. He
further concludes that the Staneld Organization is leaving
bodies in row houses all over the City. With the nails identifying which houses are doubling as tombs, more than twenty
bodies are found.
Daniels, now a colonel gaining political traction, regains

control over the Major Crimes Unit. He oers Freamon
Season 4
carte blanche, including the right to pick his own comSince Daniels was promoted to Major, Freamon is now mander. Freamon assembles his team, and begins investhe guiding force behind the Major Crimes Unit. The unit tigating Staneld again, but Staneld has been mentored by
[3]
is running a wiretap on the Staneld Organization, though Proposition Joe, and is no longer as sloppy as he was.
Freamon is disappointed that Stanelds lack of discipline
is making the investigation too easy. Meanwhile, he continues to follow the Barksdale money trail, subpoenaing the Season 5
nancial records of state senator Clay Davis and property
developer Andy Krawczyk. Freamon wrongly believes that Freamon reconstitutes the Major Crimes Unit under the
Mayor Royce would not risk interfering with a criminal incommand of Lieutenant Jimmy Asher. The unit includes
vestigation to help them, because of the upcoming election. detectives Jimmy McNulty, Kima Greggs, Leander SydFeeling pressure from both, Royce angrily goes to Burrell nor and Kenneth Dozerman. Initial investigations into the
and Rawls and forces them to deal with it. Burrell asks vacant house murders fails to provide enough evidence to
who is responsible for the subpoenas and Rawls correctly bring charges against the Staneld Organization. Freamon
assumes Freamon as the lead instigator. In order to ap- elects to settle into a long investigation and begins daily
pease Mayor Royce, Rawls concludes that proper supervi- surveillance of Marlo Staneld. Staneld becomes aware
sion will keep the unit under control and prevent them from of the ongoing investigation and curtails his violent activmoving forward. He installs a new commander, Lieutenant ity and limits his discussion to face-to-face meetings. The
Marimow, aka The Unit Killer, who immediately butts unit becomes dissatised when scal problems at city hall
heads with Freamon by attempting to bring down the wire- lead to the withholding of over-time pay. The unit is eventap. Freamon is sent to Rawls who correctly assumes Frea- tually closed down to save funds. Freamon is detailed to
mon is willing to go to Judge Davis to keep his wiretap the States Attorneys oce to continue to prepare a case
running. Rawls, recognizing Freamons past instances of against corrupt state senator Clay Davis. Sydnor joins him
angering the departments senior commanders, points out in the detail and they report to Assistant States Attorney
Freamons gift for martyrdom and instead subtly threat- Rhonda Pearlman.[4][5]
82
Freamon heralds the Davis investigation as a career case
but is unable to let go of the work he has done on Staneld.
Freamon continues surveillance of Staneld in his own time
and is pleased to nd that Staneld is already dropping his
guard now that he is no longer under observation. Freamon
and McNulty meet with FBI agent Terrence Fitzhugh seeking federal support for a renewed Staneld investigation but
have no success.[6][7]
McNulty decides to secure funding for the Staneld investigation by creating the illusion of a serial killer to draw media attention to the police department. Bunk Moreland is
outraged that McNulty is interfering with crime scenes and
falsifying case notes as part of his plan and enlists Freamon
to talk sense into McNulty. McNulty has faked the strangulation of a homeless man who probably died of an overdose.
Bunks involving Freamon backres when Freamon decides
that McNulty hasn't gone far enough and suggests that he
should make it more media-friendly by sensationalizing the
killer.[8][9]
Sydnor uncovers evidence that Davis has lied on a mortgage
application and Freamon realizes it is signicant enough to
le federal charges. Rupert Bond decides not to le the new
charge as passing the case over to federal prosecutors would
cost him the opportunity to raise his political prole. Bond
has Pearlman hold a grand jury deposition for Davis and
stages a photo opportunity as Davis leaves the court house
to mark Davis as his target. Davis is acquitted following an
incredible performance on the witness stand. Lester tries
to get the U.S. Attorneys oce to prosecute Clay Davis for
lying on his mortgage application (information Bond did not
use in the failed city prosecution); while the oce declines
because Davis is now a hero in Baltimore, Lester uses the
information to blackmail Davis for information about a leak
at the courthouse.
McNulty and Freamon collaborate on raising the prole of
their fake serial killer, resulting in Freamon adding a sexual
motive and supplying a set of dentures to create bite marks
on the victims. They conduct actual canvassing among
the homeless as a cover. Freamon also recruits his old patrol partner Oscar Requer to look out for recently deceased
bodies of homeless men. They soon have their next fake
victim and McNulty mocks up the crime scene and mutilates the body to imply another murder.[10]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
out that the clock code is relaying location information for
face-to-face meetings. Lester uses the code to the bust a
re-supply for the New Day Coop members in which most
of the Staneld organization is arrested and a large quantity
of heroin is conscated.
Lester is upset that Jimmy McNulty told Kima about the
fake serial-killer plan. Kima informs Daniels of the hoax.
After Daniels and Pearlman look into it and discover the
illegal wiretap and realize how damaging it will be to the
Staneld case, they inform Mayor Carcetti. Lesters fate is
sealed along with McNultys. Pearlman tells them they will
not face jail but will never again be allowed to do real police work, instead being buried in back-room units where
nothing they do could ever be seen in a courtroom. Lester
laments the loss of tracking Marlos money trail, but takes
the retirement, makes peace with Kima, and is last seen in
the end-of-season montage putting together dollhouse furniture in the company of Shardene.
4.5.2
Critical response
Entertainment Weekly named Freamon one of the ve most

interesting characters in season four.[11] Television critic
Alan Sepinwall has, on several occasions, stated that Freamon is his favorite character.
4.5.3
References
[3] Character prole - Detective Lester Freamon.
2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
HBO.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
When Lester gets a hold of Marlo Stanelds cell phone (via

a loop from Vondas to Marlo to Levy to Herc to Carver to [8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
himself), he sets up an illegal wiretap on the phone but is
initially surprised to nd no conversations are taking place [9] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
on it. Lester learns Marlos cellphone is transmitting pictures of clocks and tries to break the code. When manage- [10] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
ment provides more money for the fake serial-killer investi5. Episode 4. HBO.
gation, which McNulty redirects to the Staneld investigation, more surveillance ocers are added and Sydnor works [11] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
4.6. HERC
4.6 Herc
For other uses, see Herc (disambiguation).
Thomas Herc Hauk is a ctional character on the HBO
drama The Wire played by actor Domenick Lombardozzi.
The series introduces Herc as a detective in the Baltimore
Police Department's Narcotics Unit, begrudgingly detailed
to the initial Barksdale investigation. He is generally portrayed as encapsulating the failings of the contemporary
Baltimore police ocer: simple-minded, concerned with
petty street arrests and minor drug charges, and priding
himself and his colleagues on 'banging heads. He is also
partner and loyal friend to Ellis Carver, the two rarely being unpaired until later seasons. Following his promotion
to Sergeant, he is dismissed from the force, subsequently
nding employment as a private investigator for attorney and invariant legal advisor for drug organisations - Maurice
Levy.
83
tioned on the wiretap might leave them exposed. Some of
the money still goes missing when the bag rips in their trunk.
After Lieutenant Daniels confronts them about the missing
money, Carver begins to suspect Herc has stolen it, until it
is found in the spare-wheel well of the car. This also gets
both of them on the wrong side of Daniels, who assumes
they simply stole and then returned the money. Later, while
raiding a drug stash in Pimlico, Herc and Carver do steal
money for themselves.[1]
With little study, Herc takes and passes the sergeants exam,
placing 18 on the list of ranked, passing ocers. After celebrating he nds out that he will not in fact be promoted,
likely because of past brutality allegations (none of which
are conrmed, but all of which are true). Carver, however,
who ranks 37, is promoted to Sergeant after acting as a spy
in the detail on behalf of Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell.
Season 2
When the detail is disbanded, Herc moves back to Narcotics, investigating white East-Side dealers. Daniels
brings Herc into Major Valcheks detail investigating Frank
Season 1
Sobotka, recognizing Hercs stomach for the tedium of
Herc and Ellis Carver typically worked as a pair in Nar- surveillance work. At Hercs request, Daniels also brings
cotics, and both are intimidated by Kima Greggs' ability Carver back but refuses to recognize his promotion; Greggs
and annoyed at her superior attitude towards them. All remains lead detective for the detail.
three join the Barksdale detail headed by their shift Lieu- Herc is again partnered with Carver and the two investigate
tenant Cedric Daniels. Herc and Carver get into trouble drug dealing around the docks area. Herc plays the key unearly on in the investigation when, along with Detective dercover role, dealing with the mostly white drug dealers in
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski, they drunkenly charge into a the Polish docks neighborhood of Baltimore.
Barksdale-controlled housing project and harass a group of
The two use a high-priced listening device concealed within
youths. While there, Prez pistol whips one of the youths,
a tennis ball to gain information then, after the device is
blinding him in one eye and nearly inciting a riot. Herc
damaged, fabricate a condential informant named Fuzzy
is slightly injured during the incident when residents begin
Dunlop" (an inside joke between them referencing the tenthrowing bottles and ring at the ocers, but returns early
nis balls texture and manufacturer) and take payments
from his sick leave to take part in raids on Barksdales opmeant for the informant to cover its cost. Through their
eration.
surveillance, they are able to establish a link between
When young dealer Bodie Broadus punches detective Franks nephew and the drug trade.
Patrick Mahone during a raid, Herc, Carver and Greggs
Herc feels unappreciated, as he and Carver are constantly
punish him with a beating. When Bodie later escapes from
relied upon to do tedious leg work for the detail, even having
a juvenile detention center, Herc and Carver pursue and reto install an air conditioner in the home of a judge. After
arrest him; nding that he remains deant they give him anbeing left out in the rain waiting for a suspect who has alother beating. Even so, the three play pool together when
ready turned himself in, Herc convinces Carver they will
they nd themselves having to wait hours to hand Bodie
never be respected in Daniels unit, and they put in for a
over. Hercs character is also humanized somewhat when,
transfer.[2]
in a failed attempt to arrest Bodie at his grandmothers
house, he apologizes to her for his rough language and listens politely as she discusses Bodies troubled past.
Season 3
4.6.1
Biography
When Herc and Carver intercept the Barksdale crews profits for a day by tailing Wee-Bey Brice, Herc considers keep- Herc returns to Narcotics with Carver and works in the
ing some of the money, but Carver realizes that gures men- Western District under Major Colvin. Together they are re-
84
sponsible for running the districts Drug Enforcement Unit
and commanding a squad of dedicated narcotics police including ocers Kenneth Dozerman, Lloyd Truck Garrick, Lambert and Anthony Colicchio.
The DEU squad is responsible for policing Colvins unsanctioned free drug trade zone, nicknamed Hamsterdam.
Herc is critical of the Majors pet project and eventually
leaks details of the zones to the Baltimore Sun. When the
national media begins covering the story Hamsterdam is
soon shut down and Major Colvin is forced to retire as a
lieutenant.[3][4]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
leading him to arrest a church minister. Since the minister is African American and part of a politically inuential
coalition, Herc is accused of harassment and racial proling. The ministers apply pressure to newly elected Mayor
Tommy Carcetti, and Commissioner Burrell pushes the internal aairs division to look into Hercs wrongdoings with
an eye toward nding a palatable excuse for discharging
him. Herc is suspended with pay pending a full trial with
the I.I.D. division. One of the scenes in the season fadeout shows the I.I.D. board delivering the verdict; the phrase
'Conduct Unbecoming' can clearly be heard.
Season 5
Season 4
Herc is working the security detail for Mayor Clarence
Royce, when he stumbles across the mayor receiving fellatio
from his assistant in his oce. Major Stanislaus Valchek
advises Herc how to turn the mishap to his advantage and
quickly make rank. The Mayor quickly surmises Hercs
desire for promotion and demonstrates his willingness to
help Hercs career in exchange for his discretion. Royce
calls Burrell and demands that Herc be promoted to the
rst opening for sergeant. He receives the sergeants post in
the Major Crimes Unit under Lieutenant Charles Marimow,
but soon loses his rabbi when Royce loses the Democratic
mayoral primary. He and Marimow clash over methods,
and Herc shows no respect for his leadership abilities.
Herc takes a police camera to spy on Marlo Staneld without Marimow or a courts approval. Stanelds crew realize
they are being lmed and give fake information (prompting Herc to detain an innocent woman) and then steal the
camera. Herc attributes the fake information to the ctitious informant Fuzzy Dunlop. While attempting to retrieve the camera, Herc interviews Randy Wagsta, who
has knowledge about the murder of Lex, one of Boadie
Broaduss drug dealers. However, Herc later mistakenly reveals Randys cooperation to a conspirator to the murder,
Little Kevin; this information gets back to Staneld and results in Randy being labeled a snitch, eventually leading
to the injury of Randys foster mother and Randys placement in a group home. Still attempting to retrieve the camera, Herc pulls over Chris and Snoop and nds a nail gun
which ultimately proves to be an important clue for Lester
Freamon's investigation into the murders of Lex and Little
Kevin.
Greggs, now in Homicide and no longer in need of a drugs
informant, puts Bubbles in touch with Herc, who believes
he will be able to appease Marimow if he links Staneld to
a murder. Herc agrees to help Bubbles with his problems
if in return he helps Herc nd a witness to Fruits murder.
However, Herc repeatedly lets Bubbles down, and so, to get
back at Herc, Bubbles provides him with bad information,
Herc is now working as an investigator for defense attorney Maurice Levy, who has previously represented the
Barksdale Organization. Herc is able to provide Levy with
information from his contacts inside the Baltimore Police
Department, including Ellis Carver,[5] but he is irritated
when Levy takes on Marlo Staneld as a client. Herc meets
Carver for drinks and admits feelings of remorse for some
of his actions as a police ocer.[6] He attempts to redeem
himself by making a note of Stanelds condential phone
number from Levys Rolodex and handing it to Carver (who
then passes it on to Lester Freamon).
In the nal episode, however, Herc tells Levy that a wiretap has probably been used in the Staneld investigation a
wiretap which Levy realizes must be illegal. This tip allows
Levy to keep Marlo Staneld out of prison. A grateful Levy
tells Herc he has done well and invites him to dinner at his
home, as Herc is now mishpochah (Hebrew for family).
Herc congratulates Carver on his promotion to lieutenant.
He is last seen in the end-of-season montage at the bar buying drinks for his former colleagues.
4.6.2
Production
Actor Domenick Lombardozzi speaks with the accent of his

native South Bronx, which producers did not believe Lombardozzi would be able to convincingly hide and so did not
ask him to try, planning a future explanation as to why the
character was policing in Baltimore.[7] Ultimately, in the
fth season premiere episode, "More with Less", Herc mentions having come from the Bronx when he makes a reference to his hometown New York Yankees being historically
more successful than the Baltimore Orioles.[5]
4.6.3
Reception
Salon described Herc and Carver as providing needed

comic relief to the show and acting as a bickering
couple.[2]
4.7. ROLAND PRYZBYLEWSKI
4.6.4
References
[1] HBO: The Wire: Episode Guide: Summary: Season 1:

Episode 11. HBO. Retrieved 2008-07-02.
85
code-breaking and paper-trail skills, he is never truly comfortable as a police ocer. By contrast, he later becomes a
dedicated and capable teacher.
Season one
Prez is sent to Lieutenant Daniels' Barksdale detail because

Deputy Commissioner Burrell allows the unit comman[4] Character prole - Detective Herc Hauk. HBO. 2004. ders to dump their most incompetent ocers on Daniels.
Upon arrival at the detail, he accidentally shoots a wall
while showing o modications to his gun. Daniels is ap[5] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. palled, but agrees to keep Prez if Cantrell will also give him
Leander Sydnor, the best detective under Cantrells com[6] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season mand.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Later, Prez, Herc, and Carver drunkenly incite a near-riot
at the Franklin Terrace Towers, and Prez pistol-whips a
[7] David Simon, George Pelecanos (2004-12-10). The Wire teenager with his service weapon, blinding him in one eye.
Cleaning Up (DVD audio commentary). HBO.
Notably, even the brutality-prone duo of Herc and Carver
think Prezs actions are uncalled for. Daniels stands up for
his detective and protects him from serious repercussions by
4.7 Roland Pryzbylewski
providing Prez with a suitable story to give to Internal Investigations; Prez is ultimately suspended from street duty,
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski is a ctional character on but Valchek is grateful to Daniels for helping Prez.
the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jim TrueStuck in the oce, Prez grows bored and begins playing
Frost. Pryzbylewski is a detective of Polish heritage in the
with the Barksdale organizations pager codes, eventually
Baltimore Police Department. Initially seen as incompebreaking them and making a major contribution to the case.
tent, hapless, corrupt and hot-headed, he proves to function
Under Freamons mentorship, he discovers a gift for wiretap
better behind the scenes as a talented code-cracker. Evenwork and following the paper trail, eventually becoming a
tually, he leaves the Baltimore Police Department followvaluable member of the team.
ing an accidental shooting of another ocer and becomes
a middle school math teacher, where he develops into a caring and moral person. In some ways he is the mirror-image Season two
foil to Herc, who also lost his job at the police department
but went on to aid criminals.
Prez confesses to his father-in-law that his earlier problems
had largely been due to dissatisfaction with his trac police work. He tells him that detailed case work had become
4.7.1 Character background and plot rela- his passion and that he wants to continue to work major
cases. When Valchek starts feuding with Frank Sobotka,
tions
he requests a detail similar to the previous Barksdale detail.
Prez has a well-known history of incompetence in the de- As in the previous case, Burrell gives him a team largely
partment; an oft-recounted incident involved him shooting consisting of incompetent humps. Prez is given minor
up his own squad car in a panic and then calling in a false authority within the detail, but Lieutenant Grayson will not
report. He has been bounced around various units, and is follow his recommendations on how to proceed. Prez tells
considered an inept detective by many of the subordinates his father-in-law that the detail is making little progress, and
in the Police Department. Because of his marriage to the Valchek, after seeing the unit at work, demands that Daniels
daughter of a career ocer, he is protected from being dis- is brought in as the unit commander, threatening to derail
charged, despite their mutual animosity. Prior to the be- Burrells bid to become police commissioner.
ginning of Season 1, Pryzbylewski had been working in the When the focus of the investigation shifts away from
casualty division under Lieutenant Cantrell.
Sobotka, Valchek angrily confronts the detail, berating Prez
Prez is portrayed as a sometimes intelligent and decent man,

but lacks the necessary drive due to the often brutal realities
of Baltimore police work. Despite eventually winning the
respect of his colleagues in the Barksdale Detail through his
specically. Prez stands up for their work and punches

Valchek. With Prez facing charges of insubordination and
assaulting a commanding ocer, Daniels stands up for him
a second time, pointing out that if there is an ocial inquiry
86
the FBI agents present during the incident would arm that
Prez hit Valchek only after the latter had shoved and cursed
at him. Valchek agrees that Prez can return to the detail
following a written letter of apology and two months of
working the midnight shift as a narcotics detective in his
district.[1]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
that if he is lying their friendship is over. Prez drives o
disappointed but not surprised when he sees Dukie is using
the money to support his newly developed drug addiction.
4.7.2
Origins
The characters code-breaking ability, and the season 1

pager code itself, are based on the Melvin Williams case
investigated by Harry Edgerton and Ed Burns.[2] Prezs exPrez joins Daniels newly formed Major Crimes Unit. periences as a teacher are based on those of Ed Burns, who
When responding to a distress call, Prez fails to properly became a Baltimore middle school teacher when he retired
identify himself as an ocer and fatally shoots a plain from the Police.
clothes ocer in a case of night-time mistaken identity. He
is brought up on administrative charges and suspended because the ocer was African American, and the shooting 4.7.3 References
is seen as being potentially racially motivated. Prez vehe[1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
mently denies being a racist but due to the press and BalThe Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2006-07-12.
timores majority African American population, the story
leaks out and prompts a hearing from both the courts and [2] Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New
York: Pocket Books.
the Vanguard (Baltimores African American police ocer
union). Prez is horried at having killed another ocer and
quits the force despite Daniels, Caroline Massey and Lester
Freamon (all of whom are African-American) agreeing to 4.8 Ellis Carver
testify that they do not believe Prez to be a racist.
Season three
Season four
Prez starts a new career as a math teacher at Edward Tilghman Middle School. As a teacher, he becomes attached to
the students in his classroom, even going as far as to assist neglected student Duquan Dukie Weems with laundry and food that his family does not provide for him (they
are known to sell his possessions for drug money). After
Randy admits to knowing about Lexs murder, Prez passes
the information on to Bunk. He later nds out that Randy
has been labelled a snitch after Herc mishandles an interview with Randy and is disappointed with his friends at the
precinct. Later, Prez discovers that Dukie is no longer attending middle school and is working on the corner. Prez
sees through the school systems aws, but adapts well, and
becomes a dedicated teacher who enjoys helping his students advance through class.
Ellis Carver is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by actor Seth Gilliam. Carver is an
African American lieutenant[1] and former commander of
the Baltimore Police Department's Western District Drug
Enforcement Unit. While initially matched to the simpleminded and brutish policing of his loyal partner and unfailing friend Thomas Herc Hauk, under the counsel of
Major Colvin in the Western District, Carver incrementally
matures into a reective and generally upstanding ocer;
often drawing the ire of his Western District Colleagues.
4.8.1
Biography
Season 1
Carver was a narcotics detective under Major Foerster in

season one; he joined the Barksdale detail along with his
colleagues from narcotics, detectives Kima Greggs and
Thomas Herc Hauk. Cedric Daniels, his shift lieutenant
from narcotics, was assigned to command the detail. Carver
Season ve
tells Bodie Broadus in season one, episode ve ('the pager'),
Prez was only seen once in Season 5, appearing in the se- that he was raised in the Flag House Courts housing project.
ries nale "30". He has grown a beard, and appears to Herc and Carver typically worked as a pair. They were
have become a capable and well-respected teacher. When intimidated by Greggs ability and annoyed at her supeDuquan Dukie Weems visits him and asks for money, rior attitude towards them. They got into trouble early
supposedly for payment of rent and to allow him to enroll on in the investigation when they drunkenly raided a
in a GED program, but in reality to feed his new drug ad- Barksdale-controlled high rise tower and nearly incited a
diction, Prez agrees to give him the money, but tells Dukie riot. They had convinced the erratic Detective Roland
4.8. ELLIS CARVER

Prez Pryzbylewski to accompany them and he exacerbated the situation by pistol-whipping a teenager. Daniels
was exasperated with his detectives immaturity and lack of
forethought, but protected them from serious punishment.
87
tigating Frank Sobotka, telling Carver that since he had
been caught going outside the chain of command before,
it was unlikely that he would try something similar again.
Daniels only condition was that Carver would not be treated
as a sergeant in the detail, as he felt that Carver had not
earned his promotion and would instead report to Detective
Greggs. Carver was again partnered with Herc and the two
investigated drug dealing around the docks area. They fabricated a condential informant, actually using a listening
device, and took payments meant for the informant to cover
the cost. However, they did establish a link between Nick
Sobotka and drug trade near the docks.
The narcotics detectives took part in raids on Barksdales

low-rise projects. When one of the young dealers, Bodie
Broadus, punched Detective Patrick Mahon, Carver, Herc
and Greggs punished him with a beating on the spot. Carver
and Herc were later given the task of travelling to Bodies
juvenile detention centre to try to convince him to become
an informant; Carver was optimistic about their chances.
Finding that he had absconded, they raided his home, nding only his grandmother.
They were again relied upon to do the leg work for the detail
Herc later spotted Bodie in the low-rise projects while on and were instrumental in placing satellite tracking devices
surveillance with Carver, and they arrested him. Finding on vehicles involved in the dock smuggling ring. Their low
that he remained deant the detectives gave him another status in the detail was brought home to them when they
beating. Later, waiting to hand him over their attitude soft- were asked to install an air conditioner in the home of a
ened the three shared a game of pool. Bodie was released judge who was approving the details wiretaps. After befrom juvenile detention following the intervention of the ing left out in the rain waiting for Nick Sobotka to return
Barksdale crews lawyer. Unaware of this Carver and Herc home, despite his having already turned himself in, Herc
angrily picked him up the next time they saw him, but after convinced Carver they would never be respected in Daniels
nding that he had been legitimately released they gave him unit. Angered by the menial work given to him, Carver told
Daniels that he wished to leave the unit. Daniels attempted
a lift home.
to convince him to stay, pointing out that surveillance was
When they intercepted the Barksdale crews prots for a part of the job. However, Carver left the unit and took
day by tailing Wee-Bey Brice, Herc considered keeping a DEU (Drug Enforcement Unit) sergeant posting in the
some of the money, but Carver realized that gures men- Western District for Major Howard Bunny Colvin, where
tioned on the wiretap might leave them exposed. Some of his rank was recognized and he could engage in more rip
the money went missing by accident, which led Carver to and run. Herc then followed Carver as he had no interest
doubt Herc until he found the money in the spare-wheel well in doing menial surveillance work for Daniels.[2]
of their car. This also got both of them on the wrong side
of Lt. Daniels. Otherwise, Carver and Herc were useful in
performing tedious but essential surveillance work for the
Season 3
detail.
Carver took his sergeants exam and passed while in the detail. Although Herc scored better on the exam, Carver was
placed ahead of him on the promotion list because Carver
had been relaying information about the details activities
to Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell. Daniels eventually
realized that Carver was acting as Burrells spy in the detail, and cautioned Carver not to repeat the mistakes Daniels
made earlier in his own career.
Season 2
Carver returned to narcotics with Herc and worked in the

Western District under Major Colvin. Carver commanded
the districts Drugs Enforcement Unit a squad of dedicated narcotics police including Herc and Ocers Kenneth
Dozerman, Lloyd Truck Garris and Anthony Colicchio.
He failed to learn a valuable lesson from his work with Det.
Greggs a police ocer is only as good as their informants
as he failed to secure any CIs for his unit and had none to
present to Major Colvin. Ocer Dozerman was shot and
injured while under Carvers command in a failed buy-bust
sting operation.
Carver was responsible for policing "Hamsterdam",

Colvins unsanctioned free drug trade zone. He was
distressed by the consequences of the new zone putting
young hoppers out of work. Carvers solution was to tax
the drug dealers, providing an informal welfare system
for the unemployed hoppers. With Dennis Cutty Wise,
a (now reformed) former soldier in Avon Barksdale's
Daniels brought Carver back into his detail when inves- crew, he helped divert the young hoppers into boxing
When the detail was disbanded Carver was moved to the
South Eastern district where he worked as a trac sergeant
under Major Stanislaus Valchek. His dissatisfaction with
the post was apparent when Valchek assigned him to ticket
dock workers vehicles and he openly voiced his opinions of
his commander to Frank Sobotka.
88
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
and basketball programs that were having some success

until the Hamsterdam project was shut down. After
this Carver and Wise held a mutual respect for each other
having worked together with these children.
returns he gives them a warning, telling them that he knows

their names and addresses and if he learns that they are involved with stolen cars again he will arrange alleyway beatings for each of them. Donut waits until Carver has left
Over the season, Carvers DEU team were shown to be before commenting on his "nice wheels.
making statistically motivated arrests rather than perform- He had a plainclothes car put outside Randy Wagsta's
ing real police work and building serious cases. Early in house when neighborhood kids start harassing him after he
the season, Carver is criticized by Major Crimes Unit de- is labelled as a snitch. However, when the car leaves to
tectives Kima Greggs and Jimmy McNulty for his lack of respond to a call, his house is attacked with petrol bombs
informants, and when asked by Colvin for descriptions of and Randys foster mother is severely burned to the point
gang members and mid-level drug dealers, Carver is unable of being unable to care for Randy. Carver is concerned
to provide any information. Before his forced retirement for Randy, even oering to be Randys foster parent when
Colvin criticized Carvers work as an investigator and told it becomes apparent that he will be sent to a group home.
him he was not doing his job properly. He urged Carver to His oer is rejected due to the lengthy screening process
get to know the area he was policing rather than treating it involved, and after dropping Randy o at his group home,
as hostile territory in a war zone. Colvin felt that this was Carver angrily beats on his car horn, frustrated that he could
one of the reasons behind Dozermans shooting and then not have done more. [4]
claimed that Carvers stat-based arrests were of little use to
the district without adequate information about what was
really going on in the neighborhood.[3]
Season 5
Season 4
Carver maintained his position as DEU Sergeant but
turned over a new leaf in light of Major Colvins advice.
He began cultivating street-level informants and amassing a
working knowledge of the drug dealers in his district. When
Prez asks that a police ocer be sent to Randys house condentially, Daniels, Colvins replacement as Western District commander, elects to send Carver, telling the surprised
Prez that Ellis has come a long way.
In particular, he targets Bodie Broadus as a potential informant because he is now working independently after the
collapse of the Barksdale organization in Season 3. Carver
is on relatively good terms with Bodie, as his rst line in
the season is Wheres the love, Bodie?" The two have a
running joke of addressing each other formally. Ocer
Colichio, however, is entirely unable to see the funny side,
although Carver points out he can't go round beating the entire world up cause who are you gonna talk to when the shit
happens?". Carver helps Herc when he has a problem that
is political in nature by putting him in touch with the politically savvy Valchek. Carver also tries to help Bunk Moreland nd a suspect in the murder of Fruit. The suspect is
Bodies second-in-command, Curtis Lex Anderson, and
Carver knows which corner he works. However, Lex has
not been seen for some time.
Carver spots a group of children from his district with a
stolen car and rather than chasing them on foot he is taking Herc, dressed in suit and tie for mayoral protection duty,
to see Valchek he calls in the theft and elects to nd the
children later, as he knows where they hang out. When he
Carver is acting as Western District SIC (Sergeant in

Charge) - he has the responsibilities of the districts deputy
major for most shifts. The districts ocers are outraged by
the citys nancial cutbacks and their morale is at rock bottom. Carver faces dissent and abuse in his roll-call brieng
and is told there is no point breaking up a ght between ocers that occurs in the parking lot. Carver meets up with his
old partner Thomas Herc Hauk, Kenneth Dozerman and
Anthony Colicchio for drinks. Herc has been discharged
from the department and is now working as a Private Investigator for defense attorney Maurice Levy. Herc has the
detectives get information from within the department for
him.[5][6]
Colicchio is later involved in an assault on a teacher. Carver,
having witnessed the event and seeing that Colicchio acted
irrationally, oers to help Colicchio prepare a statement
for the subsequent Internal Investigations Division case but
nds Colicchio completely unrepentant. He decides that he
cannot allow Colicchios behavior to continue and writes
Colicchio up for charges of conduct unbecoming an ofcer. Colicchio calls Carver a rat but Carver is willing to accept the resentment of his subordinate ocers.
Later, over drinks, Herc tries to plead leniency for Colicchio. Carver explains his philosophy that all of their actions as police ocers matter and reminds Herc of some
of their mistakes. Carver specically mentions Hercs actions with Randy Wagsta. Herc accepts responsibility
and tells Carver to do what he feels he has to.[7] Carver is
later seen assisting Jimmy McNulty in nding the homeless killer. McNulty has Carver instead investigate Marlo
Staneld's drug organization under the overtime detail of
the homeless killer. Carvers ocers are shown using new
4.9. LEANDER SYDNOR

rental vehicles and following Lester Freamon's lead in nding the source of drug distribution amongst Staneld crew
members. When Kima Greggs questions Carver about the
homeless killer, he claims that he is happy to see his ofcers doing real police work and getting paid overtime for
it. This is shared by his men, who are noticeably buoyed
up by the news of some rented wheels. At the end of the
series, Commissioner Daniels, in one of his last acts as a
police ocer, promotes Carver to Lieutenant, saying I'm
glad I got to do this at least.
Carvers development in the series and his ending draws
comparisons to Daniels; both men had skimmed drug
money early in their career, both had matured from these
experiences over time and both eventually climbed the police ranks as respected, hard-working and honest policemen, with Carver representing the next generation of this
type of ocer. Carvers character arc is in stark contrast to
that of his early companion Herc; while both began the series as similar types of ocers, Carver became a righteous
and worthy policeman, while Herc abandoned all morality
to aid and abet extremely dangerous criminals.
4.8.2
Reception
Salon described Carver and Herc as providing needed

comic relief to the show and acting as a bickering couple.[2]
4.8.3
References
89
member of the Barksdale detail and later worked in the Major Crimes Unit.
4.9.1
Biography
Season one
Sydnor was assigned to the Barksdale detail from the Auto
Theft Department after Lieutenant Daniels requested Sydnors commanding ocer, Lt. Cantrell, give him his best
detective to balance out having to take his worst the
erratic Detective Pryzbylewski. Once in the detail, he
was partnered with Detective Lester Freamon and the pair
looked into the Barksdale organisations paper trail. Sydnor
also performed valuable undercover work, making handto-hand buys to build evidence, alongside Detective Kima
Greggs and her informant Bubbles. Sydnors initial attempt
to disguise himself as a junkie was not credible he still
looked too clean and middle-class so Bubbles helped him
correct the disguise, recommending subtle but important
changes such as not wearing his wedding band (you're married to the needle, boy) and walking on empty drug vials so
that the shards stuck in the soles of his shoes. Sydnor was
also responsible for identifying Avon Barksdale at the annual West-Side versus East-Side basketball game. He later
told Freamon, who had become something of a mentor to
the young detective, that the Barksdale investigation was
the best police work he had ever done.
[1] David Simon (2008-03-09). "30". The Wire. Season 5.

Episode 10. HBO.
Season three
Sydnor returned to working in his old district after the dissolution of the Barksdale detail. When Daniels established
a permanent Major Case Unit he was allowed to choose his
own detectives and encouraged Sydnor to transfer in. Sydnor took up the oer and again worked on investigating the
Barksdale organization.[1]

[4] Character prole - Sergeant Ellis Carver. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[7] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
4.9 Leander Sydnor

Leander Sydnor is a ctional character on the HBO drama
The Wire, played by actor Corey Parker Robinson. Sydnor
is a young, married Baltimore Police detective who was a
Season four
In Season four, the Major Case Unit was investigating
Marlo Staneld in addition to the Barksdale money trail.
With Cedric Daniels promoted to Major, Lester Freamon
was the de facto commander of the unit, having been allowed to hand-pick their shift lieutenant Jimmy Asher, a
soon-to-retire ocer who took an entirely hands-o approach to the units investigations. When the money trail
led investigation to major political gures, Sydnor worried about the potential damage to his career; nonetheless,
he personally delivered a subpoena for nancial records to
State Senator Clayton Clay Davis.[2]
90
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Senator Davis angrily protested the subpoenas to Mayor 4.9.2 References

Clarence Royce, who then ordered Commissioner Burrell
to rein in the Major Crimes Unit. Deputy Commissioner [1] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
William Rawls suggested that proper supervision was all the
unit needed and replaced Lieutenant Asher with Lieutenant [2] Character prole - Detective Leander Sydnor. HBO.
2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
Marimow. Marimow is a caustic commander with a reputation for being a unit killer. Marimows command style
drove away Freamon and Greggs leaving only Sydnor and [3] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire.
Massey. Sydnor decided to leave the unit at the rst available opening. With the transfer of Sergeant Thomas Herc
Hauk and Ocer Kenneth Dozerman into the unit Sydnor
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
found two allies in his desire to make cases (and who shared
his dislike of Marimow), but ultimately the unit was un- [5] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
successful at building a case against Staneld under MariThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
mows supervision. Over the course of the season, Sydnor
mentored Dozerman, and also cautioned Herc on the conse- [6] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
quences of lying to Marimow but Herc nevertheless continued to act in an unprofessional and often counterproductive
manner while in the unit.
The unit was eventually reconstituted under the control of
Freamon after Daniels was promoted to CID colonel. Under Freamons leadership, Asher was named Lieutenant
again, and Jimmy McNulty and Kima Greggs transferred
back into the unit. Dozerman remained with the unit while
Herc was suspended pending an internal investigations division investigation. As the season ended, a new investigative
strategy was mapped out against Marlo Staneld.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
4.10
Beadie Russell
Season ve
Beatrice Beadie Russell is a ctional character on the

HBO drama The Wire, played by actress Amy Ryan. She
After more than a year of investigation into the Staneld was featured prominently in the second season, after she
Organization the unit still did not have a strong enough case discovered thirteen corpses in a container on the Baltimore
to le charges. When budget cuts in the department even- docks.
tually led to the unit being closed down, Sydnor was disappointed to nd his work wasted and realized that simply
keeping Staneld under surveillance was eective in reduc- 4.10.1 Character storyline
ing crime. Sydnor and Lester Freamon were detailed to
the States Attorneys oce to prepare the corruption case Background
against Clay Davis.[3][4] Sydnor and Freamon rst prepared
the paperwork on Davis and then assisted Rhonda Pearlman Russell is introduced into the series as a port authority oin a series of Grand Jury depositions.[5][6][7][8]
cer, a work that shes been performing from two years previSydnor uncovers evidence of Davis having committed a
federal crime when he nds that Davis borrowed money
from his mother for a mortgage deposit. Freamon realizes
the signicance of the crime and knows that it could mean a
thirty-year jail term. The detectives present the evidence to
States Attorney Rupert Bond and he refuses to take the case
federal as he wants to prosecute Davis himself for political
reasons.[9] In the series nale, Sydnor visits Judge Daniel
Phelan in his chambers to apply back-channel pressure in
order to advance an investigation, much like McNulty did
in Season 1.
ous. She took the job because she needed the pay to support
her two young children after her husband abandoned them;
before her appointment, she worked collecting tolls, though
it didn't represent a decent income. Russells parents often help her with the kids. She found the job unchallenging
and spent most of her time patrolling the docks and checking shipping manifests. She developed a friendly working
relationship with many of the stevedores, including Frank
Sobotka, though she was kept out of the loop regarding major criminal activities within the stevedores union because
of the Port Authoritys lack of manpower.
4.10. BEADIE RUSSELL

Season 2
In season two, Russell notices a broken customs seal on a
container while on patrol and searches the container, nding
a hidden compartment lled with thirteen dead bodies of
young women. She is briey the primary investigator until
Ocer Jimmy McNulty intervened after noticing that the
air vent in the container had been beaten shut, getting the
case reassigned to the city Homicide Unit and also noticing
that the Port Authority lacked the necessary resources to
investigate the possible murders. McNulty had previously
shed out a fourteenth body while working for the Marine
Unit, which was an obvious murder. McNulty largely proceeds with his intervention to spite Major Rawls, who sent
him to the marine unit as a punishment on Season 1. Russell
is subsequently detailed to Homicide to aid in the investigation. Initially she shows her lack of experience and street
knowledge, but she develops some latent talent for police
work while working alongside veteran homicide detectives
Bunk Moreland and Lester Freamon.
91
mal goods to test the waters, Russell inadvertently tips the
investigations hand by having her colleagues in the port authority stop it. Frank later checks with other port ocers
who tell him she is still working with the detail, contrary to
what she previously told him, and conrming his suspicions
that he is being investigated. Despite these mis-steps, Russell gains the respect of the ocers in the Sobotka detail.
At the end of their investigation, when the focus shifts past
Sobotka, Russell is entrusted with following Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos to a key meeting with The Greek. She
comes through, delivering the location of the meeting, and
enables the surveillance crew to get a photograph of Vondas
and his lawyer. The detail loses Vondas trail.
Russell is able to convince Frank Sobotka to inform on The

Greek once a strong case is built against him. Her emotional
oer of a deal has Frank ready to give up everything he
knows in order to help his family. Sobotka does meet with
the ocers and DA so he can give a statement, but he approaches without legal representation, so he agrees to meet
the next day. His nephew Nick approaches him with an ofRussell moves into Lieutenant Daniels detail after he agrees fer from Vondas to help his recently convicted son Ziggy
to investigate the bodies, where she soon fends o an awk- from a murder charge.
ward advance from Herc. The detail is formed to investiBefore Sobotka meets with Vondas, The Greek is tipped
gate irregularities in the stevedores unions assets, suggesto with Sobotkas collaboration with the detail through an
ing theft of products from containers and possible ties with
FBI mole, so they slit Sobotkas throat and dump him in the
contraband and human tracking, tying the initial detail
bay. His corpse is found by the Marine Unit and placed in
against union leader Frank Sobotka, fueled by Commander
the port, where all his stevedore union peers and his nephew
Valchek due to a petty feud with Sobotka, with the investiNicky gather to see. The detail is informed of the demise
gation regarding the dead women inside the container, fuand Russell witnesses her former friends mortal remains
eled by Major Rawls and Deputy Commissioner Burrell.
with great grief.
Her home life makes it dicult for her to work the long
Through the collaboration of Nick after the murder of
hours necessary for the investigation, but she perseveres.
his uncle, the detail is able to identify The Greek and
She connects with detective Kima Greggs while discussing
through the capture and collaboration of The Greeks enthe balance of a mothers responsibilities and the dangers inforcer Sergei Malatov, they are able to pursue both Vondas
herent in their work, and enjoys irting with McNulty both
and The Greek, only missing them by a matter of hours.
during work and while drinking after hours. McNulty visits
With several arrests made, the murder of the girls solved
Russells house one night, but he feels uncomfortable with
by Malatovs collaboration, and the voluntary dissolution of
the presence of family photos and childrens toys, and leaves
the stevedores union due to the scandal and the violence inbefore a more intimate relationship develops.
volved, Russell returns to her work at the Port.
Russells familiarity with the people and organization of the
port proves invaluable to the investigation. She taps Maui,
an old boyfriend in Frank Sobotkas union, to nd out more
about illegal activity in the port. Although Maui does not
Season 3 / Season 4
directly give her any information, his suggestion that all the
information the Police need is on the ports computer leads
the detail to clone the ports container trac computer sys- In Season three, McNulty is reminded of Russell and, feeltem, allowing them to monitor all trac on and o of ships. ing his life is missing something, he reinitiates their relationship and returns to beat police work. By season four, the
In an attempt to throw Sobotka o of any possible suspi- two are living together and McNulty has overcome many
cion, Russell dons her Port Authority uniform once more of his personal demons (which he credits to Beadies inand approaches Sobotka to reassure him that she is no uence). Beadies children Jack and Cary have become
longer detailed in the investigation.
fond of McNulty, even referring to him as just McNulty.
When a suspicious Sobotka sends out a truck carrying nor- Beadie has now dyed her hair blonde.
92
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Season 5
By the rst episode of season 5, Jimmy McNulty is lying
about late nights at work to cover his drinking and womanizing. Despite leaving him briey, the two are reconciled by
the end of the season: she is last seen sitting with McNulty
on her doorstep watching the moon, with her head on his
shoulder.
4.10.2
References
4.11 Cedric Daniels

Cedric Daniels is a ctional character on the HBO drama
The Wire, played by Lance Reddick. He is reasonably well
regarded in the department by making his subordinates focus on decent police work and quality arrests. He occasionally has disagreements with some higher-ranking ocers but for the most part performs quite well, completing
most tasks in a satisfactory fashion, gaining a reputation as
both a reliable commander and an above-average investigator within the department. Daniels has been investigated
by the FBI for corruption, and was found to have a couple
hundred thousand dollars more in liquid assets than any police Lieutenant should ever have. By the end of the series
he had risen through the ranks to commissioner but subsequently resigned after refusing a political request to manipulate crime statistics and as a result, started a new career
working as a lawyer.
4.11.1
Biography
Season 1
Daniels was a narcotics lieutenant in season one and shift
commander for Detectives Kima Greggs, Ellis Carver and
Thomas Herc Hauk. Daniels commanding ocer was
Major Raymond Foerster.
When Detective McNulty prompted Judge Phelan to start
asking questions about the Barksdale drug dealing organization, Major Foerster came to Daniels for more information. He wasn't able to oer much as the narcotics division
were unaware of Barksdale. He had Greggs write a report
and, soon after, Daniels was given command of the Barksdale Detail. He nominated Greggs as lead detective and
described her as the best he had to Foerster. He met with
Deputy Commissioner Burrell who told him the case should
be made with buy busts in a fast, straightforward investigation.
and he promised that he would run the investigation the way

that his superior wanted. Marlas own ambitions drove her
to pursue a career in politics and Daniels attended political
fundraisers with his wife. At one such function he found
himself hiding with the politicians drivers in the kitchen.
There, he met Senator Clay Davis driver Day-Day, who
the police later discovered to be a bag man involved with
Baltimores drug trade.
Daniels has a dicult relationship with the insubordinate
McNulty that began at their rst meeting. Foerster and Burrell both warned Daniels that McNulty was responsible for
Phelans sudden interest. For his part, McNulty was warned
by his partner Bunk Moreland that Daniels was a career ofcer and next in line for his own district as soon as a position with a Majors rank opened up. McNultys FBI contact
also alerted him that Daniels had several hundred thousand
dollars of questionable liquid assets; it is later implied that
these were picked up during Daniels tenure in the poorlysupervised Eastern district. Daniels initially tried to follow
Burrells advice that the operation should be fast and simple. He shot down McNultys suggestions of a surveillance
operation at their rst meeting.
Daniels also had diculties with several other detectives
on the detail. He was initially assigned detectives that other
districts wanted to remove. Augustus Polk, Patrick Mahon
and Lester Freamon appeared to be aging detectives happy
to see out their careers. Mahon was injured in a raid and
took early retirement; following this, his partner Polk took
to drinking more heavily and missed several days work.
Daniels insisted that Polk either clean himself up or sign
o sick; Polk opted for the latter. Freamon was a dierent
story and proved to be quietly capable and a huge asset to
Danielss detail.
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski was a trigger happy detective
who had once shot up his own patrol car before he was
assigned to Danielss detail. Daniels was able to convince
Prezs commanding ocer, Lieutenant Cantrell, to balance
taking the dicult ocer out of his hands by assigning him
Leander Sydnor, a promising young detective. Prez continued his self-destructive behaviour, attending an unsanctioned, drunken late-night raid on the Barksdale tower operations with Daniels long standing men Herc and Carver.
Prez injured a young boy and Daniels was left to deal with
the consequences. He stood by Prez despite his history of
problems and defended him to his superiors. In the process he gained the respect of Prezs father-in-law, Major
Valchek. Under Danielss supervision and Freamons tutelage Prez developed into an eective investigator. Sydnor
was also a valuable asset to the Daniels detail, performing
undercover work and gelling well with the dependable Freamon.
Daniels discussed his new assignment with his ambitious Herc and Carver continued to be problematic for Daniels.
wife, Marla. They worried that it might slow his progression
4.11. CEDRIC DANIELS

He suspected them of stealing seized money when the cash
they turned into evidence did not match a reported amount.
He remained loyal to his men, leniently giving them one day
to return it rather than turning them in immediately.
As the investigation progressed, Danielss attitude towards
the case changed. He risked his career several times in
order to protect the case. When Major Rawls wanted to
issue a murder warrant for D'Angelo Barksdale based on
imsy evidence, the Barksdale detail was dismayed, since
arresting D'Angelo would tip o Avon to the investigation.
McNulty and Greggs pleaded with Daniels to ght for their
case. Daniels appealed to Rawls and then to Foerster to hold
o on arresting D'Angelo, without success. Finally Daniels
bypassed the chain of command and met directly with Burrell and an angry Rawls. After a heated argument, Daniels
managed to persuade the deputy commissioner to delay the
warrants.
93
pleasantries with a newly minted major, a position that he
had been on the fast track for. However, he has won the
respect of his unit for a dedication to their cases, which surpasses that of their other commanding ocers.
Season 2
Daniels was reassigned to the evidence division following
the dissolution of the Barksdale detail. He was given the
post as punishment for defying Burrell, despite the investigation producing several arrests. Trapped in what seemed
to be a dead-end job, Daniels planned to leave the department and become a lawyer.
He was given a second chance when Major Valchek insisted (on Prezs recommendation) that Daniels be given
command of a special detail he had requested to investigate union leader Frank Sobotka. Daniels realized Valchek
had asked for him personally in exchange for oering Burrell political support and used this fact to leverage several promises from Burrell. Daniels stood his ground even
though Burrell had the DEA le on Danielss unexplained
income. Daniels later conded to his wife that Burrell
knew, conrming that the allegations against Daniels were
correct. Daniels insisted on picking his own detectives this
time and forced Burrell to agree that if the investigation
was successful then Daniels would become commander of
a permanent unit.
Later Freamon began to investigate Barksdales money trail

and found campaign contributions to Baltimore political
gures. Danielss team arrested his acquaintance, DayDay, the senators driver, collecting cash from the Barksdale crew. Rather than seizing the money, Danielss superiors forced him to return the money with no further investigation to avoid raising the senators ire. When Burrell, in
order to shut the case down, threatened to reveal the source
of Danielss liquid assets, Daniels responded by calling Burrells blu, pointing out the Deputys fear of the bad press
that would result in Danielss past misdeeds coming to light.
Burrell used Detective Carver to provide him with inside Danielss detail initially consisted of Prez, Greggs and Herc.
information. Daniels recognised Carvers betrayal.
Rhonda Pearlman again acted as Danielss courthouse liaiOver the course of the investigation, Daniels worked closely son. Daniels allowed Carver the chance to rejoin the team
with Assistant States Attorney Rhonda Pearlman. She was despite his previous treachery. Daniels told Carver he beinstrumental in using her judicial connections to provide lieved that after his previous actions Carver would be the
Daniels with the warrants and adavits needed for his last to betray him again, but insisted that Carvers promotion to sergeant would be in name only as he felt he had
teams surveillance eorts.
not earned his stripes. Daniels campaigned for McNulty
The Barksdale investigation ended with the arrest of leader to rejoin the team but was denied by a vengeful Colonel
Avon Barksdale and his nephew D'Angelo along with sol- Rawls, McNultys old commander. Daniels did convince
dier Wee-Bey Brice and several other members of the Rawls to let him have Freamon, who had been assigned to
organization. Convictions were secured against all three homicide after the Barksdale detail. Sydnor had returned
and Wee-Bey confessed to several unsolved homicides to to his district and could not be detailed. Danielss detail
prevent fallout reaching other members of the organiza- worked closely with Bunk Moreland who was investigattion. The result was unsatisfying for Daniels because Avon ing multiple homicides at the docks and Ocer Beatrice
Barksdales conviction was for minor oences and second- Russell, who was detailed to Bunks investigation from the
in-command Stringer Bell escaped uncharged to continue Port Authority. Russell blossomed into a capable investithe organizations drug trade. Much better results were gator with Danielss team and was instrumental in coming
within Danielss grasp when his team convinced D'Angelo up with the idea of cloning the ports computers to monito testify against the Barksdale organization. However, tor smuggling. Daniels nally persuaded Rawls to let McD'Angelos mother Brianna talked him out of this course Nulty return by agreeing to take on Rawlss murders from
and he ended up taking a twenty-year sentence for his fam- the docks.
ily.
In the meantime, Daniels began to have personal diculDanielss work on the Barksdale case certainly hurt his ca- ties with wife due to his career decisions. Eventually, they
reer; at the end of the rst season, he is seen exchanging began to sleep in dierent rooms of their home.
94
The investigation progressed and the detail linked Sobotkas
union to a smuggling operation run by a mysterious gure
called The Greek, Sobotkas nephew Nick was proven to
be involved in drug dealing and Sobtokas son Ziggy was
arrested for a homicide during the investigation. Ziggy
killed George Double G Glekas in a warehouse involved
in the Greeks smuggling. Danielss detail was not informed
of Ziggys arrest and this gave The Greeks time to clear
out the warehouse. Valchek became disillusioned with
Daniels when he learned that the focus was shifting away
from Sobotka onto The Greek and he involved the FBI.
Valchek insulted the detail and Prez in a heated meeting
and Daniels was forced to once again defend Prez after
he punched Valchek. Daniels quickly collected statements
from all the ocers and agents present and successfully
convinced Valchek it would be best to accept an apology
from Prez.
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
her dissatisfaction at his failure to progress in the Police
Department. He found that her attempt to enter politics after their separation further hindered his climb through the
ranks, as she was running in opposition to a close ally of the
mayors. Nonetheless, he continued to support her through
her political career, attending functions in uniform and acting the part of a devoted husband. After his separation
from his wife, Daniels briey was living in the detail oce,
then, after moving into a bachelor apartment, started a relationship with Rhonda Pearlman. Cedric remained skeptical
about making the relationship between him and Pearlman
public as he is still appearing as Marlas husband in order to
help promote her bid for city council. Daniels claims that it
will look bad for Marlas political career for him to be seen
separated from her with a white woman.
Throughout the season, he was commended several times
throughout the department due to his good police work.
He was commended by Stanislaus Valchek, Deputy Rawls,
Major Colvin, and even Commissioner Burrell amongst
other commanding ocers. This, however, was not enough
for Daniels, whose promotion to major was supposedly delayed due to his wifes political conicts. Daniels also felt
that Burrell was purposefully holding him back due to past
incidents. Daniels became even more angered when the
Major Case targets were changed courtesy of McNulty,
who went around the chain of command to retarget Stringer
Bell and Avon Barksdale. This earned McNulty Danielss
wrath as he then told McNulty to nd another unit to work in
following the arrest of Bell. At the end of season three, Bell
died but Barksdale was arrested courtesy of Major Colvin,
who was then forced to retire from the department due to
his Hamsterdam experiment. Following Barksdales arrest, he was nally promoted to major when the fallout over
Colvins Hamsterdam zone caused the Mayor to throw his
support behind Marla. Daniels was hence given the Western
District which was previously commanded by Colvin.[2][3]
With the wealth of evidence collected against Sobotka,

he was arrested along with several other people identied by the team. The warrant for Double G revealed his
empty shop and warehouse with all evidence disposed of.
Danielss people noticed the bloodstain from the shooting
and he went to violent crimes to nd out what had happened. Daniels was enraged that Sergeant Landsman had
not realized the signicance of the murder and told him of
Ziggys arrest. With several of Sobotkas family in jeopardy, Danielss team convinced him to act as an informant
on The Greek and arranged for him to return with a
lawyer the next day. Sobotka was murdered before the detail could take his testimony. The Greek himself escaped
before the detail could locate him. The investigation was
disappointing for the detail but seemed a tremendous success for the department. Bunk and Freamon secured evidence that solved the homicides, but the suspect was already
dead, so no conviction was made. Several prominent Eastside drug gures were arrested, including White Mike
McArdle, along with some of The Greeks men including
Sergei Serge Malatov and Eton Ben-Eleazer. Daniels was
seen to have delivered on his promises and was once more Season 4
in the departments good books.[1]
In an interview, Lance Reddick described the direction his

character would take in the fourth season. He stated that his
Season 3
promotion would give him the added responsibility of a district to command, less dealings with the day to day running
Danielss success in the Sobotka investigation meant that of the Major Case Unit, friction with the units replacement
Burrell had to honor his promise to let Daniels form a per- lieutenant, and the diculties of being more open about his
manent Major Case Unit. His Unit initially consisted of relationship with Rhonda Pearlman.[4]
Detectives McNulty, Greggs, Freamon, Sydnor, Prez and a Daniels was given the post of Western district commander
new ocer named Caroline Massey. The detail returned to with Dennis Mello acting as his administrative lieutenant.
investigating the Barksdale organization and their associa- Lieutenant Asher replaced him as commander of the major
tion with Proposition Joe, an East Side drug kingpin with case unit even though Lester Freamon was the units true
links to The Greek from the Sobotka investigation.
leader. Daniels hoped to convince McNulty into returning
Daniels separated from his wife, Marla, partly because of to detective work but had little success. At the same time,
4.11. CEDRIC DANIELS
95
Daniels realized that on a personal level, McNulty was bet- in the Eastern Districts Drug Enforcement Unit to prevent
ter o in patrol.
Daniels from getting his chair as commissioner.
Kima Greggs meets with Daniels to discuss a transfer after Lieutenant Charlie Marimow takes over major crimes.
Daniels suggest a move to homicide, and successfully meets
with Deputy Commissioner William Rawls to facilitate the
transfer.
After nding out that his student Randy Wagsta knows information about Curtis Lex Andersons murder, Roland
Prez Pryzbylewski (now a schoolteacher) meets with
Daniels. Daniels suggests Ellis Carver as the person Prez
should consult about the matter. Daniels questions Prezs
interest and Prez tells him he cares about Randy because he
is one of his students.
Following the mayoral election, Daniels attends a COMSTAT meeting chaired by Commissioner Ervin Burrell and
Deputy Rawls. He tells his commanders that the homicide
rate has dropped while other felony rates have risen. Primary victor Carcetti arrives to observe the meeting, later
discussing the possibility of removing Burrell from commissioner, and possibly replacing him. However, he is
warned that he would not be able to due to racial issues.
In the meeting, Carcetti observes that Daniels is more interested in quality felony arrests than statistical reductions
on crime.
Carcetti next encounters Daniels while riding along with
some Baltimore police ocers who are called to a shooting. Daniels is the duty ocer and is procient in controlling the crime scene. Carcetti is impressed and learns from
his accompanying ocers that Daniels is more respected
than most other commanding ocers in the department.
Carcetti invites Daniels to lunch and oers him a promotion
to Colonel commanding the Criminal Investigations Division (CID) under Rawls. Daniels was ocially promoted at
the same ceremony as Major Stanislaus Valchek. Commissioner Burrell, becoming suspicious of the recent change of
rank in the department, starts wondering about his future.
Burrell is especially worried about Danielss promotion because he realizes Mayor Carcetti wants to re him but needs
an African American replacement in a majority-black city
like Baltimore to do so. As Daniels suddenly rose in rank
in going from Shift Lieutenant to CID colonel in just over
one year, earned the mayors favor through his policing
strategies, and is African-American, Burrell sees Daniels
as Carcettis in-house choice of replacement. State Senator
Clay Davis and Burrell are both wary of Daniels and convince the city council president Nerese Campbell that he
is not a good candidate for police commissioner. They tell
Campbell that he cares more about serving Carcetti than the
citys African American community and that he is less the
saint he pretends to be. This implies that Burrell is willing
to revisit the excessive income charges from Danielss days
As CID colonel, Daniels clears Detective Hauk of a racial

proling incident and then assists Lester Freamon in building a case against the Staneld Organization. Freamon discovers evidence of dead bodies in abandoned row houses
and asks Daniels for more manpower for a citywide search.
Daniels gives Freamon more patrolmen and the citys homicide rate increases dramatically with the discovery of 22
concealed bodies killed by the Staneld Organization. During this time, it is pointed out to Rawls by Valchek that
Daniels is likely to become the departments next commissioner. Daniels transfers McNulty back into the major crimes unit from Western patrol. The unit is targeting
Marlo Staneld. As the season ends, Deputy Rawls believes
that Daniels will be moved up the ladder even further while
Commissioner Burrell and Senator Davis conspire to keep
Daniels from getting the commissioners post.
Season 5
Daniels is outraged when Mayor Tommy Carcetti decides
to close the major crimes unit due to budgetary problems
after over a year of investigative work into the vacant house
murders, the Staneld Organization and corruption linked
to Senator Clay Davis. He discusses it with his domestic partner, Assistant States Attorney Rhonda Pearlman,
and they approach States Attorney Rupert Bond together.
Bond and Daniels arrange a meeting with Carcetti to appeal
the decision but Carcetti has little time for them. Bond is
able to convince Carcetti to allow a two-man detail for the
Davis case. Daniels is outraged that the corruption charge
has been given priority over the murders, saying So one
thieving politician trumps 22 dead bodies. Good to know.
Daniels reluctantly reassigns Kima Greggs and Jimmy McNulty to homicide and keeps Lester Freamon and Leander
Sydnor for the Davis detail.[5][6]
Carcetti nally accrues the political capital he needs to
re Commissioner Ervin Burrell when Burrell delivers false
crime statistics to Carcetti. Carcetti plans to re Burrell and
temporarily promote Rawls to acting commissioner with
Daniels serving as Deputy Commissioner of Operations to
prepare him to take over as commissioner. Carcetti leaks
the story to The Baltimore Sun to gauge reaction to Daniels.
The story runs with a quote invented by Scott Templeton
and attributed to a city hall source. The quote falsely implicates Daniels in causing Burrells departure.[7][8]
Daniels discusses the story with Pearlman and while she is
ecstatic he is concerned about Templetons quote. Daniels
meets with his ex-wife Marla to discuss Burrells potential
reaction to the story. They are both worried that Burrell will
reveal evidence of corruption from Danielss past. Marla
96
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
suggests that Burrell will use what he knows about Daniels [8] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
to try to retain his position as commissioner. Marla suggests
that Daniels approach Burrell and promise not to take the
commissioner post. Daniels thinks that Burrell might not [9] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
5. Episode 4. HBO.
have any more than assets investigations but Marla reminds
him that his past has already cost their marriage, which was [10] Clark Johhnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season
a high enough price, and that rumor will be enough to pre5. Episode 10. HBO.
vent him from becoming commissioner.[7][8]
Daniels approaches Burrell to plead his innocence but is met
with the silent treatment. City Council President Nerese 4.12 William Rawls
Campbell convinces Burrell to leave quietly in exchange for
a comfortable replacement position. Carcetti holds a press
William A. Bill Rawls is a ctional character on the
conference to announce the promotions.[9]
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor John Doman. Over
During the nal episode Daniels is promoted to Commis- the course of The Wire, Rawls ascends through the higher
sioner after the homeless killings and the case of the mur- ranks of the Baltimore Police Department, eventually beders in the abandoned houses is solved. However, after re- coming Deputy Commissioner of Operations and, at the
fusing to juke the stats and Campbells threats of reveal- end of Season 5, Superintendent of the Maryland State Poing Burrells dossier, he resigns from the force. His last act lice. His career pre-occupation is often portrayed as detrias police commissioner is to confer a set of promotions, in- mental to both eective law enforcement and those under
cluding that of Ellis Carver to Lieutenant. In the nal ash- his command; seen, for example, in his repeated attempts
forward montage, Daniels is shown practicing as a criminal to renegotiate his responsibility for case-work.
defense lawyer before Pearlman as a newly commissioned
When Rawls is promoted to Deputy Commissioner, he is
judge.[10]
put in charge of the weekly ComStat meetings. During
these meetings, he often berates and chastises his Majors
when they make mistakes or are unable to control crime
4.11.2 Production
rate in their respective jurisdictions. He proves to be a
no-nonsense leader, although his tough demeanor is usuCasting
ally aided by his obstinance and crude wit, typically downLance Reddick was cast in the role after auditioning for speaking and dismissing suggestions he nds unsuitable.
the parts of Bunk Moreland and Bubbles. He was told Little is disclosed of Rawls personal life aside from alluthat they were looking for a name to ll the Daniels role. sions to his closet homosexuality and his (only spoken-of)
Reddick has described the character as serious, intense and wife and children.
committed.[4]
4.12.1
4.11.3
Biography
References
Season 1
2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
HBO.
[4] Joel Murphy (2005). One on one with... Lance Reddick.

Hobo Trashcan. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Rawls was a Major and commanding ocer of the Homicide unit in Season 1. He is a careerist, concerned only
with maintaining the case clearance record of his unit, and
is extremely demanding of his detectives. He was enraged
when Detective Jimmy McNulty went around him to Judge
Phelan to encourage further investigation of the Barksdale
organization. He confronted McNulty about his insubordination and told him that McNulty had his attention. At the
request for manpower and instruction of Deputy Burrell,
Rawls sent McNulty and Santangelo to the Barksdale detail
as they were two detectives he no longer wanted (Burrell did
not want to see good police work in the case, so he told the
unit commanders to dump their squads of detectives that
were either useless or unwanted). Santangelo was apparently not meeting his clearance quotas and was then used
4.12. WILLIAM RAWLS
97
as an inside man in Lieutenant Daniels Barksdale detail.

McNulty was a capable detective but was deemed insubordinate and disloyal due to his meeting with Judge Phelan.
Rawls relied upon Sergeant Jay Landsman to handle much
of his communication with the men under his command in
homicide.
to avoid responsibility for the investigation, and McNulty

again found proof that the deaths fell under Rawls jurisdiction, earning McNulty a permanent spot on his list of enemies. Rawls had Landsman assign the case to detectives
Lester Freamon and Bunk Moreland because he believed
they were the best investigators in his squad. He demanded
McNulty attempted to placate Rawls by working several old personal reports from his detectives.
murder cases, most notably the Deidre Kresson case, link- When Daniels detail was re-formed to investigate Frank
ing them all to the same gun, and to D'Angelo Barksdale. Sobotka, Rawls signed o on every ocer Daniels wanted
Rawls was delighted, and wanted to immediately issue a with the exception of McNulty whom Rawls demanded
warrant for D'Angelo. When McNulty learned of this, he would either drown or quit the force before leaving the hated
was dismayed, since arresting D'Angelo was premature and marine unit. Rawls eagerly pressured Daniels to take on the
would tip o Avon Barksdale to their investigation. The de- responsibility for investigating the fourteen murders which
tail persuaded Daniels to ght Rawls push for arrests. Even- Daniels initially refused in order to keep the case simple,
tually Daniels went over Rawls head and met with Burrell, but later accepted due to persuasion from Freamon. In exconvincing him to put the warrants on hold for the time be- change, he extracted a promise from Rawls to give him
ing. This further infuriated Rawls, and he began hounding whatever he needed to solve the murders. When Daniels
Santangelo to bring him something he could use against Mc- demanded McNulty, Rawls was ultimately forced to pull
Nulty. Rawls demanded that Sanny either clear a who- McNulty out of marine patrol and return him to Daniels
dunit case by days end, inform on McNulty, or else leave unit. Rawls thus allowed McNulty to be Daniels responsithe unit altogether due to his low clearance rate. An old case bility but would not let him any further back into C.I.D.[1]
was cleared, courtesy of Bunk Moreland and Jimmy Mc- The fourteen murder cases proved to be a boon for Rawls,
Nulty, credited to Santangelo as a means of keeping Rawls as all of them were solved by Daniels team at the end of
o of his back.
season two.
Following the shooting of Detective Kima Greggs in a buy
bust gone wrong, Rawls became personally involved in the
investigation. His rst action was to insist that all nonessential personnel, including Greggs friends in her detail,
leave the crime scene. He later spoke to a distraught McNulty and reassured him that he was not ultimately responsible for the shooting but again expressed his hatred for his
subordinate.
When McNulty convinced Daniels to go around his superiors and try to involve the FBI in the Barksdale case, Rawls
got a chance for revenge - he reassigned McNulty to the marine unit at the suggestion of Landsman after falsely telling
him he would like to see him land on his feet and asking
where he didn't want to go. Rawls also transferred detective
Santangelo to the Western District as a beat ocer. Rawls
transferred in Lester Freamon as a replacement detective,
noticing his talent for detail in the Barksdale investigation.
Season 2
Rawls was promoted to colonel, partly on the basis of McNultys work on the Barksdale case, but his former detective
remained a thorn in his side. When McNulty came across
a body on marine patrol, Rawls managed to convince another department that the case belonged to them. McNulty
used wind and tide charts to prove that the death occurred
in Rawls jurisdiction. When thirteen dead women were
found in a cargo container at the ports, Rawls again tried
Season 3
Rawls was promoted to Deputy Commissioner of Operations when Burrell became Commissioner.[2] They preside
over weekly COMSTAT meetings with their district commanders. Rawls is ruthless in his pursuit of complete accountability and awareness from his subordinates. As Commissioner, Burrell would write the orders from the Mayors
oce, and Rawls as Deputy for operations would then ensure that these orders were enforced. Rawls responsibility
in the COMSTAT meetings was to interrogate individual
commanders about their performance while Burrell would
then make a decision as to what needed to be done by the
commander in order that they could remain in their post.
While Rawls berated several Shift Commanders over the
season, he commended Lieutenant Daniels on a number of
occasions as the type of commander he saw as both dedicated and competent. When Daniels was reassigned to target Stringer Bell, Rawls claimed that it was Cedric Daniels
to the rescue.
In a scene which takes place in a gay bar, Rawls is shown
briey in the background. He is out of uniform and holding
a drink. He has a smile on his face and appears to be at
ease in the environment, suggesting that Rawls is probably
gay.[3] However in the rst episode of season one he has a
photograph on his desk with his wife and daughter suggesting he might be closeted.
98
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
During the shutdown of Hamsterdam, Rawls personally orders the mobilization of the Quick Response Team (QRT)
and drives into the thick of it with his car radio playing
Richard Wagner's Ride of the Valkyries, an obvious homage
to the infamous scene from Apocalypse Now, subsequently
acknowledged in the DVD commentary for the episode.
This goes against Colvins wish that no mass arrests would
take place and also denies Daniels a QRT unit for the takedown of the Barksdale organization.
petty drug arrests and then comes to Rawls. When Carcetti

asks Rawls about the problems in the department, Rawls
claims that armative action and pressure from the mayors
oce has made policing a numbers game. He states that
to appease the voters and have a department that is demographically a match to that of the city, a 20% hike in the
number of African American ocers was required. He
says this has occurred up the chain of command as well
as in the academy and the early promotions have put inexperienced ocers who are more trained to handle statistical values than they are to set out good policing strategies
in command positions. Rawls claims that if it were up to
Season 4
him, he would focus on high end drug enforcement, a claim
Rawls was Commissioner Ervin Burrell's rst port of call that Major Daniels (an African American commander who
when subpoenas issued by the major crimes unit upset Sen- Rawls does view as good police) does not believe.
ator Clay Davis and Mayor Clarence Royce. Rawls sug- Despite being a loyal subordinate, Rawls developed a power
gested that Lester Freamon was the most likely source of struggle with Burrell over who controls the activity in the
the problem and recommended that the unit get proper Department. Rawls was commanded to control day to day
supervision.[4] Rawls assigned a lieutenant loyal to him activity by Carcetti. Carcetti had no faith in Burrells capacnamed Charlie Marimow aka the unit killer to head the ity to change the departments problems. Burrell was threatunit. Marimows caustic leadership resulted in an imme- ened by Rawls allowing the promotion of Daniels from Madiate shutdown of the units drug-money tracing activities jor to Colonel at the Mayors request. Daniels was the most
and a return to street level investigations. Rawls preempted apparent threat within the department to dethroning Bura rebellion from Freamon and subdued it by threatening his rell as Commissioner. Rawls did not realize that Daniels
colleagues and oering him a transfer back to homicide. could be promoted ahead of him until Deputy CommisRawls also facilitated the move of Kima Greggs from the sioner of Administration Valchek pointed out the hindrance
unit into homicide as a favor to Major Cedric Daniels.
of Rawls caucasian race, specically due to Baltimores
Rawls showed great political acumen when Burrell made the
mistake of assigning Greggs a politically signicant murder case to slow the investigation down on the Mayors behalf. He allowed Burrells plan to go ahead and when it was
leaked to the press Burrell fell out of Royces favor. Rawls
told Royce that he did not act dierently as he is a loyal
subordinate who always follows his bosses orders. Looking to replace Burrell, Royce asked if he was ready to take
command in the wake of Burrells mistake through telling
Rawls that if he xed this situation, Royce would not forget
what he had done.
Rawls also endeared himself to Tommy Carcetti's campaign. He received word from Lieutenant Hoskins, his insider in the Mayors oce as commander of the mayoral security detail, that Royce had fallen out with State Delegate
Odell Watkins. Rawls fed this information to Carcetti so
that he could recruit Watkinss support and asked Carcetti
to remember him if he was elected. Rawls then assures
the election goes smoothly by interfering with the Braddock
case involving a dead states witness. He reassigns Detectives Norris and Greggs who are working the investigation
to election duty for the day as the department is 20 ocers
short of duty.
Carcetti is elected Mayor and then begins trying to make the
department more productive. He observes the department
and work and sees an unmotivated investigation unit and
African American majority. The political irony of season

4 is that Rawls helped Carcetti beat Royce in the election
with the Watkins information when Royce was more likely
to have named Rawls Commissioner of the Baltimore Police Department.
Season 5
Rawls continues to serve as Deputy Commissioner for Operations and begins to work amiably with Commissioner
Ervin Burrell again. Mayor Tommy Carcetti puts the department under severe strain by cutting their funding and
failing to deliver on his promises to initiate change. Rawls
has to deal with extremely low morale amongst all ocers
and is still expected to deliver a reduction in the crime rate
by Carcetti.[5][6] Rawls and Burrell continue to manipulate
their statistics.[7][8] The altered statistics are discovered by
Carcetti giving him the political ammunition he has been
waiting for to re Burrell. Carcetti plans to move Rawls to
acting commissioner while he prepares Cedric Daniels to
take over the post permanently.[9][10] The transitions in the
police department were ocially announced at a press conference attended by Carcetti, Burrell, Rawls and Daniels.[11]
In the series nale, Rawls is seen being sworn in as the
Superintendent of the Maryland State Police as a reward for
his loyalty to Carcetti and his allowing Valchek to become
4.13. ERVIN BURRELL

commissioner.
4.12.2
Origins
Rawls distinctive manner of intimidating subordinates is

based on real-life Baltimore CID commander Joe Cooke.
Simon has also commented that Rawls attitude towards the
murder rate and his units clearance record is a product of
the extreme pressure he is under.[12]
4.12.3
References
99
4.13.1
Biography
Burrell is a careerist who believes in the BPDs chain of

command and stores knowledge of corrupt activities of ofcers below him to maintain his authority. Burrell is a statistical bureaucrat who cares more about reducing crime on
paper than building strong cases. He is conscious of the media coverage of the BPD and is very sensitive to the newspaper headlines concerning its progress. Throughout the
series, he struggles to direct the BPD to make an adequate
impact on crime reduction and is constantly engaged in conict with the citys politicians, some of whom blame him for
the departments problems.
Burrell attended Dunbar High School and was a member

of the schools glee club. He was a few years ahead of
"Proposition Joe" Stewart, who described Burrell in high
school as stone stupid.
[3] Ed Bianchi (2004-11-28). "Reformation". The Wire. Season 3. Episode 10. HBO.
Season 1
[4] Character prole - Deputy Commissioner William Rawls.

HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
The ambitious Deputy Commissioner Burrell plans to ascend to Commissioner, a post held by Warren Frazier
[5] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. throughout the second season. Burrells primary responsibility is to ensure that Fraziers directives are obeyed
throughout the department. He consistently shows more in[6] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. terest in making good headlines rather than good cases.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
When drug dealer D'Angelo Barksdale beats a murder

Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". charge by buying o a witness, Burrell faces criticism from
the presiding judge, Daniel Phelan, over the BPDs failThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
ure to investigate D'Angelos uncle, the drug kingpin Avon
"The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Re- Barksdale. Burrell hastily assembles a task force to placate
ports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Phelan, under the command of Lieutenant Cedric Daniels.
Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". From the beginning, Burrell is unsupportive of the unit, giving Daniels the worst ocers available. He orders premaThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
ture seizure raids that tip the Barksdale organization to the
"The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. details eorts and prompts them to change their operating
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
structure, hindering further investigation.
4.13 Ervin Burrell
When the detail begins investigating donations from the

Barksdale organization to local politicians, Burrell realizes
the political implications. He is also upset to nd that the
case is becoming prolonged and that the detail has set up
wiretaps. The detail seizes Barksdale money being carried
by a driver for the corrupt state senator Clay Davis, but Burrell orders Daniels to return the money in order to avoid
embarrassing the senator.
Ervin Burrell is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by actor Frankie Faison. Burrell was
an ocer in the Baltimore Police Department who ascended from Deputy Commissioner of Operations to Commissioner over the course of the show. He was red by
Mayor Tommy Carcetti for falsifying crime statistics.
Burrell next orders the detail to perform an undercover operation, which ends in disaster and result in the shooting of
Detective Kima Greggs. The high-prole shooting prompts
more involvement from Frazier, who, along with Burrell,
try to project the image of a strong department to the public by seizing a large amount of narcotics. In retaliation
for the shooting, Burrell insists that Daniels detail raid the

5. Episode 4. HBO.
track (DVD). HBO.
100
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Barksdales main stash house, an act which causes them to Season 3

stop using pay phones altogether eectively nullifying
the details wiretaps. Burrell bribes Detective Ellis Carver
with a promotion to sergeant in exchange for information Burrell faces problems with councilman Tommy Carcetti,
the head of the public safety subcomittee, and criticism of
from inside the detail.
the departments failure to reduce crime statistics. Burrell is
To force Daniels to meet his demands, Burrell threatens to ordered by Mayor Clarence Royce to keep the annual murrevisit previous allegations towards Daniels which showed der rate below 275 and cause a drop of 5% in the felony rate
him in possession of an excessive income from his days in citywide. Royce believes Carcetti will run against him in the
the Eastern Districts Drug Enforcement Unit. Daniels turns forthcoming election and hopes to insulate himself against
the threat back on Burrell by telling him that he was ready opponents by campaigning on declining crime statistics.
to face the charges and cause bad press. When the Barksdale case ends, Burrell reassigns Daniels to evidence con- During the season Burrell worked with Carcetti in order
trol as punishment for defying him. Burrell also learns that to prevent the department from looking worse at the puba detective from the detail, Jimmy McNulty, had leaked in- lic safety subcommittee meetings. Carcetti oered Burrell
formation to Phelan; he approves McNultys reassignment more resources for the department in exchange for inside
information on the Royce administration. Burrell accepted
to the harbor patrol unit as punishment.
the oer as Royce provided little support to the department and forced Burrell to take all the blame for the departments problems. Carcetti continued to criticize the department over issues like witness protection but delivered
on his promises to Burrell. Burrell began to see Carcetti as
Season 2
a useful ally in dicult times for the department.
With Fraziers retirement, Burrell is named Acting Commissioner of the BPD. With the support of the mayor and
many of the citys African American political gures, Burrells appointment to Commissioner was highly likely. The
only dissenting voices came from rst district council members. Major Stan Valchek, the Southeastern District commander with political connections, oers Burrell support
from the rst district in exchange for assembling an investigative detail against Frank Sobotka. Valchek is convinced that Sobotka, the local head of a stevedore union, is
smuggling through the docks; he also holds a petty grudge
against Sobotka.[1]
Burrell gives Valchek six detectives for the new detail,
and gives them six weeks to nd evidence against Sobotka
and the union. However, as Burrell doesn't see any value
in the Sobotka investigation, he gives Valchek the worst
ocers available, just as he had with Daniels. Valchek
is disappointed with the ineective detail and furious
when he hears through his son-in-law, Detective Roland
Pryzbylewski, that Burrell interfered with the Barksdale
case. Valchek demands better ocers, threatening to derail
Burrells bid for Commissioner; he specically demands
that Daniels lead the detail.
When Burrell attempts to convince Daniels to stay with the
department, the lieutenant realizes that Burrell was doing
so at Valcheks request. Daniels demands a promotion, a
specialized unit, and the selection of his own detectives to
conduct the Sobotka case. Burrell agrees in order to appease Valchek. Daniels detail proceeds to build a partially
successful case against the union, leaving Valchek mollied.
Burrell promoted William Rawls to ll his old position of

Deputy Commissioner of Operations. Burrell failed to deliver Lieutenant Cedric Daniels his promised promotion
to Major due to political conicts. Daniels wife Marla
was running for the 11th district council seat where one of
Royces loyalists Eunetta Perkins was serving. This supposedly prevented Burrell from approving the promotion.
Burrell does allow Daniels his own Major Crimes Unit and
they return to investigating Avon Barksdale.
Burrell and Rawls presided over harrowing weekly comstat
meetings where they pressured their district commanders
to return the favorable crime rate gures Royce had demanded. As deputy, Rawls is more outspoken in criticizing the district and operational commanders while Burrell
steps in to give a nal warning or relieve a commander from
their post. Burrell rst relieved Major Marvin Taylor as the
Eastern District Commander and then threatened Western
District Commander Major Howard Colvin when felonies
rose 2% in his district.
Major Colvin responded by allowing drug dealing to continue unchecked in specic areas and the felony rate
dropped. Colvin concealed his strategy from his superiors
and they became suspicious of his statistics. Upon learning the truth about Colvins success, Burrell forced Colvin
to take his vacation time immediately. He then informed
the Mayor of the sanctioned drug dealing zones. Royce
considered sustaining the initiative because of its positive
eects. While Royce procrastinated Burrell became convinced the Mayor looked to blame the department directly.
Burrell told Royce he would go to the press and tell them
that Colvins initiative was the result extreme pressure from
4.13. ERVIN BURRELL

city hall to reduce crime statistics. The threat called into
question Royces chances of re-election and Burrell softened it with an oer to take full responsibility for Colvins
actions provided that Royce made him commissioner for a
full term. Burrell leaked the story to Carcetti and the massive media attention forced Royce to accept Burrells oer.
Burrell had Rawls shut down Colvins drug tolerant zones
soon after the Mayor agreed to his demands. Burrell also
had Colvin demoted to lieutenant and forced to retire from
the department early with the assistance of loyal Internal Investigations Division commander Major Bobby Reed. Burrell used Colvin as a scapegoat and deected political fallout
from Royce as promised. Colvin complied with Burrells
demands because Burrell threatened to involve the men under Colvins command in the Western district. Burrell had
Colvin humiliated further by personally informing Johns
Hopkins University of Colvins misdeeds and costing him
his retirement job with Campus Security.
Daniels major crimes unit makes a fortuitous arrest (of
Avon Barksdale) at the same time as the Colvin scandal
allowing Burrell to further divert media attention. Following the arrest, Burrell informs Daniels that his promotion
to Major has been approved by city hall. Daniels is given
the command of the Western District left open by Colvins
dismissal.
Season 4
Burrell continued as police Commissioner and remained a
key member of Mayor Clarence Royce's inner circle. Royce
was outraged when the major crimes unit served subpoenas
against key political gures without his knowledge. After
a dressing down from the Mayor, Burrell promised to prevent any more surprises from his department. Burrell then
asked Deputy Commissioner William Rawls if Detective
Jimmy McNulty was responsible for this given his previous
acts of insubordination, but Rawls suggested Lester Freamon was behind the subpoenas as McNulty had left the unit.
Rawls recommended controlling the subpoenas by proper
supervision of the unit which involved removing the lenient
Lieutenant Jimmy Asher and replacing him with a hostile
and caustic commander named Lieutenant Charles Marimow.
101
the veteran primary investigator, Ed Norris, and replace
him with Kima Greggs, now a rookie homicide detective.
This proved to be a mistake as the change of investigators
was leaked to the press. Mayor Royce then summoned Burrell and Deputy Commissioner Rawls criticizing Burrell for
the problems within his department that allowed the leak.
Royce angrily dismissed Burrell only to keep Deputy Rawls
after the discussion. Royce admired Rawls loyal subordination to the chain of command and claimed that he would
not forget Rawls clearing these incidents up implying that
Burrell would lose his commissioners post following the
election. Royce however lost to Tommy Carcetti in the
democratic primary election and Burrell managed to keep
his commissioners post.
Once Carcetti was elected he asked Burrell to resign as commissioner. Burrell refused and told Carcetti that he would
have to re him and that if he leaves, he will not go quietly.
Carcetti at the same time could not re Burrell without having ready an African American replacement due to political
reasons. Finding a replacement was further complicated by
a lack of ranking African American ocers in the department besides Burrell. There was only one African American Deputy Commissioner named Hawthorne who was 70
years old and no African American ocers over the rank
of Colonel. The next highest ranking African Americans in
the department were Majors and Shift Lieutenants most of
whom such as Major Bobby Reed were loyal to Burrell and
his method of policing. Carcetti decided to strip Burrell of
his power as commissioner and give all decision making up
to Deputy Commissioner Rawls while leaving Burrell as a
gurehead for the press and ministers.
Burrell was concerned when Carcetti ordered the promotion of Cedric Daniels to Colonel and Criminal Investigations Division commander. Burrell viewed Daniels as
being nothing more than Mayor Carcettis Boy and was
afraid that Carcetti planned to make Daniels his replacement. With Daniels promotion from Major to Colonel after only a short time as Major, Burrells future in the department appeared to be less and less certain.[2][3]
Burrell proved himself a valuable political aide to the Mayor

in the handling of brutality charges against Ocer Thomas
Herc Hauk. Herc had been accused of racial proling and
police brutality in a car stop involving an African American
minister. Burrell recommended the Internal Investigations
When Burrell failed to bring a murdered witness to the Division look deep into Hercs le because his time in narMayors attention before it became a campaign issue Royce cotics would probably show further poor conduct according
ordered Burrell to downplay the story to the press and take to his past experiences with narcotics detectives.
the political fallout on himself. Royce also instructed Bur- Burrell met with State Senator Clay Davis to discuss prerell to slow the investigation down to suppress information venting Daniels from advancing further in the department.
about the motive for the murder surfacing until after the Burrell is in possession of FBI information showing Daniels
election. Royce wanted to prevent it being proved that the had unexplained income while working in the Eastern Diskilling was carried out because of the victims witness sta- trict. As the season closed, Burrell warned Rawls never
tus. Burrell ordered Colonel Raymond Foerster to reassign
102
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
to cross him again as Rawls own hopes for promotion

had been shattered by the political climate necessitating an
African American commander.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Season 5
Burrell continues to serve as Commissioner more than a
year into Carcettis term, and is forced to deal with massive
spending cuts despite the Mayors promises that the BPD [7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
would receive more funding. Morale in the department is
extremely low as Burrell cuts operating funds as instructed.
However, he successfully convinces Carcetti to lift the cap [8] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution".
on secondary employment in order to bolster morale.[4][5]
Meanwhile, Clay Davis faces a corruption investigation by
the Major Crimes Unit (MCU), and appeals to Burrell for
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
protection. Burrell is unable to do so, as Daniels commands
both the CID and the MCU and enjoys a direct connection
to Carcetti. Davis angrily threatens Burrell.[6][7]
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Carcetti is leaked a copy of statistics showing an increase in crime by Deputy Commissioner for Administration Stanislaus Valchek. Valchek hopes to usurp Burrells
4.14 Stanislaus Valchek
position as commissioner but Carcetti decides that he will
have to accept rising crime given the funding cuts he has
imposed. However, Burrell delivers altered statistics to Stanislaus Stan Valchek is a ctional character on the
the Mayor despite Carcettis insistence on clean numbers. HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Al Brown.
Carcetti nally has the political capital he needs to re Burrell and leaks a story about a potential shake up in the police department to the papers. Burrell is devastated when 4.14.1 Biography
he reads the story, which relates that Carcetti will promote
Rawls to acting commissioner temporarily while Daniels is Valchek is the Polish-American commander of the Southgroomed for the job with a short posting as Deputy Com- eastern district, home to many of the remaining white ethmissioner (Carcetti does not think Valchek is suitable).[8][9] nic neighborhoods in Baltimore. A politician more than
Burrell plans to expose Daniels history of corruption but is a policeman, he is well-connected and is on good terms
talked into leaving quietly by city council president Nerese with various Democratic organizations close to City Hall,
Campbell. Campbell uses the promise of a lucrative re- most notably the politically inuential developer Andrew
placement position to mollify Burrell. Burrell agrees to at- Krawczyk. In Season 4 Tommy Carcetti suggests that
tend a press conference with Carcetti and to allow the tran- Valchek was named commander of the Southeastern Police
sitions in the department to go ahead in order to secure his District because it is a position reserved for either Greek
new job. In a humanizing moment when facing his depar- American or Polish American commanders in the departture, Burrell revealed his bitterness at having to accommo- ment. His political savvy led to a quick and easy rise
date interference and schizophrenic policy making from the through the ranks, despite being disliked by commanding
Mayors oce throughout his career. He warned Rawls that ocers such as Commissioner Ervin Burrell and Deputy
Commissioner William Rawls. Valchek is Roland Prez
he could expect the same treatment.[10]
Pryzbylewski's father-in-law.
4.13.2
References
Season 1
[2] Character prole - Acting Police Commissioner Ervin Burrel. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
Valchek only appeared once, in a meeting with Deputy

Commissioner Burrell and Lieutenant Daniels, trying to
smooth over Prezs drunken maiming of a fourteen-yearold. Valchek told Daniels that if Daniels helped Prez,
Valchek would owe him a favor.
4.14. STANISLAUS VALCHEK

Season 2
Valchek was the impetus behind the investigation into corruption at the docks, due to a petty feud he had with Dockworker Union Treasurer Frank Sobotka, another AmericanPole. Both men wanted to donate stained glass windows
to a local church, and Sobotka refused to withdraw his
larger, more expensive window which had been installed
rst. Valchek became curious as to how the struggling union
could aord the expensive window. He ordered his subordinates (including Sergeant Ellis Carver) to begin harassing
Sobotka and his union, putting parking tickets on their cars
and pulling them over for breathalyzer tests directly outside the bar they frequent. The union responded by stealing
Valcheks valuable district surveillance van and shipping it
from port to port, sending him photographs from each destination.
Valchek discussed the union with Krawczyk, who knew
of Sobotka making numerous campaign contributions.
Valchek felt there was a possibility of illegal activity, while
at the same time noticing Deputy Commissioner Burrell's
nomination for Acting Commissioner. Knowing that Burrell had trouble nding support with the rst district council
members, Valchek oered Burrell political inuence in exchange for a special unit devoted to investigating Sobotka,
with Prez as the lead investigator. Burrell had Colonel
Rawls send an investigative team from CID to Valchek,
all highly recommended ocers, who were in fact deadweight humps. When Valchek witnessed the task forces
lack of work ethic, he demanded a real police detail led
by Cedric Daniels as commander (on Prezs recommendation and repaying the favor owed to Daniels from Season 1),
threatening to complicate Burrells eort to become Commissioner if he did not agree. Burrell obligingly recreated
Daniels task force.
103
sonally making the arrest of Sobotka, and held him in the
union oces until he could be publicly dragged out in front
of the press. Sobotka was ultimately killed, but the surveillance van was still being shipped around the world.[1] Although Valchek harbored great animosity towards Sobotka
during the whole season, after Sobotkas death he whispers
Spoczywaj w pokoju (Polish for rest in peace.)
Season 3
Valchek set up a meeting between acting Commissioner
Burrell and Tommy Carcetti, a city councilman from
Valcheks district, knowing that Carcetti was setting up
deals behind the back of Mayor Clarence Royce.
When the Mayor pressured the department to lower the
crime rates, Valchek claimed he would put more foot patrols
in his districts housing projects, use more of his ex squads,
request more overtime and cheat the stats if he needed to
(turning burglaries into larcenies, and downgrading assault
charges amongst other things) in order to reduce the crime
in the southeastern district. In the midst, Valchek was surprised and amused to hear remarks made by Bunny Colvin,
the Western District commander, who stood up to Deputy
Rawls questioning how to juke the stats with regard to
dead bodies. When talking with the other commanders,
Valchek also overheard Colvin suggesting drug legalization
(ostensibly as a joke) to decrease the felonies in his district.
Later, during the pursuit of a suspect, Prez accidentally shot

and killed a plainclothes ocer, a mistake further complicated by racial implications (the killed ocer was black).
Despite disowning him earlier, Valchek used his inuence
to have the charges dismissed, and although Daniels and
several other African-American ocers were willing to testify (per Valcheks request) that Prez was not racist, Prez
[2]
As the investigation expanded to cover Greek drug traf- chose to leave the department.
ckers, Sobotka ceased to be the primary target, angering
Valchek. Valchek went to the FBI to try to refocus the inSeason 4
vestigation, turning it into a racketeering case, but the bureau remained more focused on the union and port than
Sobotka. Valchek confronted Daniels team publicly; he in- Valchek mentored Herc in political maneuvering, after the
sulted and shoved Prez, who responds by punching Valchek ocer stumbled across Mayor Royce being fellated by one
in the face. Furious, he disowned his son-in-law and threat- of his secretaries. Acting on Valcheks advice, Herc was
ened to have him removed from the department. Daniels promoted to sergeant.
convinced him to reduce Prezs punishment, pointing out When Tommy Carcetti ran for Mayor, Valchek supported
that any ocial action would have to mention that Valchek his campaign, leaking him information such as the murder
provoked the attack (Daniels even oers to have the BPD of a states witness named Braddock. When Valchek later
rewrite the statements on Valcheks behalf but claims the leaked Burrells replacement of a veteran detective with a
FBI agents who witnessed the attack would not follow suit). rookie on the Braddock case, the fallout led to the Mayor
Valchek grudgingly assigned Prez two months of duty on the deciding to replace Burrell as commissioner. Before this
midnight shift of the districts narcotics unit and accepted a happened, Carcetti was elected Mayor, and Burrell manletter of apology in exchange for not charging him.
aged to keep his appointed position for the time being.
At the close of the investigation, Valchek delighted in per- Carcetti informed Rawls that Valchek will be promoted to
104
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
Deputy Commissioner of Administration as a reward for [3] Character prole - Major Stanislaus Valchek. HBO. 2004.
his loyalty, but described him as a hack and asks Rawls
to keep him from doing any damage. At the promotion ceremony, Valcheks wife and daughter are present while Prez
is conspicuously absent. As departmental power shifted,
and Carcetti began plotting to oust Burrell, Valchek pointed 4.15 Jay Landsman (The Wire)
out to Deputy Commissioner Rawls that newly promoted
Colonel Daniels was more likely to be the next Police Commissioner than Rawls, if only because Daniels is African Jay Landsman is a ctional character on the HBO drama
The Wire, played by actor Delaney Williams.
American.[3]
Season 5
4.15.1
Valchek is shown early in the season leaking the departments real police statistics over the increased crime rate
to Mayor Tommy Carcetti. He urges that both Burrell and
Rawls should be red for two straight quarters yielding a
4% increase in violent crime. He also suggests that Carcetti
should promote him to Acting Commissioner at least until
Cedric Daniels or another African American is named to
the permanent post. Carcetti and assistant Norman Wilson
both agree that Valchek is unt to deal with the city council
president and ministers alliance, even on an acting basis,
but keep the statistics nonetheless. It is later revealed that
Valchek is a prime source for Baltimore Sun reporter Roger
Twigg.
Unable to take disciplinary action for a crime increase due
to the departments lack of funding, Carcetti decides he will
give Burrell a free pass assuming honest statistics are delivered. When Burrell delivers juked stats showing no increase or decrease in the crime rate, he is unaware of the
crime stats Valchek has leaked to the Mayor. With the clean
and juked statistics in his possession, Carcetti has ammunition to re Burrell and leaks a story to the Baltimore Sun
with Cedric Daniels' photograph in an eort to appease the
citys African American voters about the consideration for
a change of Police Commissioner.
In the series nale, Cedric Daniels is named commissioner
but resigns to prevent an FBI case against him from going
public. Valchek is then promoted to the position of Police
Commissioner (with a full ve-year term) by new mayor
Nerese Campbell. Valchek is not well regarded for his police work throughout the department as mentioned by Detective Leandor Sydnor who speaks with Judge Daniel Phelan about a case and how the current police commissioner
doesn't have an idea of what police work is.
Biography
Policing method
Landsmans role in the police department is that of a supervisory detective sergeant who rarely participates in investigative work. Landsman generally acts in the best interests
of his subordinates especially those who give him the necessary clearances (closed cases). As a supervisor, Landsman acts on behalf of the wishes of his superior ocers
even though in some cases, he does not necessarily agree
with specic commands. Examples of this are when he is
ordered to have Bunk Moreland nd a hospitalized detectives missing rearm in Season 3 and when a dead states
witness becomes an electoral issue in Season 4. Throughout the series, he is shown as a commander attempting to
strike a balance between loyalty to subordinates and superiors, most often favoring the latter. Landsman has only
been called to solve a few murders on his own as a supervisor. He is generally respectful of criminal suspects with the
exception of his participation in the beating of Bird. Landsman is generally jovial and provides a degree of comic relief
in the series. He also possesses a shrewd understanding of
the subtle politics in the chain of command, almost always
successfully acting in self-preservation and self-promotion
without making many enemies. He states that clearly to
McNulty, during the rst episode of season 2, by saying its
all about self-preservation and it is too bad that McNulty
never learned that. Overall, under Landsmans supervision,
the homicide unit ends up often clearing many of the more
challenging "whodunit" homicides occurring in Baltimore
city proving him to be an eective sergeant within the department. However, he can be mildly bullying and tends to
derive his good humor from schadenfreude though he is not
generally malicious.
He has the duty of ministering in the informal detective

wakes held in honor of the deceased at Kavanaughs, the
bar frequented by many in the department. Wakes take
place in Season 3 (for Ray Cole), Season 4 (for Raymond
Foerster) and Season 5 (for the ostracized, but still-living
[2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22. Jimmy McNulty).
4.14.2
References
4.15. JAY LANDSMAN (THE WIRE)
105
Season 1
tangelo and McNulty out of the unit because they had displeased him by working with the Barksdale detail. Lester
Landsman is a squad sergeant in the homicide division of Freamon returned to homicide after a thirteen-year (and
the Baltimore police department. His commanding o- four month) absence and joined Landsmans squad.
cer was originally William Rawls. Landsmans squad conWhen Rawls was forced to take on the multiple homicide
sists of several of the shows characters - in season one it
case of fourteen unidentied dead women, he entrusted it to
comprised Detectives Jimmy McNulty, Bunk Moreland,
Landsman. Landsman gave the case to Freamon and Bunk
Michael Santangelo, Ray Cole, Ed Norris and Vernon Holtelling them they were his best detectives. When his detecley. Landsman nds the misfortune of the cops in his unit a
tives started working with Cedric Daniels on the Sobotka
constant source of amusement but is also protective of them
detail, Landsman saw the potential to ooad the responsiat times. He is loyal to Rawls and also doggedly pursues the
bility of the case but Daniels initially refused.
high case clearance rates that Rawls aims for but is realistic
Landsman was responsible for the interrogation of Chester
about the capabilities of his detectives.
Ziggy Sobotka after he killed George Double G Glekas.
When McNulty went around the chain of command and
Although Ziggy quickly confessed, Landsman failed to inincurred Rawlss wrath by being detailed to another unit
form Daniels specialized detail about the murder in time
Landsman appeared unsympathetic. He insisted that Mcfor them to become involved. Daniels was irate with LandsNultys work looking at old homicide cases for the detail
man for his lack of forethought when it allowed his targets
be put to his advantage to make up for losing a detective.
to dispose of evidence at the Glekas crime scene.
To this end, he insisted that McNulty look into the Deirdre
Kresson murder case; McNulty was reluctant because the
case appeared unrelated. Landsman was sure a link would Season 3
be found and his intuition later proved correct. However,
Landsman did argue McNultys case with Rawls and man- Landsman appeared as a commanding detective of homiaged to get Rawls to agree that McNulty could return to cide again this season mainly associated with nding the
homicide with a clean slate if the investigation was wrapped service weapon of Ocer Dozerman, whose gun was stolen
up quickly. Despite Landsmans best eorts McNulty rein a failed undercover buy. He had Bunk Moreland look
mained out of favor with Rawls because he refused to end for the gun, pressuring him intensely until Bunk wrote a
ten-page report stating how unproductive the investigation
the case he was working on prematurely.
became. Bunk claimed that he had more important things
Landsman always maintained a black and twisted humor
to do as he was a murder investigator and the citys homiabout the work of his squad. When Rawls gave Deteccide rate was rising, and Landsman appeared to give Bunk
tive Santangelo an ultimatum of clearing a whodunit case
his blessing to work murders instead. Landsman delivers
by days end Landsman recommended him a psychic. He
the eulogy at the Detectives Wake held for Ray Cole after
claimed that the woman, Madame LaRue, was especially
his sudden death.
gifted in matters of death investigation. Santangelo took
this advice by burying a doll in a grave awaking later that Landsman later appeared following the death of ocer
night to be given evidence in the murder that had occurred. Derrick Waggoner, a black plainclothes ocer accidentally
When Sanny saw that he had been given information re- killed by Detective Pryzbylewski, who had mistaken him
garding an open homicide, he thanked Landsman who then for a criminal. Landsman was personally angry at the death,
told him that the Gypsy routine was a joke and that it had referring to it as a clusterfuck as the ocer murdered
was a six-and-a-half year veteran who was 16th on the curbeen Bunk and McNulty who saved his career.[1]
rent sergeants list with two commendations while Prez was
Landsmans squad handled the case of the killing of
known for his incompetence and still in the department all
Wendell Orlando Blocker and wounding of detective
due to his father-in-law Stan Valchek, the Southeastern disKima Greggs and he was personally involved in the investitrict commander.
gation.
Season 2
Season 4
Landsman is not above getting involved in politics. When

his detective Ed Norris informs him hes investigating the
murder of a states witness Landsman passes the knowledge
on to Major Valchek in secret. Valchek leaks the information to Tommy Carcetti who uses it against the current
Landsmans squad was altered as Rawls transferred San- mayor in a key debate.
Initial suspicions are conrmed when Landsman admits to
McNulty it was he who informed Rawls as to where he
didn't want to be re-stationed. He learned of this while being present when McNulty discussed it early in season one.
106
Landsmans squad is boosted by the return of Lester Freamon and the addition of Kima Greggs when a new unit commander drives them out of the major case unit. Landsman
and his detectives constantly tease Greggs when she rst
joins the unit. Political pressure forces Landsman to assign
Greggs, instead of Norris, to the witness murder. When this
information is leaked to the press, Landsman attends a press
conference with Greggs and Norris to diuse the story by
claiming that they were working it together. Greggs feels
used by her superiors and this creates friction between her
and Landsman. Landsman is forced to intercede in the investigation a second time when Norris threatens to break
the case on the eve of the election. Rawls tells him whatever the outcome of the case, one of the candidates will be
put out and it is better to leave it pending until after the
election. Landsman is told to reassign Greggs and Norris to
polling station duty for the day to prevent progress in their
investigation.[2]
CHAPTER 4. POLICE
4.15.2
Origins
The character is based on and named after a real homicide

detective sergeant whom David Simon had met while researching the book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets.
The character is often given dialogue that the writers recall
the real Landsman using. Delaney Williams was chosen for
the part because of the creators experience of working with
him in small roles on Homicide and The Corner.[3] The real
Jay Landsman can also be seen on The Wire in the role of
Dennis Mello, rst in an uncredited appearance in the season 2 episode "Stray Rounds", and later as a regular cast
member. The real Landsman was the inspiration for detective John Munch, a character from Homicide: Life on
the Street and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, who also
made an appearance on The Wire.
Among the discrepancies between the character on The
Wire and the real Jay Landsman, the most prominent is
their physique: the real Landsman was the least overweight
sergeant in the homicide squad,[4] while The Wire's version
is one of the more heavyset ocers on the force, sometimes
referred to as fat man.
After the election, Greggs solves the Braddock case which

tends to provide less leads than were initially given and she
gains Landsmans respect in the process. Landsman then
is seen delivering the eulogy for Colonel Foerester whom
he claimed had a miraculous career serving 39 years without a trace of bitterness or hostility, a rarity in the Baltimore Police Department. Landsman is then seen criticiz- 4.15.3 References
ing Detective Moreland for reversing one of Detective Holley's clearances as he is against cases going from black to [1] Character prole - Sergeant Jay Landsman. HBO. 2004.
red. Following Foeresters death, Cedric Daniels is named
C.I.D. colonel and allocates more resources to the inves- [2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
tigative divisions to allow for more quality investigations,
at the order of Mayor-elect Tommy Carcetti. Landsman [3] David Simon (2005). The Wire The Target commentary
track (DVD). HBO.
then witnesses Detective Lester Freamon discovering dead
bodies in abandoned houses and is initially against their dis- [4] Simon, David (2006) [1991]. One. Homicide: A Year
covery because it will raise the citys homicide rate. When
on the Killing Streets (4th ed.). Owl Books. p. 85. ISBN
more bodies are discovered, Landsman realizes the squad
0-8050-8075-9. Other sergeants in the homicide unit might
resemble grocers who consumed too much of the prots, but
can't maintain an acceptable clearance rate and becomes
at an inch over six feet, Landsman still looked like a street
less concerned about the departments numbers. Landsman
police
nally sees Bubbles turn himself in for murder of a teenager
and after hearing that the death was accidental, decides not
to press homicide charges sending him to a psychiatric unit
at Bayview instead.
Season 5
After Jimmy McNulty is forced out of the police department, Landsman delivers a speech at the wake in McNultys
honor. He cites his insubordination and personality aws
but also says McNulty is the best detective he has ever had
and is sorry for losing him. He fakes breaking out in tears
at the end.
Chapter 5
Law enforcement
5.1 Law enforcement characters of
The Wire
Law enforcement is an integral part of the HBO drama series The Wire. The show has numerous characters in this
eld and their roles range from those enforcing the law at
street level up to those setting laws city wide. The Baltimore City Police Department has been explored in detail
from street level characters to the upper echelons of command. The show has also examined those setting laws in city
politics and touched upon the FBI, the correctional system
and the family of police ocers.
Fitz is a special agent with the FBI and a friend of Jimmy

McNulty. Fitz inspires McNulty to use modern electronic
surveillance against the Barksdale organization by showing
how they to set up video surveillance on a drug production
ring. He tells McNulty it would be the last major bureau
drug investigation in Baltimore because they are shifting
resources to counter-terrorism. Fitz helps McNulty again
by giving him some of the FBIs less bulky recording devices. He also warns McNulty that his commander Cedric
Daniels was investigated for corruption by the FBI and they
had found an excess of liquid assets. After they handed the
case over to Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell, nothing
further came of it.
Fitz also becomes involved with McNultys teams case

against Frank Sobotka. Major Valchek calls in the FBI
5.1.1 Police
when he feels that the case had strayed too far from Sobotka.
The FBI has a particular interest in corrupt unions, and
Main article: Police of The Wire
quickly go after the Dockworkers Local. When a leak
within the FBI seriously damages the case, Fitz realizes who
The police department includes several of the shows star- it was and broke the news to Lieutenant Daniels.
ring characters and a wealth of supporting characters. It has
In the third season, Fitz supplies the major case unit with
been featured in all 5 seasons of the show to date.
photo-enhancing technology that they use to check number plates on Barksdale organization vehicles. Fitz is then
called on for a nal favor from Cedric Daniels, an imme5.1.2 FBI
diate wiretap on Stringer Bell as time is limited in retrieving
cell phone information from him. Fitz then goes to the
Terrance Fitz Fitzhugh
FBI changing Bells original name from Russell to Achmed
claiming he has ties to terrorist organizations giving Daniels
Played by: Doug Olear
unit an immediate surveillance of Bell.
Appears in
Fitz is based on a real FBI agent named Jake Fitzsimmons
Season one: "The Target"; "The Buys" and
"Sentencing".
Season two: "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings";
"Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick";
and "Middle Ground".
Season ve:
"Unconrmed
"Clarications"; and "30.
who collaborated on cases with writer and ex-detective Ed

Burns. Ed Burns is a University of Toledo College of Law
alumnus and Fitz mentions his Rocket allegiance in the third
season when joking around with McNulty.[1]
Amanda Reese
Played by: Benay Berger
Reports";
Appears in
107
108
CHAPTER 5. LAW ENFORCEMENT

Appears in:
Season one: "Sentencing".

Season two: "Storm Warnings"; "Bad Dreams"
and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Slapstick".
Season ve:
"Unconrmed
"Clarications"; and "30.
Reports";
Season four: "Unto Others", "Know Your Place",

"Thats Got His Own".
Season ve: "More with Less", "Transitions",
"React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect",
"Took", and "30".
Reese is a Baltimore division FBI supervisor and the superior of Fitz. She often works with Lieutenant Daniels,
supplying him with resources and running joint cases. She
is approached with the Barksdale case to discuss pursuing
a corruption angle, but Daniels decided that is not the direction he wanted. Her team also work alongside Daniels
detail investigating union corruption in the Baltimore ports.
Her goal during the investigation was getting the union decertied unless they changed their leadership wholesale.
Rupert Bond is a politically ambitious African American

prosecuting attorney.[2] In the fourth season he is campaigning against incumbent Steven Demper to become the Maryland States Attorney for Baltimore City. Demper is supported by Mayor Royce. Bond maintains a lead against
Demper throughout the campaign and is initially viewed
with skepticism by Rhonda Pearlman. She claims that if
Demper loses, the new front oce will demote her because
of her race in majority African American Baltimore. Royce
and Demper both lose in the election, and Bond is elected
Kristos Koutris
States Attorney. Bond promotes both Ilene Nathan and
Pearlman whom he admires as good prosecutors. In a meet Played by: Tom Mardirosian
ing with newly elected Mayor Tommy Carcetti, Bond is op Appears in season two: "Stray Rounds"; "Storm posed to legalizing gambling in Baltimore due to the crime
Warnings" and "Bad Dreams".
increase that comes with casinos.
Koutris is a special agent in the FBIs counter-terrorism
unit who feeds information on the bureaus activity to The
Greek. He is responsible for telling The Greek about an
investigation by the Baltimore Police Department and the
local FBI oce, and gives The Greek warning enough to
temporarily shut down his smuggling operation. He is rewarded with information on a large shipment of drugs that
he seizes on the FBIs behalf. Koutris is also responsible
for telling The Greek that his contact in the Port of Baltimore, Frank Sobotka, has agreed to give evidence against
him. This information leads to Sobotkas death. FBI Special Agent Fitzhugh realizes Koutris is a leak, but is unable
to do anything because Koutris is well regarded because of
the drug arrest. It is also implied (and has subsequently been
conrmed by creator David Simon) that Koutris is protecting The Greek by supplying him with condential FBI information in exchange for information on potential acts of
terrorism, or with tip-os to other illegal activities (such as
the Colombian drug importation); Koutris is not considered
an evil or corrupt gure in the show, but someone whose
judgment is questionable at best and (like everyone else on
the show) gets completely outmaneuvered at every turn by
The Greek.
5.1.3
Court house
Rupert Bond
Played by: Dion Graham
In the fth season Bond is focused on convicting corrupt

Maryland State Senator Clay Davis. He convinces Carcetti
to grant him a small police detail to pursue the case when
the Major Crimes Unit is closed down due to funding cuts.
Council President Nerese Campbell believes Bond is interested in the high prole conviction in order to raise his
prole and believes Bond will contest her run to replace
Carcetti as mayor of Baltimore. Carcetti backs Bonds desire to keep the case local out of fear that the Republican
federal prosecutor will use the case to create a scandal for
Carcettis own Democratic Party.[3][4] New developments
in the Davis investigation provide an opportunity to take
the case federal but Bond elects to ignore the potential for
a new charge to keep the case as his own. Bond has Pearlman bring Davis in for a Grand Jury deposition and stages
a photo opportunity as Davis leaves the courthouse.[5] Clay
Davis however turns the tables during the trial rallying Baltimores African American community with the support of
inuential gures such as high prole attorney Billy Murphy
and former mayor Clarence Royce. As Davis is called to the
stand, he mockingly refers to Bond as Prosecutor Obonda
(Most likely in reference to Barack Obama, who at the time
of lming had only recently commenced his campaign for
president and had not yet won any primaries) and charms
the majority African American jury into believing that all
of the questionable income he has allegedly collected has
been sent back to help solve various community problems.
Davis is then found not guilty, after which follows a celebration outside the courthouse to the shock of Bond and
Pearlman.[6]
5.1. LAW ENFORCEMENT CHARACTERS OF THE WIRE

Nadiva Bryant
Played by: Toni Lewis
Appears in:
109
Season one: "The Hunt" and Sentencing".
Season two: "Undertow" and All Prologue".
Season three: "Dead Soldiers" (uncredited)
Season four: "Unto Others"; "Corner Boys" (uncredited).
Season one: "Sentencing".

Nathan is an Assistant States Attorney in Baltimore and
colleague of Rhonda Pearlman. Initially, she was the head
of the violent crimes unit, tasked with prosecuting homicides in the city. As such, she convinced Wee-Bey Brice to
Nadiva Bryant is an Assistant United States Attorney and plead guilty to multiple murders to avoid the death penalty,
works as the federal prosecutor for the team of FBI Agents and was also present when Savino Bratton confessed to an
led by Amanda Reese. She rst appears when the Barks- (albeit minor) role in the shooting of Detective Greggs.
dale detail try to take their case federal in season one. She
returns when the Sobotka detail case becomes a federal in- In season two, Nathan conducted the prosecution against
Bird Hilton, reluctantly using Omar Little as a witness.
vestigation.
Once Bird was found guilty, she promised Omar a free
pass on any single minor charge in the future for his assistance. She appeared only briey in season three, attending
Steven Demper
the wake of Detective Ray Cole. When Omar was framed
for a murder and arrested in season four, he convinced De Played by: Doug Roberts
tective Bunk Moreland that he was innocent and Bunk in
turn convinced Nathan to have Omar transferred to a safer
Appears in:
prison. Nathan told Bunk that she now considered her debt
to Omar repaid.
Season one: "Cleaning Up".
Later in season four, Nathan helped Detectives Greggs and
Season three: "Dead Soldiers", "Mission AccomNorris investigate the Braddock murder case. She also atplished".
tended the wake of CID and homicide unit commander
Season four: "Home Rooms".
Raymond Foerster. When Rupert Bond was elected States
attorney he promoted Nathan to second deputy States AtDemper is a Maryland States Attorney, serving the district torney and Pearlman took over her role in the violent crimes
that includes Baltimore. He is the boss of Assistant States unit.
Season two: "Bad Dreams" and "Storm Warnings".
Attorneys Rhonda Pearlman and Ilene Nathan. Demper is

widely regarded as being more interested in preserving his
elected position than pursuing justice. Pearlman falls out of
his favor when a detail she is working with begins to investigate campaign donations made by drug dealers. He is later
criticized by Ervin Burrell for refusing to chance a whodunit case as a means of helping the police department
make convictions that stick. Delegate Odell Watkins is dissatised with Demper but Mayor Clarence Royce won't replace him due to his loyalty. In season four, Royce threatens to drop him from the party ticket if Demper does not
go along with Royces plans to interfere with the Carcetti
campaign. Demper loses his bid for re-election to African
American candidate Rupert Bond.
Rhonda Pearlman
Main article: Rhonda Pearlman
Assistant Maryland States Attorney Pearlman has been the
legal system liaison for all the major investigations on the
show.
Daniel Phelan
Played by: Peter Gerety
Appears in:
Ilene Nathan
Played by: Susan Rome
Season one: "The Target"; "The Detail"; "Old

Cases"; "The Pager"; "One Arrest"; "Lessons";
"The Cost"; "The Hunt"; "Sentencing".
Appears in:
Season two: "All Prologue".
110

Season three:
Ground".
"Reformation" and "Middle
DiPasquale is prominent in obtaining depositions for the

Clay Davis trial.[15][16]
Season ve: "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took",

and "30".
DiPasquale is later revealed to be responsible for selling

sealed grand jury indictments to defense attorneys including Maurice Levy. Detective Lester Freamon concludes
that DiPasquale is selling the indictments because amongst
those working in the courthouse, DiPasquales nances
show that he took out a third mortgage on his home and has
annual gambling losses that are more than three times his
salary. Freamon convinces DiPasquale to cooperate as an
informant, and has DiPasquale incriminate Levy in a single
party consent telephone conversation. DiPasquales actions
are later covered up as part of a deal between Levy and prosecutor Rhonda Pearlman on charges against the Staneld
Organization.[17][18]
Judge Phelan is a friend of Detective Jimmy McNulty's who

presides over the D'Angelo Barksdale murder trial, watching the jury give a not guilty verdict when a witness changes
her statement.[7] After he learns the witness was paid o
(and possibly intimidated), and that D'Angelo is part of
a much larger drug dealing operation, Phelan insists that
Police Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell set up a detail
to investigate. When Phelan speaks to the press about the
murder of another witness from the trial, McNulty feels that
Phelan has gone behind his back, souring their relationship
for a time.
The character is played by the series technical advisor Gary
[19][20]
the shift lieutenant for the Baltimore PoOver the course of the investigation, he remains willing to D'Addario,
lice
Departments
Homicide
Unit featured in David Simon's
sign court documents authorizing wiretaps. When Phelan
Homicide:
A
Year
on
the
Killing
Streets book.[21]
realizes his actions have cost him political capital, his passion for the case wanes. Assistant States Attorney Rhonda
Pearlman uses Phelans obvious attraction to her to keep
5.1.4 Politics
him interested in the case.
In Season two, Phelan presides over the trial of Marquis Main article: Politicians of The Wire
Bird Hilton for the murder of Gant, during which he is
amused by Omar Little's testimony, and pleased to give Bird
a strict sentence.
5.1.5
Prison sta
Phelan reconciles with McNulty in Season three when the

judge authorizes a wiretap on Russell Stringer Bell's cell
Dwight Tilghman
phone.
Played by: Antonio D. Charity

Gary DiPasquale
Played by: Gary D'Addario
Appears in:
Season two: "Undertow".
Season four: "Corner Boys"; and "Final Grades".
Season ve: "Not for Attribution"; and "30".
Appears in season two: "Collateral Damage" (uncredited); "Hot Shots" and "Hard Cases".
Tilghman was a corrections ocer at Maryland Correctional Institute who was secretly involved in the prison drug
trade. He harassed prisoner Wee-Bey Brice after WeeBey confessed to the murder of one of his relatives. Fellow prisoner Avon Barksdale tried to negotiate a truce but
Tilghman refused, so Avon had Stringer Bell locate his drug
supplier. Bell paid the supplier, Butchie, to give Tilghman
tainted heroin, leading to the deaths of several inmates. An
investigation was launched and Avon informed on Tilghman in exchange for an early parole hearing. When prison
sta searched Tilghmans car, they found evidence which
Shamrock had subtly planted to corroborate Avons story,
and Tilghman was arrested.
Gary DiPasquale is an Assistant States Attorney and serves

as the Grand Jury Prosecutor.[8] DiPasquale is an associate
of Bunk Moreland who assists the police in various Homicide cases. The Grand Jury rst appear in an unsuccessful summons of Frank Sobotka's union in connection with
the investigation of the deaths of thirteen Jane Does found
DOA in a shipping container.[9][10] DiPasquale then appears in Season 4 involving a summons of Old Face Andre 5.1.6 References
with a perjury threat[11][12] and with a court order to obtain DNA evidence from Staneld Organization enforcers [1] David Simon (2005). The Wire The Target commentary
Snoop Pearson and Chris Partlow.[13][14][14] In Season 5,
track (DVD). HBO.
5.2. RHONDA PEARLMAN
[2] Character prole - Rupert Bond. HBO. 2008. Retrieved

2008-02-12.
111
5.2
Rhonda Pearlman
Rhonda Pearlman is a ctional character on the HBO

drama The Wire, played by actress Deirdre Lovejoy. Pearlman has been the legal system liaison for all of Lieutenant
[4] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. Cedric Daniels' investigations on the show. Later in the series, she begins a relationship with Cedric Daniels.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.

5. Episode 4. HBO.
5.2.1
Biography
[6] Dominic West (2008-02-17). "Took". The Wire. Season 5.

Episode 7. HBO.
[7]
[8]
[9]
[10]
[11]
[12]
[13]
As a leading Assistant States Attorney in the narcotics division, Pearlman has been a guiding legal presence through
Character prole - Daniel Phelan. HBO. 2008. Retrieved all of the wiretap details investigations. A tough prosecutor and a stickler for process, Pearlmans grasp of the nu2008-02-12.
ance of surveillance law and the legalities of complex caseCharacter prole - Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary Di- work proves invaluable to the investigations of Barksdale,
Pasquale. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
Sobotka and Staneld. One of the most morally upright
gures on the show, she is ambitious nonetheless, and ofDavid Simon, Ed Burns (2003-06-29). "Undertow". The
ten worries about the political implications of the casework.
Wire. Season 2. Episode 5. HBO.
As the seasons progress, she becomes more obsessed with
"The Wire episode guide - episode 18 Undertow. HBO. her own success and willing to cut legal and moral corners
in order to advance her own career. She once had a soft
2004. Retrieved 2006-08-24.
spot for Jimmy McNulty, leading to an on-again-o-again
Agnieszka Holand (2004-11-05). "Corner Boys". The Wire. aair that was eventually discovered by McNultys wife Season 4. Episode 08. HBO.
and ultimately contributed to the breakup of the marriage.
Although McNulty was honest enough to give Pearlman no
Episode guide - episode 45 Corner Boys. HBO. 2006. Re- hint of a future together, he would occasionally show up
trieved 2006-11-01.
drunk on her doorstep. This ended when her relationship
with Daniels began.
Ernest Dickerson (2004-12-10). "Final Grades". The Wire.

2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
Pearlman was the ASA heading the Narcotics Cases in Season 1, assisting Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' detail in prosecuting the Barksdale Organization, a violent drug crew
whom Detective Jimmy McNulty suspected of beating the
"The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
Baltimore Polices homicide unit out of 10 murders. She
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
appears telling Daniels to make lemonade with the lack
Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5. of quality police he has been given and appears as the liaison between the detail and judge Daniel Phelan on legal
Episode 10. HBO.
matters. She approves the units level of exhaustion of
"The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30". HBO. 2008. conventional means a requirement to have a wiretap auRetrieved 2008-03-10.
thorized helping them make a case against Avon Barksdale. Throughout the season, she has a sexual relationship
"The Wire season 1 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10- with McNulty. When Detective Lester Freamon begins fol14.
lowing the Barksdale Organizarions money trail, several
developers and politicians are implicated and Pearlmans
"The Wire season 2 crew. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-10boss, Steven Demper, becomes interested in the case. As
14.
the States Attorney for Baltimore City Demper is more
Simon, David (2006) [1991]. Homicide: A Year on the interested in his elected position than quality prosecutions
Killing Streets. New York: Owl Books. pp. hoto insert sec- and threatens her job. When Barksdales nephew D'Angelo
is arrested for drug possession, she and McNulty try to
tion.

[16]
[17]
[18]
[19]
[20]
[21]
Season 1
112
squeeze him into a witness protection program. The at- Season 4

tempt fails when his mother intervenes, and Avon Barksdale
With Daniels now a Major, Freamon is the guiding force begets a lighter prison sentence.
hind the Major Case Unit and manages to tie evidence from
the Barksdale money train to several politicians and develSeason 2
opers who are on good terms with mayor Clarence Royce.
Pearlman is reluctant to sign o the subpoenas as she feels
Pearlman continues her casual relationship with Jimmy Mc- she will be demoted for enabling an investigation that would
Nulty but was not as involved with an investigation run interfere with the election of her boss, Steven Demper. She
by Daniels due to the lack of drug cases. As McNulty is is also worried about Rupert Bond, an African American
attempting to rebuild his marriage and cope with his un- candidate for States Attorney winning the election, as she
wanted posting to the marine unit, he and Pearlman end fears he will bounce the white girl to a demoted position
their relationship. When Daniels now-permanent Major due to her race in majority African American Baltimore.
Case Unit investigates Frank Sobotka and The Greek's il- The subpoenas are served and delayed by Burrell and Rawls
legal activities at the port, Pearlman sees the opportunity who then put Lieutenant Charles Marimow in charge of Mato prosecute a large-scale drug-smuggling operation. The jor Crimes to obstruct Freamon. Demper loses the elecdetail, along with the FBI, manages to arrest Sobotka and tion and Pearlman is promoted to deputy chief prosecutor
other drug dealers connected to The Greek, and Pearlman in charge of violent crimes. She is valued for her courage
tries to negotiate testimony from Frank Sobotka and an by the newly elected Rupert Bond who is more interested
Eastside Drug Dealer named White Mike based on their in good prosecutions than his predecessor Steven Demper.
cooperation with the FBI and BPD. The case hits a dead end Pearlman is shocked, but pleased with the promotion and
when the Greeks inside man in the FBI, Ernst Koutris, leaks also to nd that Daniels is promoted to Colonel and Criminformation leading to the execution of Frank Sobotka.
inal Investigations Division commander and has inuence
with newly elected Mayor Tommy Carcetti. Her rst case in
VCU begins with numerous bodies found in vacant houses.
Season 3
Pearlman is the rst to notice Lieutenant Daniels is living in
the detail oce, having separated from his wife. Pearlman
makes a pass at Daniels, beginning a relationship that continues throughout the season. Daniels however is skeptical
about making their relationship public, as he is still posing
as Marlas husband in order to help her bid for city council.
Daniels claims that it will look bad for Marlas political career if he is seen to be separated from her and with a white
woman.
The detail is now chasing a drug dealer, Kintell Williamson,
who is suspected in a number of murders, a task that annoys McNulty. In the meantime, Avon Barksdale is granted
parole despite Pearlmans recommendation to the contrary.
When McNulty links a number of murders to Stringer Bell,
the detail changes targets back to Bell and the Barksdale
Organization. The detail sees disposable cell phones are
being used and Pearlman and Daniels go to the wireless
provider, but nd them to be unhelpful, even after threatening them with bad publicity. Eventually Pearlman relies
on Daniels to use his FBI connections to get a wiretap. As
soon as the wiretap goes up, Stringer Bell is murdered, but
not before providing information to Major Colvin, which
is then passed on to the detail. The information identies
Avon Barksdale's safehouse allowing Pearlman to sign o a
search warrant, leading to the arrest of Barksdale and many
of his people. After the arrest, Daniels is promoted to Major and he and Pearlman celebrate.
Season 5
After more than a year of investigation, the Major Crimes
Unit has failed to bring a case against Marlo Staneld for
the vacant house murders. Pearlman is dismayed when the
investigation, and the unit, are shut down because of funding issues. The unit has also been building a corruption
case against Senator Clay Davis, which is also jeopardized.
Along with her domestic partner Cedric Daniels, she appeals to States Attorney Rupert Bond to discuss the problem with Mayor Tommy Carcetti. Despite their eorts, the
Staneld investigation is still closed down but Pearlman is
allowed to keep detectives Leander Sydnor and Lester Freamon to prepare the Davis case.[1][2]
After Maurice Levy becomes aware that the wiretap against
Marlo is illegal, Pearlman oers him a deal: Staneld goes
free but retires permanently from the drug trade. Otherwise, she threatens to use the wiretap in court, reminding
Levy that his sentence for illegally purchasing court documents and failure to report the wiretap will be longer than
hers.
Pearlman works with the detectives to prepare the case.[3][4]
She then begins a series of witness depositions with the
Grand Jury. Her witnesses include Senator Davis driver
Damien Lavelle Price.[5][6] Freamon and Sydnor uncover
new evidence that would justify a federal prosecution of
Davis. Pearlman presents their ndings to Bond but he
5.3. MAURICE LEVY (THE WIRE)
113
elects to keep the case local and ignore the potential for Season 1
additional charges. Bond instructs Pearlman to stage a deposition for Davis himself and in order to mark Davis as
In the pilot episode, "The Target", Levy represented Avons
his target stages a photo opportunity for reporters as Davis
nephew D'Angelo Barksdale at the Pooh Blanchard murder
leaves the courthouse.[7]
trial and successfully returned a not guilty verdict. Levys
Pearlman is thrilled when her partner Cedric Daniels is case was strengthened when Nakeesha Lyles, a key witness,
touted by the papers as a potential replacement for Com- changed her story and refused to identify Barksdale in court.
missioner Burrell. Daniels is concerned that his his- The next time D'Angelo was arrested, Levy rebuked him
tory of corruption might surface, but does not conde in for writing a letter of condolence at McNulty and Bunk's
Pearlman.[5][6] Daniels fears are allayed when Burrell ac- urging to the family of a murdered witness. He was able
cepts a deal to leave quietly and Pearlman attends a press to get the charges dropped against young Barksdale dealer
conference at which Daniels promotion is announced.[7] In Bodie Broadus in juvenile court, claiming to the judge that
the end-of-season montage, she is shown on the bench wear- the work was part of his rms pro bono outreach program.
ing judges robes and recusing herself from a case in which Levy also advised Stringer Bell and Avon on how to protect
Daniels is a defense attorney.
themselves when they suspected they were being investigated. His assertion that they should tie up any loose ends,
particularly those not bound by ties of loyalty to them, led
5.2.2 References
to the death of Nakeesha Lyles.
When Barksdale front owner Orlando was arrested for attempting to purchase drugs, Levy visited him in prison and
instructed him to sign papers removing his name from the
"The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. liquor license of his club. Levy later represented BarksHBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
dale soldier Savino when he was arrested following a failed
undercover operation, in the course of which Orlando and
Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". Detective Greggs were shot. Levy was able to limit Savinos
charge to a 3-year plea bargain for an attempt to supply fake
narcotics,
as he was not directly implicated in the shooting.
"The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed ReLater,
Levy
was instrumental in damage-control when the
ports. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Barksdale organization was struck by multiple arrests. He
Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". ensured that D'Angelo was not kept in police protection, alThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 3. HBO.
lowing his mother to convince him not to testify against the
Barksdale organization.

[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
Season 2
5.3 Maurice Levy (The Wire)

Maurice Maury Levy is a ctional character in the HBO
drama The Wire (2002-2008), played by Michael Kostro.
He is a skilled defense attorney and was kept on retainer
by the Barksdale Organization, representing the organizations members at trials and advising Avon Barksdale and
Stringer Bell on how to avoid investigations for drug trafcking. Levy is presented as corrupt and unscrupulous,
willing to aid his clients in furtherance of their criminal activity.
5.3.1
Biography
Levy successfully negotiated Avons rst parole hearing in

exchange for information on a corrupt guard following the
deaths of several inmates. Avon had actually set up the
deaths to frame the guard, with the reduced sentence as his
goal. He was less successful in his defense of Bird Hilton
in the William Gant murder trial, particularly struggling
with the cross-examination of Omar Little: when Levy attempted to undermine him as a credible witness, describing
him as an amoral parasite feeding o the Baltimore drug
trade, Omar pointed out that the same was true of Levy,
saying I got the shotgun; you got the briefcase. Its all in the
game. Omars accusation left Levy speechless, and Bird
was sentenced to life imprisonment by Judge Daniel Phelan,
though Levy maintains (accurately) that Omar is perjuring
himself when he claims to have witnessed the crime.
114
Season 3
After Stringer is duped by Senator Clay Davis, Levy chastises him, saying that he was aware of Daviss reputation
for taking contributions without exerting any actual inuence. Levy continued to defend Avon and most of his organization when a second wiretap investigation led to a mass
prosecution. Avon was returned to prison. Levy also represented Poot Carr, who received a four-year sentence.
Season 4
Levy is seen briey in season four, representing Anthony
Wardell in the high-prole Braddock murder case. He allowed his client to undergo a polygraph test because he was
convinced of his innocence on the charge.[1][2]
Season 5
Levy hires ex-police ocer Thomas Herc Hauk as an
investigator. Levy encourages Herc to use the rms expense account to pay for ocers tabs, in exchange for
information.[3][4] After being introduced to Marlo Staneld
by Proposition Joe, Levy counsels Staneld on money laundering.[5] Levy later suspects (on the basis of information
provided by Herc) that Marlos arrest is due to an illegal
wiretap and sees an opportunity to get the charges against
Marlos organization dropped. Levy however faces legal
problems of his own when Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary DiPasquale admits to Detective Lester Freamon that he has
been selling copies of court documents and search warrants
to Levy to be used to tip o various drug dealers. Realizing
that Levy is legally vulnerable, but also aware that the evidence against the Staneld Organization is compromised,
ASA Rhonda Pearlman negotiates the charges against Stanelds crew: it is agreed that Marlo will not face criminal
charges if he retires permanently from the drug trade, Levy
will not be prosecuted, the States Attorneys oce will not
be charged with allowing an illegal wiretap, Chris Partlow
will plead to life without parole for the vacant murders, and
the remaining Staneld Lieutenants will plead to possession
charges. Levy is last seen in the nal episode of season
ve, socializing with Marlo Staneld at a downtown evening
event and introducing him to dierent businessmen.[6][7]
5.3.2
Analysis and origins
Levy is among The Wires least sympathetic characters;

Slate writer David Plotz describes him as the most repulsive piece of garbage in the city of Baltimore.[8] He is also
the shows most explicitly Jewish character. Avon Barksdales sister Brianna refers to him as that Jew lawyer,
and Levy is shown using Yiddish words (for instance, saying Herc was mishpoceh, meaning family and describing Clay Davis as a goni, or thief) praising his wifes
brisket, criticizing McNulty for dragging me from the
Levy family preserve on a Friday night, etc.[9] Some writers have suggested that the character reects some antisemitic stereotypes.[10][11][12] Keith Kahn-Harris, for example, writes that Levys crookedness, his cynical exploitation of the drug trade and his seduction of Herc all recall
common negative stereotypes of Jews as sinister, venal and
secretive.[9] David Simon, who is himself Jewish, has explained and justied the characterization as authentic:[13]
Why did we make this guy Jewish? Because
when I was covering the drug trade for 13 years
for the Sun, most of the major drug lawyers were
Jewish. Some of them are now disbarred and others are not but came pretty close. Anyone who is
anyone in law enforcement in Baltimore knows
the three or four guys Maury Levy is patterned
on.
If I have people from every other tribe in Baltimore portrayed negatively, everyone is maligned
in some way, how can I not do that to the Jewish
guy? How can I pull that punch? At that point
I'm just being hypocritical. Here are good people from my own tribe who say how can you do
that, and my answer is how can I not?
Rhonda Pearlman, one of a handful of generally positive
characters in the show, is also Jewish, and Kahn-Harris
argues that Jay Landsman, a somewhat sympathetic character, is Jewish as well.[9][13] However, Kahn-Harris writes
that Their Jewishness is not referred to as explicitly as
Levys is and it is not treated as a signicant source of either
characters strengths and weaknesses.[9]
5.3.3
References

[2] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-0722.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
[6] Joe Chappelle (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5.
Episode 10. HBO.
5.3. MAURICE LEVY (THE WIRE)

[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 60 30-". HBO. 2008.
[8] Plotz, David (2008-03-10). Week 10: Spoiler Alert!
Maury Levy is Jewish?". Slate. Retrieved 24 November
2009.
[9] Kahn-Harris, Keith (2009-05-29). The Politics of Brisket:
Jews and The Wire". darkmatter.
[10] Goldberg, Jerey (2008-03-10). Its Time for the Cheese
Course!". Slate. Retrieved 24 November 2009. I had no
idea that the shyster drug lawyer with the lascivious lips who
secretly controls the drug cartels was Jewish until Maury
started talking about mishpoche and brisket. I thought the
episode laid that on a bit thicklike Entourage-thick.
[11] Michaelson, Jay (2006-03-03). A Jew and a Lawyer Are
Sitting in a Bar.... The Forward. Retrieved 24 November
2009.
[12] Owen, Paul (2009-06-30). The Wire re-up: season two,
episode six Levy and Omar: who is the real criminal?".
The Guardian. Retrieved 24 November 2009.
[13] Curt Schleier (2006). "Wire creator nds a muse on the
streets of Baltimore. jewishsf.com. Retrieved 2006-12-28.
115
Chapter 6
Street-level characters
6.1 Street-level characters of The
Wire
projects and plans to stay in the projects. For most of season

1 he is the target of a homicide detective 'Jimmy McNulty'
who seems to be the only authoritative gure aware of his
presence or his empire that spans the most sought after terriStreet-level characters comprise a large part of the cast tory in Baltimore for drug dealers. Avon is uniformly feared
on the ctional HBO drama series The Wire. Characters in by all other drug dealing criminal organisations in Baltimore
this section range from homeless drug addicts up to drug due to his ferocity but due to his 'West Side' mentality is no
king-pins in charge of entire criminal empires.
threat to 'East Side' gangs. Together with his closest friend
Stringer, Avon and their enforcers hold a monopoly on the
drug trade in West Baltimore through intimidation and mur6.1.1 Barksdale organization
der.
Main article: Barksdale Organization
Russell Stringer Bell
6.1.2
Omars crew
Main article: Omar Little and associates
6.1.3
Staneld organization
Main article: Staneld Organization
6.1.4
New Day Co-Op
Main article: New Day Co-Op
6.1.5
West Side
Avon Barksdale
Main article: Stringer Bell

Stringer was Avon Barksdales second-in-command, closest
friend, advisor and the main strategist behind coordinating
their street dealing organization which he does as the main
contact for all business, while he attends a business college
in relation to his aspiration as a clean businessman. Together, they operate out of a strip club which is a front for
money laundering owned and licensed under a clean member of their gang. Stringer is portrayed as more humble and
quiet than Avon but is every bit as ruthless as his friend. He
has aspirations to eventually leave the streets and drug life
as a whole behind him despite his close and long relationship with Avon. In the third season Bell is killed by Omar
and Brother Mouzone in his own commercial building that
was in development at the time.
D'Angelo Barksdale
Main article: D'Angelo Barksdale
Main article: Avon Barksdale
D'Angelo Barksdale was Avons nephew and a lieutenant in

his drug dealing organization. He was mainly responsible
Avon Barksdale was the head of the Barksdale organiza- for leading the corner boys in their street dealings and coortion in season one. He comes from the projects, lives in the dinating their earnings and performance. He was the main
116
6.1. STREET-LEVEL CHARACTERS OF THE WIRE

connection between the upper levels of the crew and the
street kids that were selling the product. He struggles with
the morality behind his trade and came close to informing
on the crew because of it, only relenting because of loyalty
to family ties his mother reminded him of before signing.
He took the sentence and went to prison where he was killed
by a hitman sent by Stringer Bell in season 2.
Bodie
Main article: Preston Bodie Broadus
117
Monk is a lieutenant in the Staneld organization, and the
third most recognized leader of the Staneld Organization.
Felicia Snoop Pearson
Main article: Snoop (The Wire)
Snoop is a chief enforcer in the Staneld Organization, she
is a mid-way gangster and she is always seen with Chris
Partlow.
Bodie was a dealer who came of age working for Avon Fruit
Barksdale. After the Barksdale organization dissolves, he
Played by: Brandon Fobbs
is briey independent (supplied by the New Day Co-Op)
until Marlo forces him to join his crew. He is shot by O
Appears in:
Dog after being seen having a conversation with McNulty,
because Marlo suspects he may be a snitch.
Season three: "Time after Time"; "All Due
"Homecoming"; "Reformation" and "Mission
Poot Carr
Accomplished".
Main article: Poot Carr
Season four: "Boys of Summer".
Fruit is a prominent crew chief of one of Marlo Staneld's

drug dealing crews, and works closely with Jamal and Justin.
Fruit is identiable by his ever-present Kangol hat, and is
the chief for one of West Baltimores most prominent street
corners. He is rst seen negotiating with Dennis Cutty
Wise over how to distribute a package of dope; he seems to
be fair, but he later rips Cutty o, saying the package was
Marlo Staneld
taken by the police. Cutty protests, but Fruit pulls a gun on
him and forces Cutty to withdraw. Later in the season, his
Main article: Marlo Staneld
crews territory is encroached upon by Bodie Broadus and
his crew, which sparks the turf war with the Barksdale orStaneld is a rising gang leader who gets into a turf war with ganization. Fruit is pressured by Marlo to force the Barksthe Barksdale Organization, becoming the key West Balti- dale Organization away, and Fruit responds by gathering his
more drug kingpin following Stringer Bell's death and Avon muscle and beating most of the crew into submission with
baseball bats. Cutty, now working for the Barksdale organiBarksdale's arrest. Staneld is played by Jamie Hector.
zation, takes part in the subsequent retaliation strike against
Fruits corner. Slim Charles kills one of Fruits dealers, but
Chris Partlow
Fruit escapes death because Cutty is unable to bring himself
to kill again.
Main article: Chris Partlow
In "Boys of Summer", the season four premiere, Fruit is
seen leaving an afterhours nightspot with a woman, Patrice.
Partlow is Marlo Staneld's second-in-command and best As he is walking through the parking lot, he is killed by a
friend in his drug dealing operation. He is played by Gbenga single gun shot to the head by Lex, the father of Patrices
Akinnagbe.
child. Lex shows little regret for his actions, only replying
with Sup Patrice?"[1] Fruits death causes Marlo to order
an immediate retaliation hit on his killer, Lex.
Monk Metcalf
Poot is a loyal drug dealer for the Barksdale organization,
who serves brief prison time for his crimes. By the end of
the series he is working at a shoe store attempting to distance himself from the game after growing tired of it and
reeling from the loss of many friends.
Main article: Monk Metcalf
6.1.6
East Side
118
Proposition Joe Stewart
Main article: Proposition Joe
Joseph Proposition Joe Stewart is an Eastside drug kingpin who supplies much of Baltimore through his direct connection to The Greeks smuggling organization. He is murdered and replaced as leader of New Day Co-op by Marlo
Staneld.
Calvin Cheese Wagsta
Main article: Cheese Wagsta
CHAPTER 6. STREET-LEVEL CHARACTERS

Appears in season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Stray
Rounds" (uncredited); "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a
Storm" (Uncredited).
White Mike is a mid-level South Baltimore drug dealer
from Curtis Bay with his own territory. He supplied Ziggy
Sobotka with packages of narcotics to distribute but their
relationship soured when Ziggy failed to make adequate
prot from the package. He is one of several characters
in The Wire who are fond of strawberry soda.[3] McArdle
was supplied by The Greek's smuggling operation and was
arrested as part of an investigation into that operation. He
was quick to turn against his suppliers and gave up all the
information he had.[4]
McNultys last name was originally McArdle, according to

Cheese is the favorite nephew of Proposition Joe and a crew a draft of the pilot script. Brook Yeaton is also an on set
chief in his Eastside drug crew. He is murdered by Slim dresser for the show.[5]
Charles. Originally, his rst name was listed as Melvin on
the ocial HBO site, but it was later changed to Calvin.
Fat Face Rick
The character is played by rapper Method Man.
Frog
Played by: Troj Marquis Strickland

Appears in:
Played by: Gary D.Reign

Appears in season two: "Undertow"; "Backwash" and
"Port in a Storm" (uncredited). season ve: "30-"
(uncredited)
Season three: "Straight and True" (uncredited);

"Slapstick"; "Reformation"
Frog is a white street-level dealer whose allegiances are

never made clear, though from the photo on the crime board
in Season 2 he is shown with Petey Dixon. He is seen early
in season two distributing a package for Ziggy Sobotka (and
stealing from him in the process), and later negotiates with
Nick Sobotka to distribute another. During the early stages
of season twos investigation, he sells heroin to Thomas
Herc Hauk and is photographed by Kima Greggs and Ellis
Carver. He can also be seen for a split second in the series
nale during the closing montage.
Season ve: "More with Less"; "Transitions";

"The Dickensian Aspect"; and "30.
Season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited);

"Final Grades"
Ricardo Fat Face Rick Hendrix is a drug kingpin from

Baltimores Veronica Avenue, on the East Side. He is
typically seen smoking (sometimes a cigar, sometimes a
cigarette), and is among the rst to join the New Day CoOp. He is a dissenting voice in the Co-Op for Stringer Bell
when Avon Barksdale is warring with Marlo Staneld. Rick
and Phil Boy assist Proposition Joe when he gives Bell the
ultimatum, to either end the war with Staneld or lose access to the high-quality heroin. Later, he is the rst to bring
Ziggy Sobotka
up the idea that West Sider Marlo Staneld should work
with the Co-Op against the encroachment from New York
Main article: Ziggy Sobotka
dealers.[6] In season four, episode 11 (A New Day), Omar
and Renaldo are spying on the New-Day Co-Op and briey
Ziggy is Franks son, an impulsive and often reckless young discuss a time when they robbed Fat Face Rick, who fell
checker, loosely based on Pinkie Bannion, a real life docker down on his knees, wept like a little baby. At the end of
in the Baltimore area, at the docks with a desire to prove the fourth season, Rick leads the quorum confronting Joe,
himself and a respected father to live up to.[2]
after Omar has stolen the shipment.[7]
White Mike McArdle
Played by: Brook Yeaton
In the fth season Ricks full name is revealed as Ricardo

Hendrix when The Baltimore Sun runs a story exposing a
corrupt property deal. Rick owns a strip club named Desperado and the council wants to relocate him to redevelop
119
the land. However, they are oering to pay Hendrix more Ghost
than his club is worth and to sell him better council owned
Played by: Mike D. Anderson
property elsewhere so that he will net a million dollars for
moving. The paper exposes a history of campaign dona Appears in:
tions from Rick and people using the address of his club including several to city council president Nerese Campbell
Season three: "Straight and True" (uncredited);
who is sponsoring the property deal.
"Slapstick" (uncredited).
Hendrix continues his involvement with the Co-Op and
Season four: "Final Grades" (uncredited).
brags in a meeting about his property deal with his friend
Season
ve:
"More
With
Less"
Hungry Man - drawing the ire of Staneld.
(uncredited)"Transitions" (uncredited) and
After Stanelds arrest and sale of the connection to the
"The Dickensian Aspect"(uncredited)
Greeks, Hendrix, along with Slim Charles, is seen, in the
series nale, meeting with Spiros Vondas and discussing the
new business arrangement for importing the drugs into Bal- Ghost is an East side drug kingpin and Co-Op member.
He is part of the quorum that confronts Proposition Joe
timore
Stewart following Omar Little's robbery of the Co-Op.[7]
In the fth season Ghost receives Baltimore County territory to compensate for territory lost in the gentrication of
Hungry Man
East Baltimore. Ghost continues to attend Co-Op meetings
Played by: Duane Chandler Rawlings
throughout the fth season.
Appears in:
George Double G Glekas
Season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited) and
"Final Grades".
Played by: Teddy Caez
Season ve:
"Transitions".
Appears in season two:

"Ebb Tide"; "Hot
Shots";"Hard Cases"; "Duck and Cover"; "Stray
Rounds" and "Storm Warnings".
"More
With
Less"
and
Nathaniel Hungry Man Manns is an older East Side drug

kingpin and charter member of the New Day Co-Op. He
is at the meeting to discuss encouraging Marlo Staneld to
join the Co-Op to combat the incursion of New York drug
dealers into eastern Baltimore. Hungry Man believes that
Staneld is hiding bodies by putting several into individual
cons through a funeral home front until he is corrected
by Slim Charles.[6] He is part of the quorum that confronts
Proposition Joe Stewart following Omar Little's robbery
of the Co-Op.[7]
In the fth season, Baltimore County territory is divided
among Eastside kingpins to compensate for territory lost in
the gentrication of east Baltimore. Hungry Man is one
of the people to benet from the arrangement. He tells
Marlo Staneld that he is out of line for encouraging Prop
Joe to delegate control of the territory to his subordinates.
Later Hungry Man airs a grievance with Prop Joes nephew
Cheese because Cheese has been encroaching upon the territory assigned to Hungry Man. Cheese is furious, but Prop
Joe promises that Cheese will respect the agreed boundaries. Staneld observes Cheese storming out of the meeting, and later has his enforcers Chris Partlow and Snoop
kidnap Hungry Man and deliver him to Cheese as a gift to
encourage Cheese to betray Prop Joe. When Hungry Mans
body surfaces, the implication is that Cheese has killed him.
George Alexander Glekas (Greek:

; February 18, 1960 - 2003) runs a warehouse and
appliance store for The Greek under the name Pyramid Industries and acts as the organizations fence. Glekas often
gets advice from Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos on important deals. The retail store he owns was used as a front to
move their stolen goods from the docks.
Prior to appearing in the series Glekas had been charged
with fencing stolen goods in San Diego, but the case was
dropped for lack of evidence. Glekas was indicted in the
smuggling investigation but was not arrested because he was
shot and killed by Ziggy Sobotka in a dispute over payment
for a stolen car smuggling deal. Ziggy confesses to the murder and was shown serving time for the crime.
6.1.7
Others
Bubbles
Main article: Bubbles (The Wire)
Bubbles is a heroin addict with a vast knowledge of the
streets of Baltimore. He becomes an informant after a
120
friend whom he introduced to the drug lifestyle gets badly

beaten when using false money upon Bubbles advice. Bubbles volunteers information and creatively points out key gures to the police in exchange for small amounts of cash and
him and his friend escaping prosecution for a drug-related
crime. Bubbles also befriends Kima, and despite their different situations, there is a level of mutual respect and empathy.
Brother Mouzone
Brother Mouzone, a well-mannered hired killer, played by Michael

Potts
Played by: Michael Potts

Appears in:
Season two: "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings";
"Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Reformation"; "Middle Ground"
and "Mission Accomplished".
forbidden in the Islamic religion. He is always accompanied

by his man Lamar, who runs errands for Mouzone.
Avon Barksdale hires him to protect the weakened Barksdale operation from Proposition Joe's dealers, who are
working the Barksdale towers as part of a secret agreement
between Stringer Bell and Proposition Joe. Mouzone confronts and promptly shoots Cheese Wagsta with rat shot.
He then informs Cheese that the next bullet in the chamber is a copper-jacketed hollow point bullet of his own design. Cheese and his dealers ee. To maintain his alliance
with Proposition Joe, Stringer dupes Omar Little into believing that Mouzone is responsible for the brutal murder of
Omars boyfriend Brandon. After Omar shoots Mouzone
the two speak, leading Omar to realize that he has been
tricked: Mouzone is a ruthlessly ecient assassin who favors execution-style murder, therefore carving up Brandon
and torturing him to death was not in Mouzones style. Instead, Omar calls an ambulance for Mouzone and departs.
While recovering in hospital Mouzone informs Stringer that
their agreement is absolved, and later returns to New
York.
In season three, Mouzone returns to Baltimore. He locates Omars boyfriend Dante after seeking advice from
Baltimore local Vinson. Mouzone beats Dante until he reveals Omars whereabouts. Rather than exact vengeance
on Omar for shooting him, he suggests that they nd and
kill Stringer Bell. Avon, whose relationship with Stringer
has become strained after Stringer revealed that he was responsible for D'Angelo Barksdale's death, reluctantly gives
Mouzone a time and a place to nd Stringer after Mouzone
threatens his connection to New York and his supply of
drugs. Omar and Mouzone plan an ambush and kill Stringer
together. Before returning to New York, Mouzone releases
Dante and gives Omar his weapon to dispose of.[1][8]
The Deacon
Brother Mouzone, meaning judicious in Arabic, is a drug

enforcer and hitman from New York City. The Brother
does not t the usual picture of drug-trade muscle, always wearing a suit, bowtie, and glasses, speaking politely
and precisely. He is also quite erudite, reading magazines
such as The Economist, Harpers, The Atlantic, The New Republic, and The Nation. His dress, along with an extremely
proper and pious persona is a manner typically associated
with the Nation of Islam, more particularly its paramilitary
wing, the Fruit of Islam, although it is never explicitly stated
that he belongs to either organization. On rst encountering
Mouzone, the street dealer Cheese mocked his formal style
of dress by remarking that he must either be in the Nation,
or he still lets his mother pick out his clothes. He reveals
himself as a Muslim by mouthing "Allahu akbar" repeatedly after Omar shoots him and he believes he is about to
die. However, he is also depicted drinking alcohol, which is
Played by: Melvin Williams

Appears in
Season three: "All Due Respect", "Straight
and True", "Back Burners", "Moral Midgetry",
"Slapstick", "Reformation",
Season four: "Home Rooms", "Refugees",
"Margin of Error", "Thats Got His Own".
Season ve: "Late Editions"
The Deacon is a West Side church gure who is involved
in many community projects. He also has many contacts
within the citys academic population. He is a friend of
teacher Grace Sampson and helps her ex-boyfriend Dennis
121
Cutty Wise when he is released after a long prison sen Appears in:
tence. Initially he tries to encourage Cutty to enroll in a
GED program, but Cutty is not interested in this idea. The
Season one: "The Wire"
deacon then helps Cutty to open a community boxing gym.
Season two: "Stray Rounds" (uncredited)
He puts Cutty in touch with State Delegate Odell Watkins
Season three: "Middle Ground" (uncredited)
through the politically inuential Reverend Frank Reid to
help with obtaining the necessary permits for the gym. He
Season ve: "More with Less"
also helps Cutty to get a paying job working as a school custodian at Edward Tilghman Middle, where Grace teaches Hucklebuck is a drug addict and friend to Bubbles and
the eighth grade.
Johnny. He often assists them on their capers to make
The Deacon is also friends with Howard Bunny Colvin. money for drugs. He is a part of Johnnys copper house
When Colvin was Western District police commander the robbery scam in season 1. Hucklebuck continues to live on
Deacon often served as his conscience. Colvin started three the street when Bubbles is in recovery in season 5.
drug tolerant zones in his district and the deacon was dismayed at the poor conditions addicts faced in these areas
Lamar
and convinced Colvin to involve public health academics
in providing services for the addicts now he had gathered
Played by: DeAndre McCullough
them into an easy to reach area. Colvin was forced to re Appears in:
tire because of his actions and the deacon found him a new
job working with a sociologist in studying the prevention of
repeat violent oender behavior.
Season two: "Storm Warnings" (uncredited);
"Bad Dreams" (uncredited) and "Port in a Storm"
In his youth Melvin Williams, the actor who plays the Dea(uncredited).
con, was a real-life drug kingpin who was arrested by series
writer Ed Burns in 1984 when the latter was a Baltimore
city police ocer.[9] Creator David Simon was responsible
for covering the arrest for The Baltimore Sun at the time.[10]
Williams received a 34-year sentence for his crimes and
much of the evidence against him came from a wiretap investigation like the one featured in the rst season of the
show.[10]
Dee-Dee
Played by: Genevieve Hudson-Price
Appears in
Season three: "Reformation" and "Mission Accomplished".

Lamar is the assistant and inept bodyguard of New
York mercenary Brother Mouzone. He has accompanied
Mouzone on both his visits to Baltimore. On their rst trip
they worked at the Franklin Terrace high rises for Avon
Barksdale guarding his territory against East Side drug
dealers. Lamar failed to protect his charge against Omar
Little on this trip. He was distracted by a dog and knocked
unconscious by Omar while guarding a motel room door.
His failure allowed Omar to enter the room and shoot
Brother Mouzone.
Brother Mouzone recovered and returned to Baltimore for

revenge. He had Lamar seek out Omar in various gay bars,
Season four: "Corner Boys"
having learned that he was homosexual. Lamar resented the
task and his visceral homophobia made him confrontational
Season ve: "Unconrmed Reports"
with those he came across while searching for Omar. EvenDee-Dee is a drug addict. In Season Three she shows up in tually Lamar was approached by Omars boyfriend Dante
the Hamsterdam area buying an eight-ball of cocaine from allowing Mouzone to capture him and nd Omar.
a car.[11] A year later she is living in West Baltimore and DeAndre McCullough, the actor who plays Lamar, was proworking as a prostitute.[12] Fifteen months later again she is led in David Simon and Edward Burnss book and televiseen at a narcotics anonymous meeting.[13]
sion miniseries The Corner.[14] McCullough was found dead
Season three: "Moral Midgetry"
She is played by Genevieve Hudson-Price, the daughter of on August 1, 2012, in the Woodlawn section of Baltimore
County.[15]
author Richard Price, who writes for the show.
Hucklebuck
Played by: Gil Deeble
Raylene Lee
Played by: Shamika Cotton
122
Appears in:
Season four: "Refugees", "Corner Boys",
"Misgivings", "A New Day" (uncredited) and
"Thats Got His Own"
Season ve: "Transitions" and "The Dickensian
Aspect"
he provide him with receipts. Freamon gave Bernard prewiretapped phones that eventually brought down the Barksdale organization. When the investigation was closed with
the arrest of Avon Barksdale, Bernard and Squeak were also
brought in. Bernard joked that he could not wait to go to
jail to get away from Squeak.
Sherrod
Raylene Lee is Michael Lee and Aaron Bug Manigaults

mother. She is a drug addict.
Devar Manigault
Played by: Cyrus Farmer
Appears in:
Season four: "Corner Boys", "Know Your Place"
and "Misgivings"
Devar Manigault is Raylene Lees domestic partner, father Sherrod played by Rashad Orange
to her younger son Aaron Bug Manigault. Fans frequently
refer to him as the stepfather of Raylenes older son Michael
Lee, though he never actually married her. Devar is feared
Played by: Rashad Orange
by Michael and it is implied that Michael suered sexual
Appears in
abuse by Devar. Shortly after Devar is released from prison
he is savagely beaten to death by Chris Partlow at Michaels
behest. Chris spits on him at the crime scene, leaving his
Season three: "All Due Respect" (uncredited);
DNA, and is ultimately arrested for this murder.
"Mission Accomplished" (uncredited)
Squeak
Season four:
"Soft Eyes"; "Refugees";
"Alliances"; "Unto Others"; "A New Day";
"Thats Got His Own".
Played by: Mia Arnice Chambers

Sherrod is a young homeless boy who is befriended by
Appears in season three: "Back Burners"; "Moral Bubbles. He has been living on the streets since his mother
Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation" and "Mission succumbed to drug addiction. He last regularly attended
Accomplished".
school in the fth grade at Steuart Hill elementary, though
Bubbles tried to get him to go back at some point between
Squeak is the girlfriend of Bernard, a low level member of the third and fourth seasons. As the fourth season starts,
the Barksdale organization. Bernard was responsible for Bubbles is selling small items from a shopping cart to get
supplying the organization with disposable mobile phones by, and is trying to train Sherrod to run his own business.
and was told to buy no more than two phones at any one Sherrods basic math skills prove to be extremely poor, and
outlet and provide receipts for his purchases. Squeaks nag- Bubbles insists that he return to school. Bubbles visits Edging convinced Bernard to start breaking these rules.
ward Tilghman middle school with Sherrod and convinces
Squeak was an old acquaintance of Bubbles and their association allowed the police to use her as an inroad to the
Barksdale organization. Bubbles put Squeak and Bernard in
touch with Lester Freamon who was a posing as a conman
who could provide them with phones at lower price. With
Squeaks encouragement, Bernard accepted Freamons offer and began buying solely from him on the condition that
the Assistant Principal, Marcia Donnelly, to take him in,

even though he has been missing from the school system
for years. Sherrod only attends class once, when Bubbles
forces him to, cutting class instead to go on the corner and
deal drugs for Jojo. He tries to fake doing homework by
bringing books from school back to the squat he shares with
Bubbles. It is thus revealed that Sherrod is illiterate as well

as innumerate, as he does not know that the two books he is
trying to pass o to Bubbles as a textbook and its associated
workbook are actually an algebra textbook and a dictionary;
Sherrod is completely unaware of his blunder, as he cannot
read the titles on the covers. Bubbles, who can read, immediately notices Sherrods lie and shows disappointment.
When Bubbles nds Sherrod dealing on a school day, he
tries to talk to him and is attacked by an addict who needs
money. Bubbles then tells Sherrod that he cannot stay with
him any more unless he returns to school.
Sherrod continues to deal drugs and is involved in an assault on Namond Brice when they vie for territory. He also
becomes a drug addict. Eventually, he returns to Bubbles,
saying he wants to get away but he owes Jojo money. Bubbles oers Sherrod the chance to return home and says he
will help with the debt. Bubbles, however, had previously
prepared a lethal hot shot of narcotics he intended to use
to kill another addict who had repeatedly harassed and traumatized Bubbles. Sherrod nds the vial Bubbles has prepared and takes it himself, dying soon afterwards. [16]
123
see Walon again in the projects looking after his drug addicted nephew. Bubbles conversations with Walon help
him realise that he wants to get clean. When he makes a
serious attempt, Walon gives him advice on keeping clean,
which Bubbles is unable to stick with. Years later, when
Bubbles is locked in a medical rehab facility, Walon visits
him to again help him with his sobriety and grief. In season
ve he acts as Bubbles sponsor, pushing him to be more
open about his struggles and the death of Sherrod.
Walon is played by singer/songwriter and recovering heroin
addict Steve Earle.[17] Earle also performs the theme song
for Season 5, and his track I Feel Alright is featured in
the montage at the end of Season 2.
Johnny Weeks
Main article: Johnny Weeks
Walon
Johnny Weeks, an unfortunate drug addict played by Leo Fitzpatrick
Walon played by Steve Earle
Played by: Leo Fitzpatrick

Appears in:
Played by: Steve Earle

Appears in:
Season one: "One Arrest", "Game Day" and
"The Cost".
Season four: "Final Grades".
Season ve: "Unconrmed Reports", "React
Quotes", "Late Editions", and "30".
Walon is an HIV-positive recovering drug addict. He rst
appears in season one when Bubbles and Johnny see him
speaking at a Narcotics Anonymous meeting. Bubbles is
moved by the strength Walon conveys in his speech. They
Season one: "The Target"; "The Pager"; "One

Arrest"; "Game Day" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Hard Cases" and "Port in a Storm".
Season three: "Time after Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Straight and True"; "Back Burners";
"Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
In season one Johnny is Bubbles' best friend and a drug addict with notoriously bad luck. He is naive and enthusiastic for the game, allowing Bubbles to play the role of
teacher. In the pilot episode he is badly beaten by Bodie
Broadus, Poot Carr and Wallace after trying to pass counterfeit money to D'Angelo Barksdale's operation. This spurs
124
Bubbles to become a police informant but Johnny disap- [10] Margaret Talbot (2007). Stealing Life. The New Yorker.
proves and takes no part in it except when arrested by police.
[11] Agnieszka Holland (2004-11-14). "Moral Midgetry". The

While in the hospital for that beating, Johnny discovers he
is HIV positive; he also undergoes a colostomy operation.
[12] Agnieszka Holand (2004-11-05). "Corner Boys". The Wire.
Unlike Bubbles he shows no interest in giving up his addicSeason 4. Episode 08. HBO.
tion and continues thievery and various other scams with
Bubbles, despite carrying a colostomy bag. In the season [13] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
three nale he dies from an overdose and his body is discovered in a vacant house in the Hamsterdam free zone
that Major Colvin had set up.[18]
York: Pocket Books. p. 202.
Johnny is based on a young white homeless addict that
[15] "'The Corner' Protagonist Dead at 35 in Baltimore. AssoDavid Simon met while researching The Corner. This man
ciated Press.
would follow Simons subject, drug addict Gary McCul[16] Character prole Sherrod. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006lough, around.[19]
10-29.
Dennis Cutty Wise
[17] Character prole - Walon. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 200803-12.
Main article: Dennis Cutty Wise
[18] Character prole - Johnny. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 200607-24.
After getting out of prison he joins back up with the Barks- [19] David Simon (2005). The Wire The Target commentary
dale crew as muscle, but cannot complete a task he was astrack (DVD). HBO.
signed. Instead, he leaves the criminal world and starts up
a boxing center in an attempt to reach out to local street
youths. He is later wounded trying to talk Michael Lee out 6.2 Omar Little
of a life of crime. He reappears in Season 5 to briey train
Dukie as well as to give him advice on how to deal with
See also: Omar Little and associates
people that give him trouble.
Omar Devone Little is a ctional character on the HBO
drama The Wire, portrayed by Michael K. Williams. Omar
is a notorious Baltimore stick-up man, frequently robbing
Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07street-level drug dealers. Omar has several unique charac27.
teristics that are likely responsible for his popularity with
David Simon Answers Fans Questions. HBO.com. Re- viewers, including: his strict personal morality, whereby
trieved 2009-08-30.
he both refrains from harming innocents and from using
profanity (which also ensures his independence from most
David Simon, Ed Burns (2003-06-08). "Collateral Damother street-level players); his characteristic face scar and
age". The Wire. Season 2. Episode 2. HBO.
use of a shotgun; his homosexuality and privately tender naDavid Simon, George P. Pelecanos (2003-08-17). "Bad ture, held in obvious (and subversive) contrast from typical
Dreams". The Wire. Season 2. Episode 11. HBO.
notions of masculinity attached to violent criminals; and his
use of haunting whistling as presage to his robberies. CenBrook Yeaton imdb prole
tral throughout Omars trajectory is his steady descent into
Episode guide - episode 40 Home Rooms. HBO. 2006. intractable conict with both the Barksdale and Staneld orRetrieved 2006-09-25.
ganizations, in both cases initiated by his robberies. Omar
is also noted for his close relationships with his partners, and
"The Wire episode guide - episode 50 Final Grades. HBO.
with his guardian and ad hoc banker Butchie. The charac2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
ter is based on Baltimore area robber and hitman Donnie
Character prole - Brother Mouzone. HBO. 2004. Re- Andrews.[1]
6.1.8
[1]
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
[6]
[7]
[8]
References
trieved 2006-09-16.
In Season 5, Episode 8, it is stated that Omar is 34 years

old. Omar was orphaned at a young age, and raised by his
grandmother Josephine, who is largely responsible for his
6.2. OMAR LITTLE

strict moral code, despite his criminal occupation. He attended Edmondson High School in West Baltimore, a few
years behind Bunk Moreland. For more than ten years,
Omar has made his living holding up drug dealers, and staying alive one day at a time. He is legendary around Baltimore for his characteristic shotgun, trench coat, facial scar,
and whistling "The Farmer in the Dell" when stalking the
streets. Every time people see or hear him coming they run,
even the children. He repeatedly demonstrates exceptional
skill at surveillance and as a stick-up man and shooter, further contributing to his feared status as an ecient professional. He is highly intelligent and cunning, consistently executing well-laid plans, anticipating moves, and outsmarting
his adversaries with eective strategic planning. Once a
month, he accompanies his elderly grandmother to church.
He has a brother, No Heart Anthony, who is incarcerated
for a jewelry store robbery in the early '90s. He often carries
a shotgun or large caliber handguns in .44 Magnum (Desert
Eagle or Colt Anaconda), .45 ACP semi-automatics, and
.50 Action Express.
125
6.2.2
Season two
Omar returns to Baltimore with a new boyfriend, Dante. He

quickly returns to his old business, targeting the Barksdales
exclusively, and connects with Tosha and Kimmy, stick-up
artists who join his crew.
Omar provides false testimony against Bird in open court as
he had promised to do. Unabashed and unapologetic about
who he is, he wins over the jury with his wit; when Barksdale attorney Maurice Levy calls him a parasite who thrives
on the drug trade, Omar points out that Levy is essentially
the same thing. In the end, the jury accepts Omars testimony, and Bird is sent to prison for life. Assistant States
Attorney Ilene Nathan promises Omar a favor as a thank
you for his testimony. While waiting to be called to the
witness stand, Omar helps the baili with a crossword puzzle clue, explaining that the Greek god of war is called Ares.
He mentions that he was fascinated by Greek mythology in
middle school.
Around this time, as Stringer Bell starts making business

decisions on his own for the Barksdale operation, Avon
hires Brother Mouzone from New York as new muscle.
With the threat to his secret dealings apparent, Stringer arranges a meeting with Omar and tells him that Mouzone was
the one who had tortured and killed Brandon. Omar nds
6.2.1 Season one
Mouzone and shoots him once, but when Mouzone reveals
that Omar had been given false information, Omar realizes
After Omar, his boyfriend Brandon, and John Bailey rob he has been duped and lets Mouzone live, even calling the
a stash house, Avon Barksdale puts out a contract on the paramedics for him. He redirects his murderous intent at
trio (doubling the reward once he discovers Omar is gay). Stringer himself.[2][3]
Bailey is killed, and Brandon is tortured, mutilated, and
killed for keeping silent on Omars whereabouts. He is then
left in a public place so as to be seen and quickly found. 6.2.3 Season three
In response, Omar, emotionally distraught, cooperates with
Detectives Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland, provid- Omar and his crew continued robbing the Barksdale stashing key information leading to the arrest of Barksdales sol- ing houses, even though they are more dicult and risky
dier Bird, and agrees to be a witness against him at his trial than other potential targets. Tosha is killed during a raid
(though it is unlikely that Omar was an actual witness to on a Barksdale house, and Omar contemplates giving up
the crime). While meeting with the police, he observes in- his war against the Barksdale organization. Detective Bunk
formation which he uses to exact further revenge against Moreland, investigating the deaths, makes Omar feel furthe Barksdale Organization, killing Stinkum and wounding ther guilt over the incident, giving a speech about how the
neighborhood used to be closer-knit and with less violence.
Wee-Bey Brice.
Omar even gets a shot at Barksdale himself, by giving stolen And now all we got are bodies. And predatory motherdrugs to Eastside drug kingpin Proposition Joe for Avons fuckers like you. Bunk mentions that when he went to the
pager number. He tails Avon to Orlandos strip club, pages scene he found children arguing about whose turn it was to
him and waits for him to emerge into the open. Avon nar- be Omar. Omar provides him with a lost police pistol as a
rowly escapes when Wee-Bey arrives and shoots Omar in way of making amends.
the shoulder. Afterward, Stringer Bell oers Omar a truce,
planning to kill him when he relaxes his guard. Omar realizes Stringers duplicity and leaves town, temporarily relocating to New York City. In the last scene of the rst
season, he is seen robbing a New York drug dealer, merely
saying that its all in the game, yo. All in the game.
Under orders from Stringer Bell, two of Avons soldiers

open re on Omar while he is taking his grandmother to
church. Omar forces her into a taxi, but she loses her best
hat in the gunre. This blatant violation of the longstanding Sunday truce between rival gangs, combined with the
risk Omars grandmother was put in during the incident,
126
leads Omar to rededicate himself to war with the Barksdales, though Kimmy opts out. Avon, outraged at Stringer,
forces the men responsible for the attack to buy Omars
grandmother a new hat.
Meanwhile, Brother Mouzone captures Dante, and forces
him to reveal Omars hiding place. Dante gives in, in contrast with Brandon, who never cracked. Mouzone suggests
an alliance against Stringer. Together, Omar and Mouzone
ambush Stringer during a meeting with Andy Krawczyk
and murder him. Brother Mouzone sets Dante free and returns to New York, while Omar is tasked with disposing of
Mouzones gun, as well as the shotgun that killed Stringer.
Both weapons are later thrown into the harbor. Omar is
shown to be suspicious of the severity of Dantes injuries
and his release by Mouzone is the last time he is seen; it is
implied that Omar left him for giving him up so easily.
6.2.4
County (calling in the favor from Ilene Nathan), Bunk manages to prove that Old Face Andre had lied. The charge
against Omar is dropped and Bunk transports him out of
Harford County with a warning: no more murders of anyone. Bunk threatens to bring up the unsolved murders at
Omars hands that he knew about, such as Stringer Bell,
Stinkum Artis, or Tosha if Omar was caught killing anyone else.
Omar learns that Marlo had framed him and was the one he
had robbed at the card game. Omar demands that Proposition Joe help him rob Marlo, and Joe agrees to alert Omar
when Joes soldier Cheese was dropping o Marlos package. Omar orchestrates an elaborate and successful hijacking of Joes entire shipment of heroin as it enters port. As
he had no wish to sell drugs on the street, he sells the heroin
back to Proposition Joe. Although the heist makes Omar a
lot of money, it has all of the drug kingpins ready to put a
contract on his head.
Season four
Omar feels dissatised with how easy work has become after the collapse of the Barksdale organization and worries
that pursuing easy thefts would make him soft, (How you
expect to run with the wolves come night when you spend
all day sparring with the puppies) so he and new boyfriend
Renaldo pull a robbery of one of Marlo Staneld's dealers,
Old Face Andre, who runs a westside corner convenience
store that was actually a drug front. At Proposition Joe's
suggestion, they rob a poker game, not knowing that Marlo
Staneld was one of the men at the game. While committing the robbery, Omar makes a point to take a large
ring from Marlo, who had earlier taken the same ring from
Old Face Andre as a debt for money owed. Though Marlo
vows revenge, his right-hand man Chris Partlow convinces
him to take a subtler approach. Chris shoots an innocent
woman during a staged robbery at Old Face Andres store
and instructs Andre to call the police and falsely implicate
Omar as the culprit. Omar is subsequently jailed. During
the arrest, he is robbed by Ocer Eddie Walker, who takes
the ring that Omar had stolen from Marlo. Before Omar
is taken away in a police van, he is questioned by Ocer
Jimmy McNulty, who thought it out of character for Omar
to have murdered an ordinary citizen not involved in the
drug trade. While imprisoned in Baltimore Citys Central
Booking, Omar is recognized by other inmates he'd previously robbed, a number of whom want to kill him for the
bounty that had been placed on his head. In retaliation for
an attempt on his life, he brutally stabs an adversary in the
rectum as a means of warning the other inmates not to attack him.
6.2.5
Season ve
Omar retires with Renaldo following the heist and moves to

San Juan, Puerto Rico. Marlo Staneld has Butchie tortured
and killed, seeking revenge on Omar and to draw him out of
hiding.[4] Word reaches Omar and he returns to Baltimore
to punish those responsible. Omar ambushes Slim Charles
and confronts him. Omar knows that Slim Charles employer Proposition Joe Stewart knew of his connection to
Butchie and believes Proposition Joe may have been responsible. Slim Charles is able to convince Omar of Proposition
Joes innocence and Omar targets Staneld. Along with
Butchies friend Donnie, Omar decides to go after Stanelds people as Staneld himself has gone into hiding and
Omar targets Monk.[4] Stanelds soldiers spot Omar outside of Monks apartment and bait Omar and Donnie into
an ambush. Once inside they are attacked by Chris Partlow,
Snoop, Michael Lee, and O-Dog. During the shootout, ODog is wounded in the leg and Donnie killed by a gunshot to
the head. Out of bullets, Omar is forced to jump from the
fourth-story window, injuring (possibly breaking) his leg in
the process.
He continues his mission around the city in search of Marlo,

limping and supporting his weight on a makeshift crutch
improvised from a broom. He terrorizes and robs many
of Marlos corners and shoots or kills several members of
Stanelds crew including Savino Bratton. At the scene of
every action, Omar calls out loudly for Marlo to meet him
on the streets. During "Clarications, a young boy from
Michaels crew, Kenard, follows Omar to a Korean-owned
Omar reaches out to Detective Bunk Moreland for help. convenience store. Omar sees Kenard walk in, but seeing
Omar convinces Bunk that he would never kill a citizen. just a little boy, pays no attention to him. Kenard shoots
After having Omar transferred to a safer prison in Harford Omar in the side of the head, killing him. This brings clo-
6.2. OMAR LITTLE
127
sure to some of the foreshadowing in Season 3, as Kenard a single audition. Williams has stated that he pursued the
was the young boy Bunk witnessed imitating Omar at the role because he felt it would make him stand out from other
Barksdale stash house shootout.
African Americans from Brooklyn with acting talent because of its contradictory nature.[5]
6.2.6
Legacy
News of Omars death is received with mild amusement

and indierence by various characters. Bunk Moreland initially shows some sympathy, which he brushes aside when
he learns Omar was once again on the hunt. McNulty
and Freamon react with mere curious interest and instead
focus on a lead on their case found on Omars body. The
newspaper sta drop any mention of the incident for lack
of printing space. In his nal appearance, an employee at
the morgue realizes the identication tag on Omars body
has been accidentally switched with that of the white deceased male on the neighboring table and corrects the error by swapping the tags. Various people in the street were
shown to increasingly exaggerate the details of his shooting
in order to glorify his death.
Williams expressed that his relationship with and love of

o-broadway New York theatres, such as the National Black
Theater in Harlem gave him the skill set needed for his portrayal of Omar; in particular using the Meisner technique
to create Omar from the ground up, immersing himself by
researching details of inner city Baltimore. The role presented a particular challenge as it was the rst major recurring television character he had played.[6]
Origins
David Simon has said that Omar is based on Shorty Boyd,

Donnie Andrews, Ferdinand Harvin, Billy Outlaw and Anthony Hollie, Baltimore stickup men between the 1980s and
early 2000s who robbed drug dealers.[7] Donnie Andrews
later reformed, got married and helped troubled youths.[8]
In season 4 of The Wire he plays one of the two men Butchie
sends to help Omar in prison, in the episodes Margin of Er6.2.7 Prequels
ror and Unto Others and Omar later meets up with him
at Blind Butchies in Thats Got His Own while planning
A brief prequel released before season ve and on the sea- the big drug robbery. Andrews died at age 58 in New York
son ve DVD set features a young Omar, his brother An- City on December 13, 2012 after suering an aortic disthony, and an unidentied older boy planning and executing section.[9]
a robbery of a man at a bus stop in 1985 Baltimore. Even as
Omar admits to an interest in Greek mythology in the seaa young boy, Omar shows remarkable intelligence, moralson two episode All Prologue.[10] Omars nascent love of
ity, and force of character by rst questioning the value of
Greek mythology has some truth in real life; according to
robbing the man and then compelling the unidentied older
a passage The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City
boy (at gunpoint) to return the money. Anthony expresses
Neighborhood, a non-ction book written by David Simon
tired amusement at Omars actions, demonstrating his faand Ed Burns, children in Baltimore schools pay little attenmiliarity with his brothers forceful personality. Omar is
tion to most classes and stories (as seen in the fourth season
shown with his characteristic facial scar, indicating that he
of The Wire), but are often interested by and appreciative
somehow received it as a child.
of Greek mythology.[11]
At the end of this segment, the unidentied boy tells Anthony that his brother is not cut out for their line of work,
an ironic foreshadowing of what would happen to Anthony 6.2.9 Reception
some years later. After bungling a jewelry store heist, Anthony was pursued by police. Apparently sensing he was For his portrayal of Omar, Michael K. Williams was named
about to be caught, and unwilling to do hard time, Anthony by USA Today as one of ten reasons they still love televiput a gun to his chest and pulled the trigger. He survives the sion. The character was praised for his uniqueness in the
suicide attempt, however; only receiving a contact wound. stale landscape of TV crime dramas and for the wit and huAfter this incident, he earned the derisive nickname No mor that Williams brought to the portrayal.[12] Other commentators applauded the many dimensions of the character
Heart Anthony.
with his appearances in various story lines as "...a sawedo shotgun toting terror, a vulnerable jailbird whose life
6.2.8 Production
lies in the balance, and a double crossing mastermind who
outsmarts Baltimores biggest drug dealers time and time
Casting
again.[6] Omar was named as one of the rst seasons richest characters, not unlike the Robin Hood of Baltimores
Michael K. Williams received the part of Omar after only west side projects, although his contradictory nature was
128
questioned as a little too strange.[13] The Baltimore City Pa- [14] McCabe, Bret; Smith, Van (2005-01-02). Down to the
wire: Top 10 reasons not to cancel the wire.. citypaper.com.
per named the character one of their top ten reasons not to
Baltimore city paper. Retrieved 2014-03-08.
cancel the show and called him arguably the shows single
[14]
greatest achievement. Little appeared in Comcast's list
of TVs Most Intriguing Characters, with the website stat- [15] TVs Most Intriguing Characters. Comcast. Retrieved
2014-03-08.
ing that no character is more enigmatic and shocking than
[15]
Omar.
[16] J. Patrick Coolican (2008). Obama goes gloves o, head-
on. Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved 2008-02-27.

Williams has stated that he feels that the character is well
liked because of his honesty, lack of materialism, individuality and his adherence to his strict code.[5] In January
2008 then-presidential candidate Barack Obama told the
6.3 Bubbles (The Wire)
Las Vegas Sun that Omar was his favorite character on The
Wire (which, in turn, is his favorite television show), adding,
Thats not an endorsement. Hes not my favorite person, Reginald Bubbles Cousins is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Andre Royo. Bubbut hes a fascinating character.[16]
bles is a recovering heroin addict. His real name is not revealed until a fourth-season episode when he is called Mr.
6.2.10 References
Cousins and in the fth-season premiere when he is called
Reginald.[1] Bubbles has a son named KeyShawn, who
[1] Abramovitch, Seth (2012-12-15). Reformed Hitman lives with his mother.
Who Inspired 'The Wires' Omar Dies at 58. hollywoodreporter.com. The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved
2014-03-08.
Bubbles is a crucial informant for the police throughout

the series due to his extraordinarily detailed knowledge of
the streets of Baltimore and their inhabitants. Despite his
[2] Character prole - Omar. HBO. 2004.
long-standing history of heroin abuse, Bubbles is an intelli[3] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about gent and compassionate man who genuinely cares about his
friend Johnny Weeks and Sherrod, the teenager he adopts.
The Wire"". Salon.com.
His struggle to deal with his addiction and make a better life
[4] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season for himself is a major sub-plot over the course of the ve
5. Episode 4. HBO.
seasons of the series.
[5] Joel Murphy (2005). One on one with... Michael K.
Williams. Hobo Trashcan. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
[6] Francesca Djerejian (2008). Michael K. Williams: Omar
Never Scares. Hip Hop DX. Retrieved 2008-02-19.
[7] Richard Vine (2005). Totally Wired. London: The
Guardian Unlimited. Retrieved 2006-07-19.
[8] Urbina, Ian (2007-08-09). From Two Broken Lives to One
New Beginning. The New York Times. Retrieved 2007-0811.
[9] Anderson, Jessica; Fenton, Justin (2012-12-14). Donnie
Andrews, inspiration for Omar character on 'The Wire,'
dies. baltimoresun.com. The Baltimore Sun. Retrieved
2014-03-08.
[10] David Simon, Ed Burns (2003-07-06). "All Prologue". The
6.3.1
Depiction
Season one
Bubbles was rst seen as a homeless addict and best friend
and mentor to Johnny Weeks. The two run a scam creating
counterfeit money using a photocopier and coee staining.
Bubbles successfully uses the money to purchase drugs from
a crew of dealers working for the Barksdale organization.
However when the money is passed on to the crew boss it
is recognized as fake. The next time they try the scam, a
nervous Johnny is unsuccessful. He is stopped and severely
beaten by the Barksdale drug dealers, after which he ends
up in hospital.
Bubbles oers to inform on the Barksdale gang for Detective Kima Greggs, to get some measure of revenge for
Johnnys beating. Bubbles knowledge of the street proves
invaluable to Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' unit as they investi[12] Robert Bianco (2004-05-26). 10 Reasons we still love TV.
gate the Barksdale organization. He helps identify the crew
USA Today. Retrieved 2006-07-21.
members who run the Barksdale pit and those who work in
[13] Chris Barsanti (2004). The Wire - The Complete First Sea- the high-rise towers. When Omar Little robs the Barksdale
son. Slant Magazine. Retrieved 2006-07-20.
stash, Bubbles is present, and gives the license plate number
[11] The Corner: A Year in the Life of an Inner-City Neighborhood, p.283
6.3. BUBBLES (THE WIRE)
129
of Omars van to Greggs, which helps the detail track down Season four
the stick-up man.
After nearly being killed while trying to steal drugs, he tries In season four, Bubbles shares an abandoned garage with
to get o drugs, but reverts to his old habits when Greggs is teenaged Sherrod, peddling small goods from a shopping
shot: he pages Greggs after she had promised to help him cart to support themselves. Sherrod had trouble with the
stay clean, not realizing that she is hospitalized with a life- math involved and asked Bubbles to help re-enroll him in
threatening injury after a buy-and-bust went bad. As the school. Sherrod never makes it to school, however, and afpolice seek murder suspects, Bubbles is mistaken as a sus- ter a brief fall-out with Bubbles he returns to help him sell
pect and brutally beaten by Detective Vernon Holley in the goods from the shopping carts. In Sherrods absence, howinterrogation room until Sergeant Jay Landsman and other ever, Bubbles has become the daily victim of another street
ocers restrain Holley, calling in Jimmy McNulty to clear addict, who constantly robs him and beats him up. To stop
this daily assault, Bubbles concocts a hot shot of heroin
things up.
and sodium cyanide that he supposes the vagrant will steal
from him and then consume. However, Sherrod uses the
tainted drugs while Bubbles sleeps and Bubbles awakes to
nd that Sherrod has died. Consumed by guilt and grief,
Bubbles goes to the police and confesses his actions, before
Season two
unsuccessfully attempting suicide in the Homicide Interrogation room. Sergeant Jay Landsman sees that the death
McNulty recruits Bubbles to nd Omar Little, whom Bunk was unintentional and decides out of sympathy to send Bubneeds as a witness in the William Gant murder. Bub- bles to a state psychiatric facility rather than charge him
bles grudgingly agrees, and in a nervous encounter with a with murder.[2]
shotgun-wielding Omar, delivers McNultys message. At
the end of season two, he is arrested by Ocer Santangelo
while trying to steal needles and morphine from an ambu- Season ve
lance; in exchange for his release, he tips o Greggs and
McNulty to the new alliance between Proposition Joe and When the fth season begins Bubbles has been clean for
Stringer Bell.
more than a year. He is living in his sisters basement and
selling The Baltimore Sun to make money. His Narcotics
Anonymous sponsor is Walon.[1][3] Walon encourages Bubbles to open up about Sherrods death in meetings but Bubbles is not ready to take that step. Walon suggests that BubSeason three
bles should nd an outlet elsewhere and Bubbles begins volunteering at a local Catholic Worker soup kitchen called
Season three sees Bubbles assist the major case unit once Viva House.[4][5] Eventually Bubbles comes to terms with
again. Bubbles was a former associate of Squeak, then his role in Sherrods death and has his life story published
Bernards girlfriend. Bubbles put them in touch with an un- in an article in the Baltimore Sun. In his nal scene of the sedercover Lester Freamon, allowing the units plan to wire ries, he is seen being brought back into his sisters life when
tap the phones to proceed. During this time Bubbles con- she allows him upstairs from the basement to have dinner
tinued cooperation with the police began to create a rift be- with her and her child.
tween Bubbles and Johnny, who encouraged Bubbles to end A key allegiance in previous seasons, his and Greggs, is no
his career as an informant eventually Bubbles left Johnny longer presented in any way after Bubbles rehabilitates, esto fend for himself.
pecially after Greggs is unable to ultimately help him. The
As the investigation progresses Bubbles begins to supplement the income he was earning as an informant by collecting discarded cell phones and t-shirts to sell out of a
shopping cart; upon discovering Major Howard Bunny
Colvin's Hamsterdam zones he expands his inventory to
suit the needs of the dealers and addicts there. While in
Hamsterdam, Bubbles also comes back into contact with
Johnny and, upon recognizing that his friends health was
failing due to drug abuse, encourages him to leave his
fears are realized at the end of the season, when Johnny is
found dead from an overdose.
terms of their friendship and whether they came in contact

after the events of season 4 is not revealed.
6.3.2
Origin
Bubbles was based on a real police informant known as

Possum,[6] whose true identity has not been made public
at the request of his family. Possum was noted as having an
incredible memory for faces, and was often very helpful in
pointing out drug dealers to police. David Simon met with
130
him twice, shortly before Possums death from AIDS, in- 6.4.1 Biography
tending to write an article about him. He ended up turning
it into an obituary.[7]
Season three
6.3.3
Trivia
While lming, Royo was once approached by a Baltimore

resident, who handed him a package of heroin and said he
looked like he needed a x.[8] Royo calls this his street
Oscar.[8]
6.3.4
References

[2] Character prole - Bubbles. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 200608-05.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Cutty is known as a legendary soldier in Baltimores drug

trade, and was nishing a fourteen-year prison sentence
when Avon Barksdale and Wee-Bey Brice arrived in prison.
Cutty is well respected by Avon and many others in his organization for the work he did before going to prison, including phoning the police from the scene of a murder he had
committed. Avon approaches Cutty with an oer of work
shortly before his release. Barksdale lieutenant Shamrock
gives him a homecoming gift of a package of narcotics. After observing a street dealer for a time, Cutty approaches
him and oers to supply him for a cut of the prot. The
dealer, Fruit, takes Cutty up on his oer but refuses to pay
him when Cutty returns for the prots. Fruit then takes out
a gun and threatens Cutty, leading him to back down. Cutty
turns to work as a day laborer with a landscaping crew to
get by. He tracks down his ex-girlfriend, Grace Sampson,
to reconnect and nds her working as a schoolteacher. She
puts him in touch with her church deacon to help him nd
work, but resists any other involvement. The deacon suggests that Cutty study to obtain his GED, but Cutty sees
this as too dicult and, despite his initial hesitation, begins
working with the Barksdale crew soon after his parole.
His eectiveness and intelligence as an enforcer is shown on

several occasions when working for Avon. He quickly earns
the respect of Avons primary enforcer Slim Charles, who
throws a welcome home party for Cutty. He works with
[6] David Simon(1992-03-16). Life as a snitch: Anonymous to young soldiers Sapper and Gerard to track down a thief in
the end, ' Possum ' tells secrets, Baltimore Sun. Retrieved
the Barksdale organization, and his experience and intellion 2008-09-16.
gence enables them to quickly identify the culprit. Cutty is
appalled when the younger soldiers almost kill the young
[7] Alvarez, Rafael. The Wire: Truth Be Told - The Complete
dealer, believing a warning beating sucient to modify his
Ocial Series Guide. Canongate Books.
behavior but keep him t to work for them.
A turf war between the Barksdales and new power Marlo

Staneld provides more work for Barksdale soldiers. Cutty
and Slim Charles plan a raid on a Staneld corner using a
pincer movement. Their younger associates ruin their plan
by striking too soon and Barksdale veteran Country is killed
6.4 Dennis Cutty Wise
as a consequence. Cutty and Slim Charles later decide to
strike back alone but when their moment comes Cutty is
For the English former footballer, see Dennis Wise.
faced with Fruit and nds himself unable to re. It becomes
clear to Cutty that he no longer has the game in him, after
Dennis Cutty Wise is a ctional character on the HBO which he tells Avon that hes leaving the crew, saying, I
drama The Wire, played by actor Chad Coleman. Wise is a aint got it in me no mo'. Avon decides to let him leave,
reformed criminal who sets up a boxing gym for neighbor- telling Slim Charles that Cutty still deserves their respect.
hood children. The name Dennis Wise was taken from an Wise then begins to build a new life by returning to landactual Baltimore contract killer, who is serving a life sen- scaping and, at the deacons suggestion, opens a boxing
tence in prison. The nickname Cutty originates from the gym. At rst he is overwhelmed by the bureaucracy and
character serving time in the Maryland State Penitentiary red tape involved in opening the gym, but receives politiin Jessup, Maryland, which was nicknamed The Cut.
cal backing from the deacons contact, Rev. Frank Reid.
6.5. STRINGER BELL
131
Reid puts Wise in touch with State Delegate Odell Watkins

and Marla Daniels. Watkins has Daniels help Wise to get
the permits he needs for the gym. Attempting to raise the
funds to properly equip the gym, he approaches Avon to
request the funding. Avon, a former amateur boxer, happily provides the money without any incentive, to Cuttys
surprise.
talents and tries to inspire him to leave Baltimore, though he

ultimately admits that he himself, despite having reformed,
doesn't know how to get out.
Wise connects with sergeant Ellis Carver through his efforts to encourage children away from drug dealing through
sports, and the two develop a mutual respect. He has
some success with local children, particularly when the
Barksdale-Staneld turf war temporarily closes down much
of the drug trade in the area. In particular, one young dealer
named Justin has talent and works hard to improve as a
boxer. However, the turf war comes to a sudden end when
Avon is arrested, and Cutty nds his gym quickly deserted
as the children return to work. Cutty continues his eorts
at personal reform despite this setback.
George Pelecanos is given credit with creating the character of Dennis Wise, based on unused notes from his novel
Drama City, about a man getting out of prison after almost
two decades. The idea reected the reform theme of the
third season, so the character was added. David Simons
books Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets and The Corner (written with Ed Burns) both mention the real Dennis
Wise. He is described as one of the two most infamous
contract killers active in Baltimore during the late 1970s
- Vernon Collins being the other. Police were frustrated
by the fact that no witnesses could be found against either
man. Neither Wise nor Collins would break under intense
police questioning, refusing to say anything other than to
request a lawyer. Dennis Wise was eventually sentenced to
life in prison in 1979 for a contract killing. He earned his
bachelors degree in Psychology while in prison. In 1999,
Maryland Correctional ocials transferred Wise to an Arizona prison in Yuma because he was allegedly leading an
inuential prison gang. Wise wrote a novel called The Wolf
Trap while in prison.
Season four
In season four Wises gym is thriving and he has taken on
a number of other trainers to work with the kids. Justin
returns to training and begins to compete in local boxing
matches. Wise receives a great deal of attention from the
women of the neighborhood, including the mothers of some
of his trainees, who are, it is suggested, jumping at the opportunity to meet a decent and paternal man in a community in which many men have been absent, corrupted, killed,
or incarcerated. He has become adept at controlling the
boys who use the gym and earning their respect, although
he jeopardizes his position with some of them as a result of
his womanizing. He is also having some success in his work
as a landscaper having acquired a working knowledge of the
Spanish spoken by most of his colleagues. The crew chief is
so impressed with Wise that he oers to make him a partner
in the business and put him in charge of a second crew, but
Wise declines so that he can focus on the gym. Wise begins
to take an interest in training a boy named Michael Lee who
he believes is a natural boxer. Michael rebus Wises rst
oer of coaching. Later on, Wise is shot in the leg while
trying to convince Michael to leave the corner life. While in
hospital, Wise is instrumental in getting Namond Brice o
the streets by arranging Howard Colvin to have a sitdown
with Namonds father, Wee-Bey.[1]
Season ve
In season ve, Wise is briey shown when Michael Lee,
looking out for his friend Duquan Dukie Weems, drops
him o to train with Cutty. Cutty watches Dukie ght and,
seeing his ineptitude as a boxer, tells him that he has other
6.4.2
6.4.3
Origins
References
[1] Character prole - Dennis Cutty Wise. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
6.5
Stringer Bell
This article is about the character from The Wire. For the
musician, see Dramatis.
Russell Stringer Bell is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by English actor Idris Elba.
Bell served as drug kingpin Avon Barksdale's secondin-command, assuming direct control of the Barksdale
Organization during Avons imprisonment. Bell attends
economics classes at Baltimore City Community College
and maintains a personal library, including a copy of Adam
Smith's The Wealth of Nations. He attempts to legitimize
the Barksdale Organization and insulate himself from direct criminality through money laundering and investments
in housing development, aided through his buying of inuence from politicians.
132
6.5.1
Biography
insists on phone discipline, telling D'Angelos crew to remove nearby payphones and walk longer distances to other
Stringer was born September 17, 1969, and grew up in the phones instead.
West Baltimore projects alongside childhood friends Avon
When its time for Avon to clean house, Stringer orders
Barksdale and Wee-Bey Brice.
the murder of Wallace, who had been a key witness in the
killing of Omars boyfriend. Stringer tries to nd out about
Wallaces whereabouts from D'Angelo, but D'Angelo reSeason one
alizes his friend is in danger and only tells Stringer that
Stringer is rst seen attending the trial of Avons nephew and Wallace left the business. Stringer turns to Bodie Broadus,
lieutenant, D'Angelo Barksdale, for the murder of rival drug D'Angelos second in the pit operation and learns that Waldealer Pooh Blanchard. Avon has tasked Stringer with lace has returned to working for D'Angelo. Stringer asks
ensuring that D'Angelo is acquitted. To this end, Stringer Bodie to murder Wallace. He also has the witness he bribed
has enforcers Roland Wee-Bey Brice, Anton Stinkum in D'Angelos trial, Nakeesha Lyles, killed.
Artis, and Savino intimidate and bribe witnesses over the
course of the trial. When D'Angelo is released, Avon has
Stringer demote him to running the operation in the low-rise
projects known as the pit.
Stringer assumes command of the Barksdale crew when

Avon is arrested at the end of season one. D'Angelo is also
arrested and when he learns of the murder of his friend Wallace he blames Stringer, driving a wedge between the two.
Stringer then has his hands full dealing with Omar Little's Stringer rewards Bodies loyalty by promoting him to run
crew, after they steal some of Barksdales stash from the their operation at the 221 tower.
pit. Stringer visits D'Angelo to instruct him about checking
his organization for an informant who may have been giving
Season two
Omar information. Avon orders contract killings on Omar
and all of his crew. Avon also has Stringer assist Stinkum In season two, Stringer faces a serious problem when the
in taking over new territory for the organization.
Barksdales usual supplier, a Dominican named Roberto,
Stringer takes Stinkum to survey his new territory, with
some additional muscle in the form of Wee-Bey and
Marquis Bird Hilton. While there, Stringer receives word
from D'Angelo that two of his crew, Wallace and Poot, have
spotted Omars boyfriend Brandon at an arcade. Stringer
drives to meet the young drug dealers at the arcade, bringing the three enforcers. He has them abduct Brandon using
handcus and posing as police ocers. They torture Brandon to death trying to discover Omars whereabouts. Then,
following Avons orders, they mutilate his corpse and display it in the low rises. Omar responds to the brutal slaying
by striking back at Stinkum and Wee-Bey as they move into
the new territory, killing Stinkum and wounding Wee-Bey.
With this escalation of the conict, Stringer tries to persuade Avon to oer Omar a truce. His plan is to let Omar
grow complacent, then kill him when he lets his guard
down. Avon initially brushes this suggestion aside, but after Omar nearly kills him, he accepts Stringers advice.
Stringer also persuades Avon to give up his pagermaking
Stringer a buer between Avon and the rest of the operation.
becomes the focus of a Drug Enforcement Administration

investigation. The New York-based Dominican syndicate
ends its partnership with the Barksdales, suspecting Avon
of informing on them in exchange for a lighter prison sentence. Avon nds alternatives through Philadelphia and
Atlanta connections, but the heroin they supply is far less
potent and more expensive. Compounding this problem,
all of Barksdales main hitmen were all arrested or killed
in season one. At the same time, rival supplier Proposition
Joe introduces a purer, more eective heroin line through
his connection with the Greeksleading many drug users
to migrate to his territory. With the Barksdales operation
threatened, Stringer grows desperate.
Stringer becomes concerned with D'Angelos increasingly

hostile attitude towards his uncle, fearful that he may turn
against the Barksdales. He secretly becomes involved with
D'Angelos ex-girlfriend, Donette, using the relationship to
keep an eye on him. When D'Angelo cuts himself o from
the rest of his family, Stringer secretly arranges to have him
killed through a connection in Washington, DC Stringers
connection has his cousin, who is in the same prison, stranAs Avon grows increasingly suspicious that the police are gle D'Angelo and stage the death as a suicide. Stringer
watching him, Stringer takes precautions to smoke out in- stresses the need to keep Avon from knowing about his role
formants and to counter wiretaps. He instructs D'Angelo in D'Angelos murder.
to withhold pay from his subordinates for several weeks on Looking to solve the Barksdales struggling drug trade,
the grounds that those who don't soon ask for money are Stringer decides to go behind Avons back and secretly
likely to be the ones being paid as informants. However, agrees to share Barksdale territory with Proposition Joe in
this plan reveals no informants. To foil wiretaps, Stringer exchange for Joes higher-quality heroinan idea Avon ve-
6.5. STRINGER BELL
133
hemently opposes. When Avon hires legendary New York

enforcer Brother Mouzone to chase rival drug dealers out of
the Barksdale towers, Stringer maneuvers carefully to preserve his alliance with Joe behind Avons back. He manages to do so by tricking Omar into shooting Mouzone by
blaming him for Brandons death. The plan fails after Omar
shoots Mouzone, but calls the paramedics after realizing
hes been lied to by Stringer. With Mouzone returning to
New York to recover, Avon grudgingly agrees to Proposition Joes proposal.
out drugs to sell on them.
Season three
Stringers relationship with Avon is irreparably damaged

by this revelation. While Avon eventually seems to come
to terms with Stringers confession, it compromised their
brotherhood and Avon was no longer willing to protect
Stringer from the repercussions of his other manipulations.
Ultimately, the episode proves that Stringers origins in the
street have left him without the patience and restraint required to realize his greater ambitions.
When Stringer asserts his opposition to Avons war against

the Staneld Crew, Avon accuses him of lacking the toughness necessary for their businessand based on the lack
of progress on his condominiums, also accuses him of not
being smart enough for the legitimate business world. This
causes Stringer to angrily reassert his toughness by revealing
that he had ordered D'Angelos death. Stringer tells Avon
that he chose to have D'Angelo killed because Avon himself would be unable to order the death of his own nephew,
even if he knew that D'Angelo would eventually ip.
Stringer uses more businesslike strategies as he continues

running the Barksdale empire. He obtains legitimate business fronts for the Barksdale organization, forms a retail coop with Proposition Joe and other rival dealers, and runs
meetings with his underlings according to Roberts Rules
of Order. Stringer is also shown to have made several donations to consultants and politicians, including the cor- Stringers inroads into real estate are hamstrung by the nurupt state senator Clay Davis, to facilitate development of a ances of a legitimate business world that he doesn't fully uncondominium complex.
derstand, with his condominium project repeatedly delayed
At the beginning of Season 3, Stringer has reached the apex by bureaucratic obstacles. Stringer is frustrated by what he
of his power. Along with Proposition Joe, he eectively perceives as inexcusable foot-dragging that would not be
runs the drug supply in the entire city. Joe and Stringer re- tolerated in the drug world. Worse, Stringer bribes Davis to
alize that murders, not drug deals, are what bring on serious connect his organization with federal housing grants, only
police investigations, and consequently strive to minimize to learn that Davis fabricated his federal contact and pockviolence among their crews and the other Co-op dealers, eted the money. Enraged, Stringer instructs Slim Charles
to assassinate Davis, an order Avon immediately cancels.
such as Hungry Man and Fat Face Rick.
Stringers luck takes a turn for the worse when Kintell

Williamson joins the New Day Co-Op and curbs his crews
violent tendencies. At the same time, Avons war with
Marlo is ratcheting up, and McNulty backdoors Lt. Daniels
and goes straight to the Western District Commander, Major Howard Colvin, in order to refocus the Major Crimes
Unit on Barksdales once-again violent drug crew. This
helps Freamon and Prez slowly gather conspiracy evidence
against Stringer and his lieutenants, eventually catching
Stringer making an incriminating phone call on one of his
many phone lines. The Major Crimes Unit is nally ready
to make a move against the Barksdale Crew, but just before
warrants can be issued the Organization self-destructs in an
When Avon is released from prison, he is uninterested ironic turn of events.
in Stringers eorts to reform the Barksdale organization.
While Stringer wants to invest the organizations prots in Stringer plans to stabilize control of the Barksdale organilegitimate business investments, Avon is more concerned zation by sending Avon back to prison for parol violations,
with an imitate war against rival drug lord Marlo Stan- betraying the location of his safehouse to Baltimore Poeld. As Avons war against Marlo begins to draw more lice Major Howard Bunny Colvin. However, Stringer is
police attention, Proposition Joe and other Co-Op Mem- simultaneously betrayed by Avon when Brother Mouzone
bers threaten to cut Stringer o from the Greeks superior confronts him about Stringers plot to engineer a conict
heroin supply if he can't convince Avon to stop the vio- between Mouzone and Omar Little. Mouzone tells Avon
lence. In Stringers view, this would make any victory over that he knew Stringer had intentionally fed Omar misinforMarlo worthless, as street corners generate no money with- mation, and that he held Avon responsible for Stringers acThe resulting lack of murders forces Daniels Major Crimes
Unit to turn its attention elsewhere, namely to a more
reckless Jamaican dealer named Kintell Williamson (AKA
Prince K). Most of the unit understands the decision, but
McNulty angrily objects, claiming that Stringer is clearly a
more prolic tracker than their new target. This brings
McNulty into conict with Freamon and Daniels, with
Greggs caught in the middle and Prez and Sydnor disenchanted with the less interesting Williamson. As a result,
the Major Case Unit, previously the most eective unit in
Baltimores CID, is temporarily compromised and Stringer
is able to run free for a time.
134
tions, threatening to use his connections to cut o the Barksdale organizations connections and supply of drugs from
New York. In an eort to avoid a war with Mouzone, Avon
reluctantly tells him Stringers whereabouts.

2006-07-30.
[3] Kahn, Jeremy (August 2, 2007). Real life, and then some.
The Guardian. Retrieved 2009-09-12.
Shortly after Avons meeting with Brother Mouzone, Avon

and Stringer enjoy a last drink together at Avons harborside condominium. They reminisce about the past. The 6.6 Avon Barksdale
next day Omar and Brother Mouzone track Stringer to his
development site, kill his bodyguard and, after a tense conAvon Randolph Barksdale is a ctional character on the
frontation, kill him.
HBO drama The Wire portrayed by actor Wood Harris.
With Stringer dead and Avon imprisoned along with most Avon is the dominant drug dealer of Baltimores West Side,
of his men, the Barksdale organization crumbles. Slim running the Barksdale Organization. He runs the West BalCharles becomes de facto leader of what remains of the timore drug trade with total autonomy.
Barksdale crew, which he merges with Proposition Joes
drug operations. Marlo Staneld becomes the new power Avon was counseled in his drug business by attorney
Maurice Levy and assisted by his sister Brianna Barksdale
in West Baltimore by default.
and childhood friend Stringer Bell, who was responsible for
After Stringers death, Detective McNulty and the police the economics of the drug business as Avons second-insearch his apartment. The apartment is extremely clean, command. Below Bell was a large organization of drug
stylishly furnished and tastefully decorated. Far from any dealers and enforcers, including Avons nephew D'Angelo
expectations of a drug kingpin, his bookshelf includes a Barksdale, son of Brianna Barksdale. Accepting nothing
copy of The Wealth of Nations. McNulty expresses regret less than absolute power, Avon is interested only in conthat he could not arrest his arch rival before he died. In trolling the drug trade in West Baltimore, believing that the
the end, McNulty displays an odd admiration for Stringers control of territory is key to such objective.
lofty dreams, and a grudging respect for his talent as a drug
kingpin. In essence, McNulty feels purposeless without his He is hot-tempered, very concerned with his image on the
street, and quick to send violent warnings to other crews.
adversary.
He is also shrewd and intuitive, though not as cerebral as
Stringer. Avon was partly based on real-life gang leader
Nathan Barksdale who ran a drug selling operation in West
6.5.2 Legacy
Baltimore.
In the season ve episode Late Editions, Clay Davis, while
describing to Lester Freamon how drug money is routed
from the kingpins to state and city politicians through their 6.6.1 Biography
lawyers, mentions how he conned a fellow named Bell
into giving him a great deal of money because Davis had Early life
convinced him that he would be able to use his connections
to push his development forward quickly. As Davis laughs Barksdale grew up in the terrace high-rises. Although as
about how he conned Stringer, Freamons eyes light up in of season 1 Barksdale had no criminal recordhis juvenile record is said to have been expunged. Up until the
recognition.[1][2]
Barksdale Investigation, Barksdale remained a furtive but
increasingly powerful force on the west side of Baltimores
drug trade. Avon is the son of Butch Stamford, though no
6.5.3 Origins
father is listed on his birth certicate. Stamford was an infaStringers name is a composite of two real Baltimore drug mous Baltimore criminal, whose name is known by both the
lords, Stringer Reed and Roland Bell.[3] His story bears police and other drug trackers. Avon, a former amateur
many similarities to the life of Kenneth A. Jackson boxer who once fought in a Golden Gloves Tournament, was
specically, his crossover from the illegal drug trade to le- taught by his father how to survive in "the game" at an early
age.
gitimate business ownership and political contributions.
6.5.4
References
Criminal organization
Main article: Barksdale Organization
6.6. AVON BARKSDALE

At the beginning of the series, Avon has control of the entire West Baltimore drug trade. His territory included the
prized Franklin Terrace tower blocks and a nearby low-rise
housing project, referred to as the pit. Avon ran the organization as a hierarchy with himself at the top and Stringer
directly below him. They were both isolated from the drugs,
handling only money. Avon himself kept an extremely low
prole, eschewing overt displays of wealth so as not to attract attention, avoiding being photographed, not having a
drivers license, and owning nothing in his own name. He
retained attorney Maurice Levy, who advised him on how
to counter police investigations and represented members
of the Barksdale organization at hearings and trials.
Avon had a number of enforcers for protection, contract
killings, and intimidation work, including his old friend
Wee-Bey Brice. He had several lieutenants reporting to
him, each responsible for trade in a dierent area, with
some receiving a percentage of the prots (points on the
package) of the narcotics they sold. Beneath the lieutenants there was typically a second-in-command and below them several drug dealers. The dealers would each
have a particular role: touts were responsible for attracting customers; runners would deliver drugs to the customer; look-outs were responsible for watching for police
or stick-up gangs approaching; or handling the money and
the level of supply. Each dealer would receive a weekly cash
payment for their work from the lieutenant above them.
Every member of the organization was subject to strict rules
designed to thwart police investigations. The dealers were
not allowed to carry cell phones or take drugs. They were
all aware of how to deal with police interrogation and knew
that the organization would protect them up to a point, but if
they turned on Avon they would be killed. Lieutenants and
enforcers carried pagers so that they could be contacted.
They were subject to the same rules as the dealers, but also
knew not to talk business in cars, public places or with anyone outside of the organization. Such discussions were limited to property and territory owned by the Barksdale organization.
A strict telephone usage policy was applied rigidly throughout the organization. The pager messages were encoded to
prevent easy tracing of the telephones used, all of which
were public telephones. The code was based on simple use
of the telephone keypad - numbers were swapped with their
opposite across the number ve, and ve was exchanged
with zero, making it accessible to poorly-educated drug
dealers. Each pager-carrying member of the organization
was identied by a number. When pages were returned with
a phone call no names were supposed to be used, and if a
name was used, the speaker was rebuked. A separate code
was used for resupply signals, which involved turning the
pager display upside down.
135
Avon received his narcotics supply through a connection to a
Dominican organization in New York and had several other
options for suppliers in surrounding cities. The main supply of narcotics was separated from the rest of the organization and held in a house in Pimlico where it could be cut
and divided into smaller stashes for distribution among
the Barksdale towers. Once inside the towers, these smaller
packages were moved from room to room on a regular basis, to avoid the scrutiny of police and stick-up men such as
Omar Little.
Avons main oce was one of his front organizations, a
strip club named Orlandos. It was here, behind a locked
and heavily guarded door, that the drug money was counted
and secured before being sent on to its ultimate destination.
Avon usually conducted his business in this oce, rarely
venturing onto the street. The clubs legal owner, Orlando
Blocker, was kept away from the drugs in order to maintain
the fronts appearance of legitimacy for the city.
The organization laundered its prots through various
fronts, including a funeral parlor, Orlandos, and a property
developing company named B&B. It also invested in property, never actually using either Avon or Stringers names
on ocial papers. It also made campaign contributions
and later bribesto Senator Clay Davis, ostensibly for assistance with development contracts.
Season one
Avons errant nephew and lieutenant D'Angelo had murdered someone in public, so Avon had Stringer pay a
witness, Nakeesha Lyles, to change her story in court.
D'Angelo was acquitted, but Avon chastised him for costing the organization time and money, and demoted him
from the 221 Tower into The Pit to replace Ronnie Mo,
who had recently been promoted to his own tower. Avon
also arranged for Bird Hilton to murder a second witness,
William Gant, whom he had been unable to intimidate or
bribe. The body was left on display outside the 221 Tower,
to send a message to people who might consider testifying.
D'Angelo was shaken by the murder and began to have second thoughts about his life, but Avon persuaded him to remain loyal to the family.
Avon was angered when The Pits stash was robbed by legendary Baltimore stick-up man Omar Little, and he placed a
heavy bounty on Omar and his crew (nearly doubling it upon
realizing Omar was homosexual). Wee-Bey killed Bailey,
a member of Omars crew. Omars lover Brandon was captured and tortured by Stringer, Wee-Bey, Bird and Stinkum.
In response, Omar killed Stinkum and wounded Wee-Bey,
culminating with a failed assassination attempt on Avon outside of Orlandos. Wee-Bey managed to save Avon at the
last minute.
136

sentence of just three years for drug charges because he was
not directly implicated in the shooting. Avon and Stringer
held a crisis meeting with attorney Maurice Levy, who advised them to remove any possible loose ends. Avon ordered several murders, including unreliable enforcer Little
Man, bribed witness Nakeesha Lyles and a young dealer
from The Pit named Wallace.
Avon nally incriminated himself on a hidden camera in
his oce sending D'Angelo to pick up a package of drugs.
He was arrested on charges of possession with intent to distribute, but as this was the only arrest he had ever incurred
he was sentenced to a total of seven years with possibility
of parole.
Season two
The Barksdale Organization (season one)
The Pit was also subject to raids which seized a second resupply of narcotics and arrested a carrier Kevin Johnston
and a dealer Robert Browning. The police also seized an
entire days prots from Wee-Bey, totalling $22,000. They
also briey seized a payment on its way to State Senator
Davis but were forced to return it because of his political
inuence. The robbery and police activity combined raised
suspicion that there was a leak in the pit, and an increasingly
paranoid Avon ordered D'Angelo to remove the pay phones
(which had indeed been wiretapped).
Barksdales front man Orlando had been trying to take part
in the drug trade, and Avon felt obliged to beat him, warning him that the only reason he was front man was because
he was clean. Orlando persisted in trying to go into the
business for himself, and was arrested by an undercover
state police ocer. Avon promptly has his name removed
from the clubs license. Orlando agreed to aid the police
in their investigation, and Avon sent Wee-Bey, Little Man
and Savino to kill him. The job was complicated when they
found a woman accompanying Orlando and Little Man panicked and shot her. Avon quickly learned that the woman
was Detective Greggs.
The Barksdale Organization (season two)
Avon continued to run his organization from within the

prison through Stringer. D'Angelo and Wee-Bey were imprisoned alongside Avon, both due to serve much longer
terms. Wee-Bey informed Avon that a prison guard, Dwight
Tilghman, was harassing him, in retaliation for the murder of a relative. Avon tried to reason with Tilghman, but
the guard refused to talk to him. Knowing that Tilghman
had a sideline in smuggling narcotics into the prison, Avon
contrived to supply him with tainted heroin, causing numerous deaths. When the warden began an investigation,
Avon came forth as an informant, accusing Tilghman of
The shooting of a detective led to a massive crackdown from the crime. Narcotics were found in Tilghmans car, and
the police. Savino was forced to turn himself in, but faced a Avons rst parole hearing was brought forward in exchange
6.6. AVON BARKSDALE
137
for the information. Despite being the one ultimately responsible for the crime, he is due to be out of jail within a
year. D'Angelo grows more distant from Avon, refusing to
take part in the scheme, and seeming depressed, even turning to drug use. Without Avons knowledge, Stringer has
D'Angelo killed in a fake suicide.
Because Avons arrest was closely followed by the arrest
of one of their suppliers, the New York-based Dominicans were suspicious that Avon might have named them
to receive a lighter sentence, and the business relationship
was brought to an end. Avon recommended secondary
sources to Stringer but was unable to secure anything much
better. Stringer tells Avon that Proposition Joe has offered to provide his high-quality heroin in exchange for letting Joes men work on some of Avons prime territory.
Avon quickly dismissed the idea, reminding Stringer how
hard they worked to seize the territory in the rst place.
However, Stringer eventually decides to allow Proposition
Joe to move in despite Avons order. Not knowing that
Stringer had agreed to the arrangnment behind his back,
Avon contracted the feared Brother Mouzone to defend his
turf. Stringer responds by tricking Omar into believing that
Mouzone tortured and killed his former boyfriend Brandon. Omar shoots Mouzone, but lets him live after realizing things didn't add up. Mouzone returns to New York
to recover from his wound and Avon reluctantly agrees to
Proposition Joes proposal.
The Barksdale Organization (season three)
soldiers responsible wait for hours at headquarters, he tells

Stringer that the only repercussions he would impose on
Upon his release from prison, Avon is showered with gifts them would be to require them to buy Omars grandmother
a new hat.
by Stringer: a nightclub, a penthouse apartment, expensive
clothes, a new SUV. Avon, while appreciative of Stringers At the beginning of the season, Avon makes an eort to
largesse, is outraged that Stringer has let their control over recruit Dennis Cutty Wise into the organization, due
their territory slip as much as it has, and gets involved in to Cuttys legendary past as a soldier and his and Avons
a gang war with up-and-coming drug kingpin Marlo Stan- near-coincident release dates (Cuttys imprisonment having
eld. Avon employed a woman named Devonne through lasted 14 years). Cutty joins the group for a time but soon
Slim Charles to nd Marlo. She encounters Marlo in a bar, admits that the game is not in him anymore. Avon, disseduces him, and gives him her phone number so they can appointed but understanding, allows the old soldier to go
meet up again. When they later plan to meet up, it becomes on respectful terms. Later, when Cutty asks for $10,000 to
clear that a trap has been set and Marlos enforcer Chris help start a gym for neighborhood boys, Avon happily oers
Partlow shoots and kills a Barksdale crew member named him $15,000 cash.
Tater and wounds Avon in the process. Later, Marlo nds Avon and Stringer continue to clash over their conicting
Devonne and shoots her dead in front of her home.
methods of leadership; Proposition Joe tells Stringer that
Season three
When two hitters in his organization, under the direction

of Stringer, attempt a hit on Omar as he accompanies his
grandmother to church, Avon is angered by the breach of
a long standing tradition of an unspoken truce on Sunday
mornings. Omars elderly grandmother loses her hat during
the failed hit. Avon is also worried by rumors of Omars
granny getting shot in the ass and the shooters pissing on
her hat circulating amongst rival gangs. After letting the
he will withhold his supply of high-quality drugs from the

Barksdale organization if Avons war with Staneld continues, but Avon believes that giving in to Staneld will make
the organization look weak and diminish its standing. During an argument with Avon, Stringer reveals that he had
D'Angelo killed for the good of the organization. The revelation damages their relationship irreparably. In an eort
to return Avon to prison and thereby remove him as an ob-
138
stacle to Stringers business aims, Stringer contacts Major
Colvin and reveals the location of Avons weapons safehouse. Meanwhile, Brother Mouzone returns to Baltimore
and confronts Avon about Stringers attempt to engineer a
conict between Mouzone and Omar. Mouzone threatens
to use his connections to cut o the Barksdale organizations
supply of drugs from New York and destroy Avons credibility. In an eort to avoid a war with Mouzone, Avon reluctantly provides Mouzone with information about Stringers
whereabouts as a result of their seemingly irreconcilable
philosophical dierences in how to run the organization,
and Mouzone (along with Omar) kills Stringer. Avon privately admits to Slim Charles that, contrary to rumors that
Stringer fell at the hands of Stanelds crew, Stringer actually died because of some other shit. Depressed, Avon
concedes that he has come around to Stringers point of view
and is tired of beeng over a couple fuckin' corners. Slim
retorts that they are already in a war, and even if the premise
for it is false, they must still ght on it.

bygones be bygones in regards to his war with Staneld.
However, he informed Marlo that in order to gain access
to Sergei, Marlo would have to pay Avons sister $100,000.
Marlo agreed, made the payment, and at his next visit to
Jessup, Avon granted him access to Sergei. As Marlo and
Sergei talked, Avon oversaw their meeting. Sergei was initially uninterested in cooperating with Stanelds plan and
refers to him dismissively, but is swayed when Marlo points
out that if any arrangement he can make with Vondas are
benecial to the Greeks, it would be Sergei who made it
happen. By the end of the series, Stanelds second-incommand Chris Partlow has made peace with Barksdales
organization as well, as he is seen fraternizing with Barksdales soldier Wee-Bey in the Jessup prison yard. [3]
6.6.2
Origins
David Simon has disputed that any one individual is the

model for any specic character in The Wire.[4] He has
stated on The Wire DVD that Barksdale is a composite of
several Baltimore drug dealers. However, Avon Barksdale
is likely based, to some extent, on at least two notorious
Baltimore drug dealers: Melvin Williams (who plays the
character of The Deacon),[5][6] and Nathan Barksdale.[7]
Avon was ultimately arrested again; based on evidence that

Stringer provided, police raided Barksdales wartime safehouse and were able to put weapons and conspiracy charges
on all those present. Barksdales presence at the time of the
arrest constituted a parole violation which mandates serving
the remaining ve years of his seven-year sentence. Barksdales lieutenants claim ownership of all the weapons, suggesting that the states attorney will have a dicult time pin- 6.6.3 References
ning any further charges on him. At the montage at the end
of season three, Barksdale sits at the defense table at a court [1] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Archived from the
original on 11 April 2006. Retrieved 2006-03-29.
room with all those apprehended during the bust sitting behind him. The shot has no dialog, so it is unclear just how [2] Character prole - Avon Barksdale. HBO. 2004.
long Barksdale would be in prison, but it cannot be less than
Archived from the original on 11 April 2006. Retrieved
2006-03-29.
ve years, and there is a small chance that he received an
additional 25 years for conspiracy to commit murder and [3] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
weapons charges.[1][2]
Season ve
[4] Last Word: Nathan Bodie Barksdale and Kenny Jackson

tell their versions of Baltimores street life in The Baltimore
Chronicles: Legends of the Unwired | Baltimore City Paper. Citypaper.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
Marlo Staneld arranged a meeting with former Greek soldier Sergei Malatov at the Jessup Correctional Facility in the [5]
hopes of contacting The Greeks and Spiros Vondas. When
[6] Glenny, Misha (2008-09-13). David Simon: Mean streets.
he arrived, Marlo was surprised to nd Avon on the other
The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2010-04-26.
side of the prison glass. Avon revealed that he was still a
man with a formidable reputation in the prison, and that [7] Last Word: Nathan Bodie Barksdale and Kenny Jackson
tell their versions of Baltimores street life in The Baltimore
Sergei had approached him once he began receiving direct
Chronicles: Legends of the Unwired | Baltimore City Papayments from Marlo in order to get on Sergeis visiting list.
per. Citypaper.com. Retrieved 2011-08-24.
Avon explained that he had intuited Marlos plan of using
Sergei to contact Vondas. Avon stated that he agreed, philosophically, with Marlos plan to get around Proposition Joe
& the other Eastsiders and cut them out of the supply con- 6.7 Marlo Staneld
nection (this could also be due to Joes past dealings with
Stringer behind Avons back). Avon playfully espoused Marlo Black Staneld is a ctional character on the
love for Westsiders and stated that he was prepared to let HBO television drama The Wire, played by actor Jamie
6.7. MARLO STANFIELD
139
Hector. Staneld is a young, ambitious, intelligent and

extremely ruthless player and, along with Chris Partlow
and Felicia Snoop Pearson, is head of the eponymous
Staneld Organization in the Baltimore drug trade. Marlos
organization starts out small-time, operating in the vacuum
left by the Barksdale Organization, and rises to the top of
the Baltimore drug trade fairly quickly. A repeated theme
in Marlos characterization is his demand for unconditional
respect, which trumps all other concerns. He frequently orders the deaths of those who disrespect him or undermine
his name on the streets, however unwittingly. He is arguably
the most violent and ruthless of the drug kingpins portrayed
in The Wire.
the violence of their business in order to avoid police attention. Staneld listened to Stringer without comment, and
shortly after Stringer left, he warned Partlow to prepare for
war.
Following the loss of their project buildings, the Barksdale

Organization approached Staneld through lieutenant
Bodie Broadus to discuss the sharing of territory in exchange for a supply of their high quality heroin. Staneld
refused to acknowledge Bodie, who had set up his own crew
within Stanelds established territory, and insisted that he
move his people away. Later Staneld has dealer Fruit and
his crew give Bodies crew a beating, demonstrating that he
was not going to lay down and let the Barksdale organization
move into his territory. Stringer Bell visited Staneld personally to try to convince him to join the New Day Co-Op,
a group of Baltimore drug players who buy packages of narcotics together to receive a discount and also try to reduce
When Stringer Bell is murdered, the police and drug gangs

assumed that Staneld was responsible. In reality, Avon had
facilitated his death by giving Brother Mouzone (and in turn
Omar Little) information about his whereabouts. Staneld
and Chris come close to also being murdered when Slim
Charles tracks them down. However, the police, acting on a
tip given by Stringer shortly before his death, raid the Barksdale armory. Slim Charles calls for backup, but Avon and
his soldiers are arrested.
Lieutenant Daniels major case unit became aware of Staneld when he met with Stringer, although initially they assumed he was working for the Barksdale organization like
many other crews in the West side. The unit went to the
homicide division to learn more about Staneld and found
that he had been investigated for a murder. The police had
built a case against him using a key witness who was murdered before the case went to trial. The investigating detective, Vernon Holley, believed that Staneld killed the witness and goes on to describe Staneld as the spawn of the
devil. When a failed Barksdale assault on a Staneld corner
6.7.1 Character background and plot rela- resulted in the deaths of two Barksdale soldiers, the police
tions
realized Stanelds crew was independent of the Barksdale
organization, and that the two gangs were at war.
Marlo Black Stanelds background prior to his drug empire is largely unexplored. He was a previous suspect in The assault had been triggered by the parole of Avon Barksan unsolved case for Homicide Detective Vernon Holley; dale who took a more confrontational approach to the turf
Holley believed it was Marlo who killed his only witness as war than Stringer. Staneld believed that the failed assault
well as the original victims, yet no evidence could be traced showed a lack of strength in the Barksdale organization and
back to him. The Barksdale Organization already had all discussed this with Chris Partlow and his advisor Vinson.
the prime territory on the westside in the form of the public Avon then orders a second attack which results in one of
housing towers and Avon showed little interest to the street Stanelds drug dealers being killed. Staneld feigns retreat
corners. Marlos established rule and reputation is only no- then organizes retaliatory attacks against Barksdale territiced by the returning Barksdale dealers and soldiers when tory. His soldier Snoop killed Barksdale soldier Rico in
the towers are demolished and Avon wishes to return to their a drive-by. Avon responded by hiring a woman named
roots, escalating an all-out war over the best territory of the Devonne to seduce Staneld and lure him to a meeting.
Though Staneld has sex with Devonne, he grows suspiwestside.
cious of her. Before their next arrainged meeting, he has
Chris and Snoop surveil the location. Chris spots a vehicle
responding to Devonnes presence and correctly deduced
Season three
that the meeting was a setup. Chris has his driver drive
Marlo Staneld was introduced in season three as an up- up to the vehicle and lets o a shot gun blast through a side
and-coming drug player who controlled many corners in window. This wounds Avon and kills another Barksdale solWest Baltimore. Staneld and his primary enforcer Chris dier. Staneld and Chris later track Devonne to her home
Partlow waged war with the Barksdale crew over this ter- and Staneld murder her personally as she was leaving one
ritory. His ambition was full control of the drug trade in night. Avon responds by ordering two more attacks, killing
three more Staneld underlings.
West Baltimore.
At the end of season three, Avon is arrested for parole violation, weapons charges and conspiracy. Staneld and Chris
attended his sentencing hearing. Avon acknowledged Stan-
140
eld, thus conceding that the crown had been passed.[1][2]
Season four
Staneld begins season four in control of all the best territory in Western Baltimore. He ruthlessly protects his territory through his enforcers, Chris Partlow and Snoop. When
murders are committed on Stanelds behalf, they hide the
bodies in vacant buildings. When one of Stanelds crew
chiefs, Fruit, is killed by a dealer from Bodie Broadus' independent crew, he is quick to order the death of the dealer
responsible.

for him. When Lester Freamon nally discovers Stanelds
tombs in the vacant houses, a massive police investigation
begins, and the re-established major crimes unit begins investigating Staneld once again.
Season ve
After more than a year of investigation, Staneld and his

people are extremely cautious in communicating with each
other. They only speak face to face and often drive all over
the city in an eort to lose any tails before arriving at their
meeting spot. Eventually, the Major Crimes units investigation is shut down by Mayor Tommy Carcetti for economic
Staneld furthers his reputation around the neighborhood by reasons.[3][4]
giving away money, through Monk, to children during the
back-to-school period. Although most children are happy to Staneld and his crew become more relaxed in their routine,
accept the money, Michael Lee notably refuses, in an early convinced that they have worn the police down. Condent
show of his strength of character. Staneld keeps his own that he is not being watched, Staneld orders Chris Partskills and his soldiers sharp by organizing shooting practice low and Snoop to undertake several murders. He rst dispatches them to execute a drug dealer named Junebug for
sessions in the woods.
spreading rumors about Staneld and to attack another drug
The major crimes unit targets Staneld and begins to mon- dealer named Webster Franklins territory until he agrees to
itor his organization using wiretaps, but fail to link him to take the Staneld package. Staneld also orders Partlow and
any murders because of the hidden bodies. They do man- Snoop to nd and kill Omar Little, who has left Baltimore
age to get Staneld on tape when he uses Monks phone to and retired from robbing drug dealers.[5][6]
talk to a subordinate known as Old Face Andre. The unit
is re-staed for political reasons and the investigation stalls. Staneld quietly plans to strongarm the supply and control of the New Day Co-Op from Proposition Joe StewProposition Joe Stewart engineers a conict between art. Staneld aims to establish a direct relationship with
Staneld and Omar Little in an attempt to demonstrate the Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos and the drug tracking orbenets of joining his drug cartel - the New Day Co-Op. ganization of The Greeks. Staneld has Partlow investigate
Staneld agrees to join the Co-Op to learn more about the port case at the courthouse,[3][4] and then bribes former
Omar and the mounting police interest in his own organi- Greek soldier Sergei Malatov by depositing money into his
zation.
canteen account in order to be put on his visitor list at MCI
Staneld plans to have Omar framed and killed in jail. The Jessup.[5][6] Staneld goes to visit Malatov, in the hopes of
plan fails and Omar retaliates by stealing an entire shipment getting a direct line to Vondas, but nds himself blocked
of narcotics meant for the New Day Co-Op. Staneld is by Avon Barksdale.[5][6] Barksdale reminds Staneld that
suspicious of Prop Joes claim that the shipment has been he is still a man of formidable reputation and considered an
stolen, and insists on some kind of satisfaction. Prop Joe authority gure in the prison. He tells Staneld that all busiagrees to set up a meeting between Staneld and his suppli- ness in Jessup must go through him and demands that Staners The Greeks. Staneld meets with Spiros Vondas Von- eld pay his sister one hundred thousand dollars in order to
dopoulos and is convinced that Prop Joe was not involved gain access to Malatov.[5][6] Staneld makes the payment,
in the robbery. Staneld begins having Vondas followed in and Barksdale grants him access to Malatov.[5][6] Malatov
order to learn more about his role in importing drugs into is disrespectful towards Staneld but is convinced by Avon
Baltimore.
to help Staneld reach Vondas.[5][6]
Staneld is impressed with the teenager Michael Lee for
standing up to him and believes that he will make a good
soldier. He orders Partlow and Snoop to recruit Michael.
Michaels abusive stepfather is released from prison and
Michael, believing that no one else can help him, goes to
Staneld. Michael agrees to join the Staneld Organization in exchange for having his stepfather killed. Staneld
sets up Michael and his brother Bug in an apartment, and
gives him his own corner, with Dukie, and Kenard working
Staneld is directed to Little Johnnys Diner, the Greeks

headquarters. He delivers a case of money to the counterman, Andreas, and tells him to inform Vondas of his desire
to meet. Staneld seeks Prop Joes guidance in money laundering while simultaneously preparing to overthrow him.
Prop Joe introduces Staneld to a pastor who has relationships with overseas charities that he uses to launder money
for a ten percent donation fee. When Staneld meets with
Vondas, Vondas is displeased that Staneld has presented
6.7. MARLO STANFIELD

him with dirty bills from the street. Staneld returns to
Prop Joe to get his money cleaned. Staneld later drops
o the clean money at Little Johnnys, telling the counterman to inform Vondas that he meant no misunderstanding.
Afterwards, Staneld takes a trip to the o-shore bank in
the Antilles in order to make sure his laundered money is
safe.[7][8]
Staneld learns about Omars condant Butchie from Prop
Joes nephew Cheese. Staneld has Partlow and Snoop torture and kill Butchie. They leave a witness to ensure word
reaches Omar, but Snoop is concerned that they are provoking Omar without having any idea of how to get to him.[7][8]
Staneld also has Prop Joe introduce him to defense attorney Maurice Levy to assist in his money laundering. Staneld continues to pay tribute to The Greek and convinces
him to consider him as an insurance policy should anything
happen to Prop Joe. Staneld senses a growing rift between
Cheese and Prop Joe and looks to capitalize on it. After Cheese argues with a rival drug kingpin named Hungry
Man at a Co-Op meeting, Staneld sees his chance. He has
Partlow and Snoop kidnap Hungry Man and deliver him to
Cheese. Staneld asks Cheese to betray Prop Joe in exchange. Cheese leaves Prop Joe unprotected at his home
and Staneld traps him there. Staneld looks on as Partlow
murders Prop Joe.[9][10]
141
Partlow marshalls his people to search for Omar but he
eludes them and remains a thorn in the Staneld Organizations side. Omar then robs a money pick-up and wounds
a Staneld soldier.[15][16] Omar also robs a Staneld stash
house, where he kills an enforcer named Manny and later
kills Savino Bratton.[17][18] Omar calls for Staneld to face
him in the streets and attacks his reputation at every opportunity but Partlow prevents this information from reaching Staneld. Omar is ultimately killed by a young drug
dealer named Kenard whom Staneld does not know.[13][14]
Omars possessions include a list of Staneld personnel
which is passed to Detective Freamon and allows him to
make the connection between Staneld and Cheese.[13][14]
Freamons partner, Detective Leander Sydnor, breaks the

clock code[13][14] and the police are able to follow Partlow to
a major resupply from the Greeks using the evidence from
their illegal wiretap. Monk is arrested with large quantities of drugs and Staneld, Partlow and Cheese are arrested
for conspiracy to supply narcotics. Partlow also has a murder warrant for Devar Manigault. Staneld believes that
Michael Lee may be the source of information listed in the
arrest warrants as Manigault was his stepfather. Staneld
orders Snoop to kill Michael but Michael realizes he is being set up and kills Snoop rst. Staneld is enraged when
he learns that Omar had been assaulting his street reputation and insists that when released he will re-establish his
Staneld assumes Proposition Joes position as The Greeks name.[19][20]
narcotics distributor in Baltimore. Staneld is given a phone
Levy senses that the timing of the arrests was too soon afand is shown how to communicate with the Greeks without speaking by Vondas.[11][12] The phone is used to send ter the initial arrest of Monk and surmises that the police
pictures of clock faces that are coded to indicate meeting used illegal surveillance. Sensing the states reluctance to
places.[13][14] Staneld plans a visit to Atlantic City to cele- take the compromised evidence to court, Levy negotiates a
brate his victory but Partlow reminds him that they must re- deal for Staneld Staneld will go free with his charges
main in hiding until Omar has been dealt with. Partlow pre- suspended on the stet docket but will face prosecution if he
pares an ambush for Omar in Monk's apartment but Omar returns to drug distribution. Partlow will face life without
the possibility of parole and will have to plead guilty to all
escapes by leaping from the balcony.[11][12]
of the vacant house murders. Monk faces a lengthy senStaneld continues to use Levy to launder money and gives tence on a plea bargain with no possibility of bail. Cheese
Levy his new cell phone number. Levys defense investi- is also facing a long sentence but is granted bail so Staneld
gator Thomas Herc Hauk copies the number after hours charges him to kill Michael.[21][22]
and passes it to the police department,[11][12] ultimately resulting in an illegal wiretap being set up by rogue detective Staneld holds a meeting with two Co-Op members (including Fat-Face Rick and Slim Charles) from the prison
Lester Freamon.[15][16]
and oers to sell them the connection to the Greeks for ten
At the next Co-Op meeting Staneld informs the Co-op he million dollars, claiming that he plans to become a businesswas responsible for the murder of Prop Joe because he made man. The Co-Op raise the funds but Slim Charles murders
a move against Omar, and Omar retaliated by killing Prop Cheese in revenge for his betrayal of Proposition Joe beJoe. He then assumes control. He appoints Cheese the fore he can carry out Stanelds order. Fat-Face Rick and
head of distribution on the East side and Monk the West Slim Charles assume control of the connection.[21][22]
side. Staneld increases both the bounty on Omar and the
cost of the product and rules that no further group meet- After Stanelds release, Levy introduces him to property
ings will take place - instead the members will either have developers and other prominent Baltimore businessmen at
to keep their problems to themselves or meet with Staneld an evening event. However, he quietly slips out of the event
and approaches two young corner boys who are talking
alone.[15][16]
about Omar and mythologizing his death and provokes a
142
ght. The boys are armed with a knife and a gun but Staneld singlehandedly drives them o. Stanelds arm is cut in
the scue and he is left alone on the corner, smiling.[21][22]
6.7.2
Analysis

Jamie Hector has commented that he sees the character as

striving to obtain power rather than prot and revelling in [8] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
using that power over others.[23] The series creator David
Simon has also commented that Staneld is driven by a de[9] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season
sire for totalitarian power.[24] Hector has said that much of
5. Episode 4. HBO.
his performance stems from trying to capture Staneld as
a man of power and economy using minimalist movement [10] "The Wire episode guide - episode 54 Transitions. HBO.
and speech.[23]
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
When critic Alan Sepinwall interviewed Simon about the [11] Agnieszka Holland (2008-02-03). "React Quotes". The
fate of the character, Simon said he considers Stanelds fate
to be a kind of justice, as he is cut o from his power and
reputation. Sepinwall hailed Stanelds ending as defying [12] "The Wire episode guide - episode 55 React Quotes. HBO.
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
the viewers expectations to see the character incarcerated
or murdered in the streets.[25]
[13] Anthony Hemingway (2008-02-24). "Clarications". The

Simon also commented that the ending was intended to be
ironic, as Staneld receives everything that his one-time ri[14] "The Wire episode guide - episode 58 Clarications. HBO.
val Stringer Bell desired (in terms of becoming a legitimate
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
businessman) but does not value it.[25] Simon has also said
the characters ending was deliberately ambiguous.[24]
[15] Seith Mann (2008-02-10). "The Dickensian Aspect". The
6.7.3
Real life origins
In the mid-1980s, Timmirror Staneld was a major Baltimore drug tracker. In 1986, Staneld was 25 and ran a
gang which included over fty members; the Staneld gang
controlled South Baltimores Westport area and West Baltimores Murphy Homes housing project.[26] The gang committed multiple murders and drew the attention of authorities, who were able to persuade fteen witnesses to testify;
the core of the gang was convicted.[27] This real life criminal
forms the basis of the characters origins while emphasizing
the rise in brutality from the American heroin trade of the
1970s to the crack cocaine trade of the 1980s.
[16] "The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian Aspect. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
Episode 7. HBO.
[19] Joe Chappelle (2008-03-02). "Late Editions". The Wire.
2008. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
[21] Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5.
Episode 10. HBO.
6.7.4
References
[1] Character prole - Marlo Staneld. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-14.

[23] Bilge Ebiri (2008). Jamie Hector on Playing Marlo on 'The

Wire' and Keeping Secrets About 'Heroes". New York
Magazine. Retrieved 2008-03-10.

[24] Heather Havrilesky (2008). David Simon on cutting The

Wire"". Salon.com. Retrieved 2008-03-10.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[25] Alan Sepinwall (2008). Sepinwall on TV: 'The Wire' ends.

New Jersey Star Ledger. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
6.8. PROPOSITION JOE
143
a bad drug deal between Ziggy Sobotka and Joes nephew

and lieutenant Calvin Cheese Wagsta. Out of respect to
Malatov, Joe resolves the dispute in Nicks favour by com[27] Gang- and Drug-Related Homicide: Baltimores Successful
pensating him for Ziggys destroyed car (minus the amount
Enforcement Strategy. Bureau of Justice Assistance. Reowed to Cheese), but warns him to stay away in the future.
trieved 2009-05-09.
[26] Staneld and Boardley Investigations. Bureau of Justice
Assistance. Retrieved 2009-05-09.
6.8 Proposition Joe

Joseph Stewart, better known as Proposition Joe or
Prop Joe, is a ctional character on the HBO drama The
Wire played by actor Robert F. Chew. Joe is an Eastside
drug kingpin who preferred a peaceful solution to business
disputes when possible. He was responsible for creating
the lucrative New Day Co-Op with Stringer Bell, supplying much of Baltimore with heroin brought into the city by
"The Greeks". Joe was a portly and amiable presence, but
was often a match in wits for rival drug lords Avon Barksdale and Marlo Staneld and was able to manipulate most
situations to his advantage. His nickname stemmed from
his trademark phrase I've got a proposition for you, going
back to his days on the school yard selling test answers. He
has the distinction, along with Poot Carr, Wee-Bey Brice,
Omar Little and Bubbles, of being one of the few characters
from the drug trade to appear in every season.
Joes heroin supply is the purest in Baltimore, but he lacks

the territory to maximize prots. Due to Avon Barksdale's
arrest, the Barksdale Organization is cut o from their Dominican suppliers and is forced to sell weaker heroin. Joe
oers Stringer Bell a portion of his product in exchange for
the right to deal drugs in some of the Barksdale-controlled
towers. Barksdale vehemently rejects the idea, but Bell secretly agrees and Cheeses crew moves into what was previously Barksdale territory. Barksdale is unaware of Bells
move and brings in Brother Mouzone to protect the towers.
Mouzone confronts Cheese and wounds him with a nonfatal gunshot. Joe fears Mouzones reputation and knows
it would be a mistake to attack him directly. Joe sets up
a meeting between Bell and Omar Little, and Bell tricks
Omar into shooting Mouzone. This elaborate deception
achieves the shared goals of Joe and Bell: it drives Mouzone
back to New York and forces Barksdale to grudgingly agree
to the drugs-for-territory exchange with arch-rival Joe.
Season three
6.8.1
Biography
Season one
Joe rst appears at an annual basketball game, the Eastside
Projects team versus the Westside Projects. Joe plays on
Avon Barksdale's pride, goading him into doubling their
wager on the outcome, then bringing in a ringer at the
last minute to win the game. That same day, he is visited
by stick-up-man Omar Little, who gives Joe some of the
Barksdale Organization's stolen narcotics in exchange for
Barksdales pager number. Omar uses the information in
an unsuccessful attempt on Barksdales life but Joes role
in Omars attack is never revealed to Barksdale. Joe later
serves as a neutral go-between, organizing a meeting between Barksdales business partner Stringer Bell and Omar
to discuss a truce.
Season two
In season two, Joes role is expanded, and it is revealed that
Joe relies on the Greeks smuggling ring to supply him with
heroin through the Baltimore ports. Joe says that he still
has to source his cocaine from New York as the Greeks
only deal in heroin. Joe accommodates Nick Sobotka at the
request of Sergei Serge Malatov to resolve a dispute over
Joe insulates himself against police investigation by maintaining a strict policy of only meeting face to face. His
nephew Drac is targeted as a potential inroad for an
investigation by Lieutenant Cedric Daniels' major crimes
unit, due to his propensity to talk business over the phone.
Daniels unit arrests Joes lieutenant Lavelle Mann in an undercover bust operation, hoping that Drac would be promoted to replace him. However Joe chooses someone more
reliable, thwarting the units eorts inadvertently. Daniels
tips his hand when he arrests Cheese, believing that he had
him on tape discussing a murder. Cheese realizes that the
tape is of him talking about shooting his pet dog, and the
police are forced to release him. He reports the incident
to Joe who, now forewarned about the investigation, passes
the information on to Stringer Bell. The unit moves their investigation away from Joe and onto the more violent Kintel
Williamson when they fail to make further progress.
Joe extends the sharing of his supply to many other
drug dealers in Baltimore, forming the New Day Co-Op
with Bell, Ricardo Fat-Face Rick Hendrix and Kintell
Williamson, among others. He supplies all of these drug
dealers with his package, and they receive a discount for
the bulk buying; they also agree to avoid bringing unnecessary police attention by limiting violence. As a result,
Williamson stops killing people, and the police begin investigating a brewing turf war between Avon Barksdale and
144
up-and-coming Marlo Staneld.
losses from the theft.
Joe and the rest of the Co-Op object to the police attention the war creates, as it interferes with their business. Joe
meets with Stanelds advisor Vinson to try to negotiate a
settlement, but Staneld is unwilling to back out of the war,
believing that Barksdale is weak. Joe gives Bell an ultimatum - end the war or he will be thrown out of the CoOp. The ultimatum is defused when Bell is murdered, and
Barksdale is arrested, leaving Joe with complete control of
the Co-Op.[1]
Staneld is perturbed by the robbery and suspects that

Cheese, who was responsible for collecting the shipment,
was involved. To protect his nephew Joe is forced to reveal
his suppliers identity and arrange for Staneld to meet with
Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos. At the end of the season,
Joe and the rest of the New Day Co-Op resume business as
usual, but have put a bounty on Omars head.[2]
Season ve
Season four
The fth season opens over a year later. Joes advice has
allowed Marlo Staneld to successfully avoid prosecution
despite an ongoing major case unit investigation. Joe nds
that he is losing territory in the redevelopment and gentrication of Eastern Baltimore and proposes a division of new
territory in Baltimore County to compensate the East side
drug dealers. Staneld objects and then sows the seed of
dissent in Joes organization by suggesting that Joe should
allow Joes lieutenants to manage the new territory.[3][4]
Joe recruits former Barksdale Organization soldier Slim

Charles as his lieutenant to supply the independent dealers that have arisen to replace the Barksdale organization in
Western Baltimore. However, problems arise; Marlo Staneld has taken control of much of the Barksdales prime
territory, and the New York drug organizations are taking
over territory in Eastern Baltimore. The Co-Op votes to negotiate with Staneld and recruit him to strike back against Staneld approaches Joe for assistance with money launthe New York drug dealers.
dering and obtaining literally clean bills. Joe claims that
Joe contacts Staneld, who turns down his rst oer. Joe he is happy to help and puts Staneld in touch with several
manipulates Omar Little again, inducing him to rob a of his contacts. Joe uses a pastor with charitable organizacard game which Staneld attends, by pretending that he tions abroad to launder money - he makes donations to the
wanted to make amends for his involvement in the Stringer charity and then receives 90% of his funds back as cashiers
Bell/Brother Mouzone incident. After Omar robs the card checks. Joe introduces Staneld to a pastor who can provide
game, Joe oers Staneld another meeting and claims he the same service. But privately Joe describes civilizing
could protect him against such surprises in the future. Joe Staneld as an ongoing uphill struggle. Staneld is suspialso explains that he has contacts within the Baltimore po- cious about having his money in foreign banks, so Joe tells
lice department and courts. Joe routinely shares informa- him that since he does not have a felony conviction on his
tion about police activity with other Co-Op members. Al- record, he can get a passport and go to the bank, in person,
though much of his information is actually public record, if he has concerns (which he does). Staneld also requests
Joe is also aware of the case against Kintel Williamson that clean bills from Joe and is accommodated. Joe is unaware
was suspended and inconclusive. Staneld agrees to work that Staneld is using the money to pay tribute to The Greek
with the Co-Op. With Stanelds help, the New York deal- and is plotting to usurp his supply connection. Staneld also
ers are driven out of Baltimore. Joe also oers Staneld hopes to get revenge on the now retired Omar Little while
advice on how to deal with a police surveillance camera, Joe is happy to have escaped further involvement. Staneld
discovers the identity of the unit investigating Staneld and oers a bounty on anyone connected to Omar but Joe does
tries to encourage Stanelds transition into being less vio- not reveal Omars connection to Butchie. However, Cheese
lent and more business-minded.
betrays Joe for the reward and Staneld has his enforcers
[5][6]
Staneld frames Omar for murder and plans to have him murder Butchie.
killed while in prison. Omar escapes the charges and
plots revenge on Staneld. Omar forces Joe (at gunpoint)
to agree to betray Staneld, but Omar ultimately doublecrosses Joe and steals an entire Co-Op shipment as it is delivered. The Co-Op decides that Joe should cover the expense of replacing it, and Joe threatens to cut them o from
his supplier, forcing them to back down. Omar returns to
sell the shipment back to Joe for 20 cents on the dollar;
Joe, ever the opportunist, informs the Co-Op that the price
is 30 cents on the dollar, allowing Joe to recoup some of the
Joe fears reprisal from Omar and decides to leave town. He

arranges for Slim Charles to watch Cheese closely as he suspects his betrayal. Joe arranges owers for Butchies funeral
both as a gesture to his friend and to signal to Omar his innocence in the murder. Cheese has created a feud with Co-Op
kingpin Hungry Man over the new county territory and Joe
publicly reprimands his nephew. Staneld gets the agreement of The Greek that he will consider him an insurance
policy if Joe is unable to continue to handle their supply.
Staneld then seizes on Cheeses feud with Hungry Man to
6.9. SPIROS VONDAS

convince him to betray Joe. Cheese gives Joe up as he is
packing to leave town. Staneld corners Joe in his home,
and Joe correctly guesses that Cheese betrayed him. Staneld rejects Joes nal proposition of disappearing quietly,
and has Chris Partlow shoot Joe while he watches.[7]
Joe went to school at Dunbar High School with former Police Commissioner Ervin Burrell. Prop Joe reveals this to
Herc, who is working for Maury Levy at the time, and goes
on to say that Burrell was stone stupid.
6.8.2
Production
Actor Robert F. Chew appeared in David Simons previous

series Homicide: Life on the Street, in the three part episode
"Blood Ties", playing Wilkie Collins, a drug kingpin who
hates violence. Collins provides the police with key information about which drug dealer was shooting at them so that
the police would not interfere with his business. Collins and
his wife are subsequently murdered by the Mahoney drug
cartel for his betrayal. His young son witnesses their deaths
and helps the police arrest their murderer. Chew also had a
small role in Simons HBO mini-series The Corner in which
he played a shoe salesman.
145
6.9.1
Biography
Vondas is The Greek's second-in-command and acted as a

buer between The Greek and his illegal activities, using a
small cafe as his base of operations. The name Spiros Vondopolous is one of a range of identities that he has available to him. He holds Hungarian and Croatian passports
but it is unclear if he is really a citizen of these countries.
He is later shown destroying his Hungarian passport during a meal with The Greek. His Hungarian name is Janos
Kovats and he comes from Budapest. His Croatian identity is Kirko Skaddeng and he is ostensibly a medical assistant from Osijek (note, however, that both the rst and
last names Kirko Skaddeng are not typically Croatian, or
South Slavic in general). He tells Nick Sobotka that he has
many names, many passports. Vondass actual name and
nationality are unknown, though his alias is Greek in origin.
Season two
Vondas manages all aspects of the Greeks illicit shipping

business, but keeps a low, surveillance-conscious prole.
He is Frank Sobotka's point of contact for his smuggling
with The Greek. He was even-tempered and patient, often having to soothe an increasingly angry and frightened
Sobotka as the Baltimore police began a serious investiga6.8.3 References
tion into Sobotkas union. He also handled much less savory tasks: when a sailor in the Greeks employ, Sam, mur[1] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07- dered fourteen girls meant for work as prostitutes Vondas
25.
killed the man once the Greek had interrogated him. Vondas managed the Greeks drug dealing through their Israeli
[2] Character prole - Proposition Joe Stewart. HBO. 2004. lieutenant Eton Ben-Eleazer. His own personnel involved in
the smuggling operation included driver and enforcer Sergei
[3] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. Serge Malatov and organization fence George Double
G Glekas.
He often met with Nick Sobotka, who frequently served
as Franks go-between, and Vondas took an almost paternal interest in the younger man. Impressed with Nicks in[5] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". telligence, he gave him the task of stealing a shipment of
chemicals. He intervened in a dispute over a debt between
Nicks cousin Ziggy Sobotka and a drug dealer supplied by
[6] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. the Greek, Cheese Wagsta. Despite a personal dislike for
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Ziggy he ordered Serge to argue his case to Proposition
Joe, Cheeses uncle and superior. Vondas distrust of Ziggy
[7] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season proved correct when Ziggy killed Glekas in an argument
5. Episode 4. HBO.
over payment for stolen goods. Ziggy was arrested soon afterwards and Vondas distanced the murder from the rest of
the operation by removing all evidence of the business from
the warehouse.
6.9 Spiros Vondas
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
When Lieutenant Daniels's port detail began investigating

Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos (Greek:
the Greeks activity Frank Sobotka realized and tipped Von) is a ctional character on the HBO drama das. During the nale outsets of the investigation, the detail
The Wire played by actor Paul Ben-Victor.
nally got a photo of Spiros when he was meeting drug lieu-
146
tenant Eton on the waterfront of Baltimore. The detail then way. Marlo quickly cleaned his cash, and dropped o the
surveilled his home and followed him to meetings at hotel fresh money at the diner, telling Vondas man that he didn't
rooms and the diner where he met with associates.
mean for there to be any misunderstanding.
The Greek ordered Vondas to shut down the smuggling temporarily and replaced all of his personnels telephones. The
Greek withdrew from their meeting place at the cafe and
began meeting Vondas in hotel rooms.
When the detail began rounding up the members of the
Greeks smuggling ring, they held o on Vondas as they
felt he could lead them to the Greek. When Sobotka was
arrested Vondas suggested that they could broker his loyalty by having a witness against Ziggy change his story. He
put the proposition to Frank through Nick. Frank had already agreed to testify against the Greeks crew, but decided
to meet with them for Ziggys sake. The Greek learned of
Franks agreement through his inside man at the FBI, agent
Koutris, and had Vondas murder Frank.
Following the murder Vondas left the country under a fake
Croatian passport with the Greek, using the alias Kirko
Skaddeng. Before Vondas left he met with Proposition Joe
to assure him that the Greeks operation would continue to
supply him using new personnel after a short break to avoid
the investigation.
Marlo once again meets with Vondas, and attempts to sell

himself as an insurance policy for the Greeks, implying that
if something were to happen to Proposition Joe, they would
need another agent they could do business with. While Vondas believes that all that matters is that the Greeks already
have a secure relationship with someone they trust, The
Greek states that Marlo makes a valid point that it is wise to
have an insurance policy in volatile times, implicitly telling
Marlo that if he moves on Joe, they will not stop him. After Marlo leaves, Vondas and the Greek seem resigned to
Joes demise and to initiating a new business relationship
with Marlo, believing that Joes time has come, and that
Marlos tenacity and ambition will not allow him to accept
the Greeks rejection of his business overtures.
After Marlo has Proposition Joe murdered, he received the
blessing of Vondas to be Joes replacement as agent between
Vondas drug shipments and the New Day Co-ops drug distribution activities.
Later, Stanelds rst re-supply with the Greeks is busted

by the Major Crimes Unit, and as part of a deal with the
States Attorneys oce, Staneld is forced to retire from
his life of crime. To set himself up for life, Staneld sells
Season four
the connection to the Greeks to whoever can pay him ten
million dollars. In the series nale, Vondas is seen meetAfter a shipment from the Greek to Proposition Joes New
ing with Fat Face Rick and Slim Charles at Little Johnnys
Day Co-Op was stolen by Omar Little, Joe set up a meeting
Diner. They are discussing the new business arrangement
with Vondas and Marlo Staneld in order to assuage Marlos
while The Greek quietly listens in the background.
suspicions that Joe had set him up in order to make him
pay twice for the same shipment. It was thus revealed that
Vondas had returned to Baltimore some time after the Ma- 6.9.2 References
jor Crimes investigation of the docks had ended, and that
he had resumed his working relationship with Proposition
Joe. While Marlo was satised with Vondass explanation, 6.10 The Greek
he placed a tail on him in order to learn more about his role
in importing the shipments into Baltimore.
This article is about the ctional character. For the theater,
see Greek Theatre (Los Angeles).
Season ve
Once the Major Crimes investigation into his organization
was shut down, Marlo Staneld felt secure enough in making a move to establish a direct relationship with Vondas
and the Greeks. He researched the port case and discovered that former Greek soldier Sergei Malatov was incarcerated at Jessup. After paying prison gang leader Avon
Barksdale to gain access to Sergei, Marlo used him to locate the Greeks diner headquarters and dropped o a large
sum of money in order to persuade Vondas to grant him
a meeting. Vondas was displeased that Marlo had brought
him dirty money, from the street, and insisted that all business would continue to go through Joe, then sent him on his
The Greek is a ctional character on the HBO drama The

Wire, played by actor Bill Raymond. The Greek is the head
of an international criminal organization involved in narcotics and human tracking.[1] The Greek is a mysterious
gure involved in numerous criminal activities. His given
name is never mentioned on the show, and though he is
known only as The Greek, he has stated (in the episode
"Port in a Storm") that he is not actually Greek. A quiet and
unassuming man, The Greek prefers to keep a low prole,
operating all of his business through his lieutenant Spiros
Vondas Vondopoulos. His smuggling organization operated from a small diner in Baltimore for years, and while
Vondas would conduct business The Greek would listen
6.10. THE GREEK
147
in quietly at the counter. Nick Sobotka, upon seeing The operation going he bought further protection from Agent
Greek identify himself, was amazed that the shadowy g- Koutris by betraying a load of Colombian cocaine, giving
ure had been in plain sight the entire time.
him time to destroy incriminating evidence in the wareDespite his calm demeanor, The Greek is cunning and ruth- house and Glekas store.
less, and only interested in facts that make him more money.
Series creator David Simon has said that The Greek is an
embodiment of raw unencumbered capitalism.[2] Anyone
interfering in this process is eliminated immediately, and
he prefers to leave victims headless and handless to hinder
identication.
The Greeks smuggling operation includes importing sex
trade workers, illicit drugs, stolen goods and chemicals for
drug processing. He bribes union stevedores to move containers through the Baltimore port for him and uses his
muscle, Sergei Serge Malatov, to run containers back
and forth from the port to his warehouse, a front managed by Double G Glekas. The Greek supplies the major drug dealers in East Baltimore with pure heroin, using Eton Ben-Eleazer to move his drugs. His chief client
is Proposition Joe, but he is also aliated with smaller
drug dealing organizations like those run by White Mike
McArdle. His sex trade interests in Baltimore include a
brothel run by a madam named Ilona Petrovitch, bringing
in girls from eastern Europe. He manages to avoid prosecution for his crimes because an FBI counter-terrorism agent
named Kristos Koutris tips him o if a criminal investigation gets too close. It is suggested he and Vondas may serve
as federal informants.
6.10.1
Biography
Season two
The Greek began to draw police attention in Baltimore
when his contact at the docks, Frank Sobotka, became the
target of an investigation. At the same time a container of
thirteen dead young women intended for the sex trade was
discovered at the docks, triggering a high-prole homicide
investigation. The container belonged to The Greek and the
girls were killed by a crewman on board the vessel that had
delivered them. The ships crew had been paying the girls
for sex and when one of the girls refused, she was killed.
The crewman responsible dumped her overboard and collapsed the air pipe to kill the remaining women. The Greek
had Sergei track the crewman down, interrogated him personally, and had Vondas kill him.
The Greek recognized that the investigation was too extensive to stop and made plans to leave, sending Vondas
to assure Proposition Joe that supply of drugs would continue albeit with new faces. He attempted to buy Sobotkas
silence with promised legal aid for his son, but when he
learned from Koutris that Frank was planning to turn informant he had the union man killed. Although Franks
nephew Nick Sobotka was able to identify The Greek in
a photo and Sergei was pressured to give up the location of
his hotel suite, Vondas and The Greek had already boarded
a ight to Chicago. Aware that The Greek and Vondas were
gone, the police left the investigation behind and moved on
to the drug dealers he supplied.
Seasons four and ve
The Greek continued to supply Proposition Joe Stewart,
who formed an organization with other drug dealers called
the New Day Co-Op to provide The Greeks product to
them in exchange for reduced violence and sharing of territory. When Omar Little steals an entire shipment of heroin
from The Greeks men as it is being delivered to Stewarts people, Marlo Staneld demands a meeting with Spiros
Vondas Vondopoulos in order to allay his fears that Stewart was responsible.[3][4] Once Staneld is satised, he waits
for the Major Crimes Units investigation into his activities
to cease and then moves to establish a direct relationship
with Vondas and The Greek. After getting in communication with Vondas through former soldier Sergei,[5][6] Marlo
eventually sells himself as Joes replacement by convincing
The Greek that he requires an insurance policy in the form
of a replacement for Proposition Joe, in the event that anything should happen to him. Realizing that Staneld will
move against Stewart regardless of his approval, The Greek
accepts Marlos proposal to act as an insurance policy,
knowing that it will mean Joes death.[7][8]
After Stewarts murder, Staneld meets with Vondas to initiate their new business relationship.[9][10] Stanelds tenure
proves short lived when he is forced into retirement by an
investigation, and the other Co-Op members purchase the
connection from Staneld. In the closing scenes of the series nale, Slim Charles and Fat-Face Rick take over meeting with Vondas while The Greek listens quietly in the
As the investigation continued the police were able to link background.[11][12]
Eton and Sergei to the drug smuggling operation. When
police began tracking containers as they left the port, The
Greek and Vondas began to close down the operation tem- 6.10.2 References
porarily by dumping their cell phones and stealing clean
containers. Persuading Sobotka to keep the smuggling [1] Character prole - The Greek. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
148

Avon Barksdale's car when he tries to set a trap for Staneld.
Partlow res on the car in a drive by shooting, wounding
Meghan O'Rourke (2006). Behind The Wire. Slate. Re- Avon and killing one of his soldiers. When Marlo Staneld
trieved 20 December 2012.
murders Devonne for spying, Partlow accompanies him and
Ernest Dickerson (2004-12-10). "Final Grades". The Wire. calmly tells him that it needed to be done. When Stringer
Bell is murdered, Partlow and Snoop are assumed to be reSeason 4. Episode 13. HBO.
sponsible and they do nothing to dispel these rumors. The
"The Wire episode guide - episode 50 Final Grades. HBO. turf war comes to an end when Stringers death and Avons
2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
arrest lead to the demise of the Barksdale Organization and
Staneld
assumes control of most of the drug trade in WestErnest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports".
ern Baltimore.[2]
2006-08-16.
[2]
[3]
[4]
[5]
Season four

5. Episode 4. HBO.
Partlow carries out murders as Staneld orders them.

[8] "The Wire episode guide - episode 54 Transitions. HBO. Working alongside young female soldier "Snoop, he disposes of bodies by opening up vacant buildings, covering
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
the corpses in quicklime and sheeting, and then nailing the
[9] Agnieszka Holland (2008-02-03). "React Quotes". The buildings shut. When Staneld dealer Fruit is killed, PartWire. Season 5. Episode 5. HBO.
low advises restraint, suggesting they kill the perpetrator instead of all the members of the independent drug crew he
[10] "The Wire episode guide - episode 55 React Quotes. HBO.
works with. Marlo agrees with Chris approach and gives
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
him the go-ahead to kill Fruits murderer, Lex. Chris ar[11] Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5. ranges for Lex to be ambushed by paying Little Kevin to tell
Episode 10. HBO.
him his girlfriend wants to meet him at night in a secluded
spot. Kevin pays an unwitting Randy Wagsta to pass on
the message. Once the trap is sprung, Lex is killed by Chris
and Snoop. Chris is also responsible for the murder of a
security guard who talked back to Marlo. Rumors on the
street tie Chris to several other murders including victims
6.11 Chris Partlow
known as Pookie and Byron.
Chris Partlow is a ctional character on the HBO drama
The Wire, played by actor Gbenga Akinnagbe.[1] Partlow
is Marlo Staneld's best friend, bodyguard, and second-incommand in his drug dealing operation. Despite his quiet
demeanor, Partlow commits more on- and o-screen murders than any other character. Although he is a ruthless
killer, he is shown to genuinely care about the soldiers under his command, especially Michael Lee, whom he takes
under his wing as a protg. According to a David Simon
audio commentary, Partlow was a victim of molestation,
explaining his ferocious attack on Michael Lees stepfather.
6.11.1
Character storyline
Season three
Partlow is a key player in the turf war with the Barksdale
organization and is always looking out for Stanelds safety.
He often meets with Marlo and his adviser Vinson to discuss their strategy. Partlows cautious observation revealed
Partlow continues to be Marlos key adviser. He tries to dissuade Marlo from playing at a high stakes card game where
he is losing a considerable amount of money. When the
game is robbed by Omar Little, Marlo asks Partlow for his
advice on how best to deal with Omar. Partlow suggests
a more subtle approach than simply placing a bounty on
Omar. They plan to stage a robbery of their associate Old
Face Andre and blame the robbery on Omar, having Andre
identify him. Partlow carries out the robbery himself and
kills a delivery woman and beats Andre to lend credence to
their scenario.
Marlo entrusts Partlow with cultivating new prospect
Michael Lee. Michael is a middle school child who Marlo
believes would make a good soldier. Partlow is responsible
for intimidating Lexs crew chief Bodie Broadus into giving up his corner, since Marlo has seen that he has turned
it into a protable location. Partlow forces Bodie to accept
Marlos package, which is inferior to the high quality heroin
he had been purchasing from Proposition Joe Stewart. He
asks Bodie about Michael, having noticed that he worked
with him for a time. Partlow tracks Michael to his home and
6.11. CHRIS PARTLOW
149
then approaches him when he is talking with friends in an

alley. He oers him cash and promises of protection if he
joins the organization, an oer Michael eventually accepts
after the unwelcome return of his stepfather, Devar. Chris
and Snoop take care of the situation with Michaels stepfather. When he confronts Devar, Partlow questions him
about molestation, something that Michael strongly hints at
over the course of the fourth season, and asks him about any
past sexual activity in prison. Chris proceeds to viciously
beat him to death, in stark contrast to the business-like way
his other hits are carried out, suggesting that Chris too may
have been a victim of molestation as a child. Michael joins
their organization under the condition they also look out for
his younger brother, Bug. Chris takes Michael on as a protg to the point where Marlo refers to Michael as Chris
pup. Partlow appears to relate to Michael and his implied
history of abuse and takes Michael under his wing.
to kill Junebug (a rival who may have been spreading rumors about Staneld), attack Webster Franklins territory,
as he had refused the Staneld package and to lure Omar
Little out of retirement. Partlow has already arranged for
Staneld to visit Malatov at MCI Jessup.[6][7]
Partlow and Snoop are twice pulled over by detectives during the season. The rst time, they were confronted by
Herc, who had been following them, but Partlow was able
to hide their rearms in a hidden compartment. Herc discovers their nail gun and lime in the back of the vehicle,
but takes little notice. Once they are released, Partlow disposes of the nail gun. The second time, they are confronted
by Kima and Bunk. Snoop again hides their rearms, but
Kima discovers the compartment. Chris and Snoop are arrested but later released, as the police can tie neither the
weapons nor the vehicle to either of them. Eventually, the
police are able to demonstrate not only that Chris (and thus
Marlo) are responsible for the chain of disappearances in
West Baltimore, but also that they have been disposing of
the bodies in row houses all over town.[3]
Staneld oers a bounty to anyone who can provide a way to

get to Omar. Stewarts nephew Cheese comes forward without Stewarts knowledge and reveals Omars link to Butchie.
Partlow and Snoop attack Butchie at his bar and kill one of
his bodyguards and wound the other. They torture Butchie
but do not learn anything about Omars whereabouts. Partlow kills Butchie and instructs his surviving bodyguard to
ensure that word reaches Omar. Snoop is worried about the
plan as it means that Omar will now be targeting them while
they still have no knowledge of his whereabouts but Partlow
refuses to question Staneld.[8][9]
Partlow leaves the Webster Franklin assignment to Snoop

but takes Snoop and Michael with him to kill Junebug. Partlow waits for Junebug at his home and tutors Michael in
the importance of the element of surprise. Partlow orders
Michael to watch the back of the house while Snoop disables nearby cameras. Partlow and Snoop then stage a home
invasion, killing Junebug, his bodyguard and his domestic
partner. Two children are also present and escape with their
lives. One hides in a closet while the other ees the house.
Michael has been ordered to kill anyone who tries to escape
but he lets the child go. The triple homicide is investigated
by Detective Kima Greggs.[6][7]
Staneld is successful in reaching the Greeks and Partlow

accompanies him to a meeting with Spiros Vondas. Staneld persuades The Greeks to think of him as an insurance policy against Stewart being unable to do business with
them in the future. Staneld then convinces Cheese to betray Stewart by having Partlow kidnap Cheeses rivalan
Season ve
East side Co-Op dealer named Hungry Man. Partlow delivers
Hungry Man to Cheese and Cheese gives up Stewart
Partlow faces weapon charges from his arrest at the car stop
in
exchange.
Staneld and Partlow trap Stewart in his home
but manages to get the hearings delayed. The police are
and
Partlow
murders
Stewart while Staneld watches.[10]
unable to gather enough evidence to le charges on the vacant house murders and begin a prolonged surveillance op- As Marlo meets with Spiros Vondas in a city park, Partlow
eration into the Staneld Organization. Staneld and Part- and a Greek enforcer watch over the area. Vondas explains
low respond by stopping all phone communication and only how Marlo is to communicate with him using picture mesmeeting face to face. They are forced to curtail their vio- sages on a Blackberry phone. As the meet ends, Marlo tells
lent activity while under investigation. Partlow continues to Chris how good it feels to be wearing the crown and sugmentor Michael Lee, who now runs his own corner. Stan- gests a celebratory trip to Atlantic City. A cautious Partlow
eld is plotting to take over the New Day Co-Op and usurp reminds Marlo that Omar is going to make a move on them,
Proposition Joe Stewart's connection to his suppliers, The suggesting that it is not the best time for a vacation. Partlow
Greek. Staneld instructs Partlow to arrange a meeting with then tells his family that he will be going away on business
imprisoned Ukrainian enforcer Sergei Malatov to broker a for a few weeks. Marlo watches from the car side as Partlow
meeting with The Greek. To this end Partlow nds informa- plays in the yard with his baby girl.
tion on Malatov at the court house.[4][5] Eventually the Major Case Unit is shut down as part of Mayor Carcetti's cut- Later that evening Omar observes Monks condominium.
backs; Staneld and Partlow soon notice they are no longer Chris later informs Marlo of Omars reconnaissance. When
being closely watched. Staneld orders Partlow and Snoop Omar later attacks Monks apartment, he walks into a trap:
150
Partlow, together with Michael, Snoop and O-Dog are lying

in wait. Omar jumps from the balcony to escape, severely
injuring his leg in the process and Donnie is shot in the head
by one of the Staneld soldiers (presumably Chris). With
Omar at large, Partlow lies low for his own safety, worried
about the safety of his girlfriend and children. After Omar
is killed by Kenard, Partlow is shown to be disappointed,
but he readily returns to work.
In the meantime, Bunk has connected Partlow with the murder of Michaels stepfather using DNA evidence. Bunk delays arresting Partlow as a favor to McNulty and Lester, but
when the police bust a narcotics resupply transaction from
the Greeks, Partlow is charged with murder, preventing his
release on bail. Levy represents Partlow as well as Staneld and suspects an illegal wiretap due to the speed with
which charging documents were produced. In an eort to
preserve as much of the case as possible, Pearlman strikes a
bargain with Levy: Levy will convince the Staneld organization to plead to various charges in exchange for Pearlman
not revealing Levys bribery of Grand Jury Prosecutor Gary
DiPasquale at the city courthouse. Part of this deal involves
Partlow pleading guilty to not only the murder of Michaels
stepfather, but all of the bodies found in the vacants, charges
which yield a sentence of life without parole. He willingly
takes the life sentence for the Staneld organization on the
condition that his girlfriend and children are taken care of
nancially.
Partlow is briey seen during the end-of-season montage
conversing amicably with Wee-Bey Brice in the courtyard
of the Maryland State prison; they are in a similar situation, both having been primary enforcers for West Baltimore kingpins, and now both serving life sentences for committing (and taking sole responsibility for) murders at the
behest of their respective bosses.
6.11.2
References

2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
6.12
Felicia Snoop Pearson
This article is about the ctional character. For the actress

who plays the character, see Felicia Pearson.
Felicia Snoop Pearson is a ctional character on the
HBO TV series The Wire played by an actress of the same
name. She is a young female soldier in Marlo Staneld's
drug dealing organization, the earliest protg of Chris
Partlow.[1] As one of the experienced leaders of Stanelds
crew, she commits many ruthless murders on their behalf.
6.12.1
Season three
Snoop is a gangster shown mid-way in the escalating war

between the Barksdale Organization and the Staneld Organization as one of the new recruits in training, under the
wing of Chris Partlow. She is often seen hanging out with
Chris and other Staneld peers before eventually being assigned her rst hit by Chris, who deems her ready to kill.
She is responsible for killing Barksdale soldier Rico in a
drive-by shooting on Poot Carr's corner. She also takes
part in Chris eorts to foil an assassination attempt against
Marlo Staneld. After Stringer Bell is killed by Omar Little and Brother Mouzone, Snoop boasts that she and Chris
Partlow had murdered him.
6.12.2
Season four
Snoop is shown a year later as an adept enforcer and signicantly recognized as part of the trusted inner circle of
Marlo. She and Chris are assigned most of the hits that
Marlo initiates, with Snoop assisting Chris in many mur[4] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. ders by way of luring the victim to a secluded area and
by helping to organize the method of concealment. She is
[5] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. never shown as the actual murderer. The pair dispose of the
bodies by depositing them in abandoned buildings, covering
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
them with quicklime and tarps, and boarding up the build[6] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". ings again. When they re-board the doors, they use a nail
gun that Snoop purchased in the rst scene of the season.
2006-09-15.
6.13. WEE-BEY BRICE

Later, the nail guns distinctive nails become key clues: every house boarded up with those nails contains a body. Before the police discover this, however, Sergeant Hauk had
pulled them over and spotted the nail gun, so Chris had discarded it, to Snoops chagrin.
151
6.12.5
Reception
Several critics have praised Pearsons performance as especially frightening.[4][5][6][7] Writer Stephen King called the
character perhaps the most terrifying female villain to ever
appear in a television series.[6]
Among the people Chris and Snoop murder are Lex Anderson, Little Kevin, Old Face Andre, several New York
drug dealers, and a security guard who talked back to Marlo.
6.12.6 References
Tired of always concealing her crimes, Snoop tries to keep
the guards badge as a souvenir, but Chris throws the badge [1] Org Chart - The Street. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07away. The pair were also responsible for intimidating Bodie
27.
Broadus into accepting Marlos drug supply and for recruiting middle school child Michael Lee into their organization. [2] Character prole - Snoop. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 200609-15.
They also train the next generation of soldiers for Stanelds
organization, including O-Dog. At the end of the season, [3] HBO series The Wires Snoop Pearson. Danaroc.com.
its revealed that she is either a lesbian, or bisexual when
2006. Retrieved 2006-09-17.
Bunk says to her, I'm thinking about some pussy, and she
[4] Ken Tucker (2006). 5 Reasons to Live. Entertainment
replies, Me too.
Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
6.12.3
Season ve
In season ve, Snoop continues to act as muscle for Marlo,

alongside Chris Partlow. Tension between her and Michael
becomes a recurring theme. Snoop carries out orders from
her superiors without question, but Michael tends to voice
his opinion about certain situations. This occurs when
Chris, Snoop and Michael are about to make a hit on
Junebug (a rival drug dealer spreading malicious but trivial
words about Marlos sexuality) and after Omar kills Savino
Bratton. Snoop is murdered by Michael Lee when he rightly
suspects Snoop is about to kill him, due to Marlos suspicion
that he had been talking to the police about the Staneld organization. When Michael draws his gun she compliments
him on his intelligence and asks, How you know?" She accepts her fate and nonchalantly glances away from Michael,
out the car window into the wing mirror. Her nal words
are, How my hair look, Mike?" Michael answers, You
look good, girl, and shoots her, presumably in the head.
6.12.4
Production
Origins
Snoops name is seen for the rst time, very briey, in a season three episode, written on a post-it note and being pinned
up to the board. Her name is also pinned on the board in the
rst episode of season 4 "Boys of Summer". Her name and
picture is up on the details board under Chris Partlow as Felicia Pearson AKA SNOOP. Her name can once again be
seen briey early in the season 5 episode "Transitions", as
well as in Randy Wagstas police le in "The Dickensian
Aspect".[2] Snoop is the actresss nickname in real life.[3]
[5] Michael Endelman (2006). ""Wire education. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
[6] Stephen King (2006). Setting O a 'Wire' Alarm. Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-26.
6.13
Wee-Bey Brice
Roland Wee-Bey Brice is a ctional character on the

HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Hassan Johnson.
Wee-Bey is the Barksdale Organization's most trusted soldier.
6.13.1
Character storyline
Wee-Bey dropped out of school in sixth grade and started

dealing drugs on a corner with Avon Barksdale and Stringer
Bell (both slightly older than he was), eventually becoming
the primary soldier in their criminal organization. Wee-Bey
was also responsible for more mundane activities including
driving and picking up money. Despite his history of violent crime, Wee-Bey is good-natured towards his friends,
and has a passion for keeping tropical sh. He has a son,
Namond, by a woman named De'Londa, though he had no
hesitation about sleeping with other women and maintains
a separate residence. De'Londa uses his last name although
they are not married.[1] Wee-Bey has the distinction of being one of the few street characters to appear in every
season of The Wire, the others being Poot Carr, Proposition
Joe, Omar Little and Bubbles.
152
Season one
Season three
Wee-Bey is Barksdales main soldier. When Avon is cleaning up any possible trail of evidence leading back to him,
Wee-Bey kills a witness who had previously been bought
o. Wee-Bey gets involved in two dierent gun ghts
with legendary stick-up man Omar Little, after torturing
and killing Omars partner, accomplice and lover Brandon.
Their rst encounter ends with Wee-Bey being shot in the
leg, but he later defends Avon against Omar, shooting him
in the shoulder and forcing him to retreat.
Wee-Bey appears only briey, helping Avon approach

Dennis Cutty Wise to oer him a position.
Wee-Bey was also linked to the body of a dancer from Orlandos strip club, a Barksdale front company. Although not
responsible for her death, he slept with her the evening before and showed little concern after she died from a drug
overdose. His callous disposal of her body leads another
stripper to give information to the police.
Wee-Beys eventual downfall comes when he and Little
Man kill Orlando, who was working as a police informant.
During the killing, Little Man shoots Detective Greggs, who
was working undercover. Wee-Bey was horried to learn
that the second shooting victim was an undercover cop.
Stringer orders Wee-Bey to kill Little Man, stating that he is
unreliable as a soldier, and ee town; D'Angelo Barksdale is
responsible for driving Wee-Bey to Philadelphia (and taking care of his sh). When D'Angelo is arrested soon after, he gives the police information concerning Wee-Beys
whereabouts and his murder of Deirdre Kresson, a former
girlfriend of Avons. Later, through a combination of the
active wiretap and phone records, the police are able to determine Wee-Beys exact location. Baltimore and Philadelphia police arrest Wee-Bey by activating his car alarm, luring him out of his residence unarmed. Once in custody,
and guaranteed a life sentence for his involvement in the
shooting of a police ocer, Wee-Bey confesses to numerous murders, including several he did not commit (with the
aim of protecting other people in the Barksdale Organization); in return he asks for a pit beef sandwich with extra
horseradish.
Season two
Wee-Bey is imprisoned with Avon, serving life without parole. He keeps articial sh in his cell and enjoys a relatively easy life under Barksdales protection. A correctional
ocer named Dwight Tilghman harasses him because he
confessed to murdering a relative of Tilghmans. Wee-Bey
complains to Avon, and the problem is swiftly dealt with.
Later on, after D'Angelos supposed suicide, Wee-Bey reassures Avon that D'Angelos death was not his fault.
Season four
Wee-Beys teenaged son becomes involved with the drug
trade, getting a job with his old colleague Bodie Broadus.
Namond is also responsible for his sh. When Brianna
Barksdale cuts o the monthly payments that the Barksdale
organization had been making to the Brices, Namond is further pressured into dealing, mainly by his mother De'Londa.
Howard Bunny Colvin takes a liking to Namond after
meeting him in a special program for troubled youth that
Colvin helped supervise. Seeing potential in the boy, Colvin
approaches Wee-Bey and asks his permission to take Namond into his home. Colvin tells Wee-Bey that the changing face of the drug trade and Namonds capabilities in other
areas make him better suited to a life o the streets. Though
initially reluctant, Wee Bey agrees that Colvins oer gives
Namond the best chance of escaping the drug trade and
making something of himself. Acknowledging that anything would be preferable to a life as a soldier, Wee-Bey
orders De'Londa to allow Colvin to assume guardianship of
Namond, implicitly threatening her when she appears reluctant to let Namond go.
Season ve
Wee-Bey is briey seen during the end-of-season montage
conversing amicably with Chris Partlow in the courtyard of
the Maryland State prison.
6.13.2
Real life origins
Ed Burns investigated several high-end drug trackers in

the 1980s. One of these was a heroin dealer named Thomas
H. Taylor, whose partner, Vernon Collins, was known as
Bey-Brother. He was described by one FBI informant as a
narcotics hit man who is feared throughout the narcotics
underworld in Baltimore.[2] Collins is mentioned in David
Simon's book Homicide: A Year on the Killing Streets
as one of Baltimore's notorious contract killers in the late
1970s along with Dennis Wise (who spawned a character of
the same name played by actor Chad Coleman.) Wee-Bey
is a reference to this hit man and drug tracker. Collins
was arrested in 1987 and sentenced to thirty-ve years in
prison.
6.14. BODIE BROADUS
6.13.3
References
[1] HBO
[2] http://bulk.resource.org/courts.gov/c/F2/857/857.F2d.210.
88-5503.88-5502.html
6.14 Bodie Broadus

Preston Bodie Broadus is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor J. D. Williams.
Bodie is initially a Barksdale organization drug dealer in
The Pit who slowly rises through the ranks. Bodie is an
intelligent and disciplined lieutenant, and he shows strong
loyalty to Avon Barksdale and the rest of the Barksdale organization after they are severely weakened by both internal
conict amongst leadership and police interference, allowing the Staneld organization to make their claim over Baltimores narcotics trade. Bodie is a relatively goodhearted
character who sticks to his principles, but at times he can be
violent, such as when he took part in the murder of friend
and fellow dealer Wallace on orders from Stringer Bell. His
relationship with the police is also dynamic. His frequent
interactions with Ellis Carver and Thomas Herc Hauk begin as purely hostile but improve over time. He eventually
earns the respect of Ocer Jimmy McNulty.
6.14.1
Biography
Preston Bodie Broadus was raised by his grandmother

after his mother fell into addiction and homelessness, dying when he was four years old. He began working with
the Barksdales at age 13. His older brother James was a
renowned street dealer, who had working ties to Dennis
Cutty Wise; he too was killed early in Bodies life, depriving him of immediate familial support.
153
o with fake dollar bills. In a later conversation in which
D'Angelo tries to emphasize decent treatment of the customers, Bodie is unsympathetic; this is perhaps because
of his mothers addiction-fueled negligence while she was
still alive. In telling his troubled past to Detective Thomas
Herc Hauk, Bodies grandmother says that when she took
him in, he was only four, but even then, I knew he was angry. Later, Bodie punched Detective Mahon while being
searched. Bodie received a beating for this, from Detectives
Hauk, Greggs and Carver. He was arrested, but almost immediately after arriving at a juvenile detention facility, he
walked out and stole a car, and was soon back in Baltimore
dealing again. He became a personal target of Herc and
Carver, who picked him up in the pit and gave him a second beating. However, while waiting for prisoner transfer,
they softened towards him over a game of pool. The Barksdale Organizations lawyer, Maurice Levy, soon convinced
a judge to release Bodie. Herc and Carver were incredulous
at this, but when they realized he had legitimately beaten the
charges against him (thanks to Levy), they relented.
Later, Bodie was tasked by Stringer Bell to murder his erstwhile friend Wallace after Avon Barksdale decided to eliminate anyone who might talk to the police. Bodies willingness to carry out the hit further impressed Stringer. He
gathered Poot with little hesitation to aid him in his job.
During the lead up to the hit, Bodie was the more condent
of the two; however, when they cornered a fearful Wallace,
who pleaded with his friends, Bodie showed much hesitation. Only after Poot told him to nish it did he pull the
trigger. Although Bodie red the initial shot, he found it difcult to follow through and kill Wallace as he saw his friend
dying in agony. Poot took the gun and nished Wallace o
for both of them, and Bodie left the room soon after. After
the arrest of his one-time mentor and crew chief D'Angelo,
Bodies leadership skills shone and he stepped into the position by gathering The Pits members to physically force
away a rival drug gang.
Season one
Season two
Bodie, aged 16, worked under D'Angelo Barksdale in the

low-rise projects known as The Pit, with his friends Poot
and Wallace. He was a more prominent member of the
area, and was also more openly violent and hostile than his
peers. This caused Bodie to chafe under D'Angelos soft
style of leadership and lead him to sometimes challenge his
authority. When The Pits stash was robbed, he made a positive impression on Stringer Bell by noticing the name of the
stick-up artist, Omar Little, and describing the van.
Stringer began entrusting Bodie with more dicult tasks,

such as picking up the main supply in Philadelphia, and assigned him one of the prized Franklin Terrace Towers to
run. Poot was assigned to run the pit and he reported to
Bodie. They faced problems with poor quality product because the Barksdales favored New York suppliers severed
ties following Avons arrest. Bodie came up with considered suggestions to work around the problem at Stringers
meetings.
Bodie often displayed a quick, violent temper; he insti- When an independent crew of dealers moved in on the
gated the severe beating of drug addict Johnny Weeks af- Barksdales territory, Bodies violent outburst led the other
ter getting angry at Wallace for letting the group get ripped crew to start a gunght which resulted in the accidental
154
death of a child. After failing to adequately dispose of
the guns, Bodie was picked up and interrogated by detectives Ed Norris and Ray Cole in connection with the crime.
They attempted to blu a confession out of him, but he saw
through their trick and was released.
Stringer was unhappy with him, and ordered him to welcome Proposition Joe Stewart's dealers to the towers, because Joe was providing high-quality product. He and the
other West Siders started friendly competition to entice
buyers away from Joes nephew, Cheese. Bodie was pleased
when Brother Mouzone drove away the East Side dealers,
but worried about the quality of the product that would be
available to his crew without Proposition Joes help.
Season three

Namonds poor attitude and lack of street skills. He tried
to tempt Michael Lee, a far more eective runner, to take
a permanent position at his corner, but Michael declined.
Bodies experience and intelligence allowed him to build up
a solid business in his out of way corner, even with a lack
of muscle and experienced support, as he only was able to
hire younger dealers and inexperienced students like Namond. He continued to have dealings with Sergeant Carver
and Ocer McNulty, since his operation fell within their
jurisdiction, and was considered a source of information for
the two; this was shown most when they immediately came
to him in condence after Lexs disappearance. After being
released from prison mid-way through the season, Bodies
oldest surviving colleague Poot returned and helped Bodie
by working on his corner.
Bodie was supplied quality product by ex-Barksdale enforcer Slim Charles, now working for Proposition Joe.
Slims connections and support helped Bodie build his corner into one of the busiest drug markets. Chris Partlow and
Marlo saw this and a few days later oered Bodie an ultimatum: let Marlos operation take over the corner by force,
or remain but work Marlos package. Bodie had little support from his crew, and even after seeking out Slim Charles
was still enraged to submit. After Slim refused to help on
the basis of being outnumbered, Bodie acknowledges the
lower quality package of drugs that Marlo was supplying
from, compared to the high-potency Proposition Joe package, which makes him more determined not to back down
for fear of damaging his already fragile business; he ultimately began selling the package oered by Marlo, after
realizing that neither Proposition Joe nor the other members of the Co-Op would come to his aid.
The Franklin Towers were demolished and Avon Barksdale

was released from prison. Western District Major Colvin
tried to deal with the spread of the drug problem by oering drug zones where dealers and users would go unpunished. Bodie worked in one such zone nicknamed Hamsterdam"; this brought him back into contact with Herc and
Carver, now working in the Western District. When the police made their inevitable move on shutting down the free
zones, Detectives McNulty and Greggs tried to arrest Bodie
for possession. Bodie, having already once been stopped
but quickly released by McNulty on his way into Hamsterdam, displayed his characteristically sharp mind during interrogation and cited entrapment (or contrapment as he
mistakenly put it) leading to wrongful arrest, leaving an impressed McNulty and Pearlman no choice but to let him go.
He also helped Dennis Cutty Wise to contact Avon Barksdale on several occasions; the two appear to have a rapport In a t of romantic jealousy, Bodies second, Lex murdered
and mutual respect most likely derived from Cutty having his ex-girlfriends new boyfriend: a Staneld dealer known
as Fruit. In retribution, Staneld enforcers Chris and Snoop
known Bodies older brother.
executed Lex, in an ambush he was lured into by his coThe Barksdale organization became embroiled in a turf war worker Little Kevin. Little Kevin in turn was executed by
with Marlo Staneld's crew. Although Bodies crew was the pair weeks later because of his failure to follow direcbadly beaten, Bodie himself was not present at the time of tions to the letter. Bodie felt that Marlo was violating the
the assault. The escalating murder rate brought further po- rules of the drug trade, yet he was unaware of Little Kevins
lice attention. Avon was sent back to prison, Stringer was betrayal of Lex. He sought Poot for advice on the matmurdered and the gang was scattered. Bodie was one of ter, but his old colleague disagreed with his resistant stance,
the few prominent Barksdale members not present at the saying when they killed Wallace, it was just as unjustihome-base, which spared him from the weapons charges.
ed. Bodie however remained certain that Wallaces death
was necessary, as it involved (supposed) betrayal, whereas
Marlos murders were on the basis of ruthless killings. AfSeason four
ter Little Kevins body was discovered, angered Bodie was
arrested for kicking in the windows of a patrol car in rage;
Bodie was forced onto a less-desirable corner due to the
he was responsible for advising Little Kevin to go see Marlo
Staneld Organizations complete control of what used to be
after the latter asked for his audience. He was released on
the Barksdale Organizations prime territories. His newest
the recommendation of McNulty, who hoped to turn Bodie
crew included his second in command Curtis Lex Anderas an informant against Marlo. Bodie expressed resistance
son, Little Kevin and Reesy; he employed Namond Brice
to giving information on his former Barksdale allies, but
as a runner out of respect for his father's reputation, despite
6.15. POOT CARR

was eager to talk about Marlos crew. McNulty had an increasing respect for Bodie which had been developing since
Season 1; this and their unied hatred of everything Marlo
had done ultimately convinced Bodie that he needed to step
up in order to stop the wave of ruthless murder that Marlo
had been causing.
Bodie was seen getting into McNultys car by Monk, one
of Marlos lieutenants, who later relayed this information
to Marlo, who swiftly ordered his death. Later that night,
Bodie is dealing with Poot and Spider when Chris and
Snoop set up an ambush. Bodie decides to take a stand
once and for all and opens re rst, causing an unarmed
Spider to retreat. Throughout the Fourth season, Chris and
Snoop murder various people by taking them into abandoned houses. All of the victims put up a minimal ght
and are dispatched with ease. Bodie decides to be the sole
exception to this and shouts you ain't putting me in one of
them empty ass houses neither. Poot tries to reason with
Bodie but Bodie shakes his head, realizing that he is ready
to die for what he believes in. After Poot realizes he cannot
convince him otherwise, he retreats. Shortly after Poots
departure, while Bodie is still focused on Chris and Snoop,
O-Dog emerges from a doorway behind Bodie and shoots
him twice in the head, killing him. The way the scene plays
out alludes to the chess metaphor from season one; with
both Snoop and Chris advancing diagonally like bishops,
Bodie (the pawn) refuses to retreat, O-Dog then steps out
of the doorway and turns to towards Bodie like a knight and
kills him. When McNulty later asked Poot who had killed
Bodie, Poot stated that he held McNulty personally responsible for his friend Bodies murder.
Bodies death draws parallels to his older brother James,
who himself had died young. McNulty, having developed a
genuine respect for Bodie throughout the season, is stricken
with guilt. Bodies death is what ultimately convinces McNulty to return to the Major Crime Unit, as he wishes to
atone for being responsible for Bodies death by catching
Marlo once and for all.
Judging by his age at the start of the series, Bodie was
around 20 years old when he was killed.
6.14.2
References
6.15 Poot Carr

Malik Poot Carr is a ctional character on the HBO
drama The Wire, played by actor Tray Chaney. Poot starts
out as a drug dealer in the Barksdale Organization who
slowly rises through the ranks. He eventually ends up leaving the drug trade after its violent nature causes the death of
many of his friends. Poot outgrows the lifestyle and pur-
155
sues a legitimate profession. He has the distinction, along
with Wee-Bey Brice, Omar Little, Bubbles and Proposition
Joe, of being the only characters in the drug trade to appear
in every season.
Of the seventeen front-line Barksdale Organization gang
members to feature in Season One to Season Three, twelve
die during the course of the show and three more are imprisoned with long sentences. Poot in many ways is the sole
survivor, and the foil to the heavy casualties suered particularly by Barksdales organization. This is despite the fact
that he survives being shot at three times, more times than
any other character except Omar Little. He distinguishes
himself from the other remaining survivor, Slim Charles,
as the only one able to move away from drug trade after the
organizations collapse.
6.15.1
Biography
Season one
In season one Poot works in the low rise projects territory
called the pit under D'Angelo Barksdale, and is friends
with fellow dealers Bodie and Wallace. He has a very active
sex life, and at one point the police detail investigating the
Barksdale Organization listens in on him having phone sex
with a girlfriend. He is depicted as being a contemporary
of Bodie and Wallace, making him about sixteen when the
show starts.
Poot is trapped in the stash house with other members of
his crew when it is robbed by Omar. Although he doesn't
get hurt, Poot is terried enough to vomit when Omar
leaves. He and Wallace spot Brandon, Omars boyfriend
and accomplice in the heist. Wallace reports the sighting
to D'Angelo, even though Poot doesn't believe anyone will
come. Stringer Bell arrives soon afterwards with a trio of
enforcers. Poot is not as aected as Wallace by the body of
Brandon being displayed in their neighborhood as a warning to Omar. The trauma drives Wallace to stop working for
the organization. Poot tries to get him to return to work, but
he is unsuccessful. Poot follows Wallace and realizes he has
turned to drugs to escape his problems. He covers for Wallace with D'Angelo for some time but eventually tells him
the truth.
Poots close friendship with Wallace is evident as he stays
in constant touch with Wallace after the police move Wallace away to the country. Wallace tells Poot he has chosen
to move to live with relatives. During the lead up to the
hit, Poots closer friendship with Wallace made him the less
condent of the two; however, when they cornered a fearful Wallace, who pleaded with his friends, Bodie showed
much more hesitation. Only after Poot urged him to nish
it did he pull the trigger. Although Bodie red the initial
156
shot, Poot took the gun from him and nished Wallace o
himself, wanting to free his friend from his suering. After
the arrest of his one-time mentor and crew chief D'Angelo,
Poots willingness to continue to serve the Barksdale Organization was shown when he stepped into the position by
helping Bodie physically force away a rival drug gang. In
the closing scenes of Season One, Poot is seen running the
Pit, notably repeating some of the earlier lessons taught to
him by D'Angelo to the crew currently working for him.
Season two
In season two Poot is rewarded with a promotion to
D'Angelos old position in charge of drug dealing in the
pit. However, he has diculty controlling his subordinates
and struggles with the poor quality product available to the
crew. He is signicant enough to the organization to attend
Stringers strategy meetings at a funeral home. He continues to work with Bodie who is now in control of his own
tower and overseeing the pit. Bodie and Poot become embroiled in a turf dispute with an independent crew that leads
to a reght, in which Bodie, Poot and Puddin ght o six
attackers. A child is killed by a stray bullet.
Season three
In season three the Barksdale organization is forced out of
its prime territory by the citys demolition of the public
housing towers - in the cold open of the season premiere,
Poot expresses his sadness at the loss of the towers, revealing that he lost his virginity in one of the buildings. It is
during this sequence that Bodie reveals Poots given name
to be Malik Carr. Poot remains in charge of his own crew
now working on a street corner. The Barksdale organization becomes embroiled in a turf war with the rival Staneld
crew. Barksdale enforcer Slim Charles assures Poot that he
will be safe to keep selling narcotics and provides him with
more muscle as protection. Poot narrowly escapes being
shot in a drive-by on his corner carried out by Staneld soldier Snoop, which kills Barksdale soldier Rico. At the close
of season three, Poot is arrested alongside Avon Barksdale
and others, implicated in drug dealing by a police wiretap.
Season four

termine how to view Marlos cutthroat operations. Poot was
with Bodie and Spider when Marlos crew attacks his corner. When it becomes clear that they are outnumbered, and
that Bodie would rather die than ee, Poot ed the scene
while Bodie chose to ght. Bodie is soon shot to death.
When Jimmy McNulty later asks Poot who killed Bodie,
Poot tells him that he blames the police for his friends murder, as Bodie was seen getting into a car with McNulty by
Stanelds lieutenant, Monk. Poot is briey shown in the
nal montage of the season working for Michael Lee, who
took over Bodies corner.
Season ve
Poot is briey seen working at a shoe store where Dukie
comes in looking for a job. Poot recognizes Dukie and admits he used to work the corners, but says that he got tired of
drug dealing and decided to get a legitimate job instead because, like for Dennis Cutty Wise, the game got old. He
tells Dukie he won't get hired because he is not old enough,
and that he should come back after working the corners for a
couple more years. This nal appearance of Poot draws several parallels to Cutty, and signies after much hardship he
was able to successfully leave the drug trade behind him, an
achievement which most of his peers never lived or hoped
to accomplish.
6.15.2
References
[1] Character prole - Poot. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006-0724.

6.16
D'Angelo Barksdale
D'Angelo D Barksdale is a ctional character on the

HBO drama The Wire played by actor Larry Gilliard Jr.
D'Angelo is the nephew of Avon Barksdale and a lieutenant
in his drug dealing organization which controls most of the
trade in West Baltimore. The immorality and ruthlessness
of the drug trade gradually wears on his conscience, bringing him into conict with the Barksdale leadership, most
notably Stringer Bell.
Poot is released from prison after serving fteen months of

a four-year prison sentence and immediately goes back to
6.16.1 Biography
work with Bodies crew. He is unhappy to learn that they
are now working under Avons old rival Marlo, but does not
Season one
seem to mind the change too much.[1][2]
Poot is a source of advice for Bodie, who often looked to D'Angelo Barksdale is a high-ranking lieutenant in the
his old (and last surviving) friend for help when trying to de- criminal organization of his uncle Avon Barksdale; his
6.16. D'ANGELO BARKSDALE

mother Brianna is also a high-ranking advisor. Prior to
the series, D'Angelo controlled the high-rise tower of 221
West Fremont, a major drug market. He was confronted
by dealer Pooh Blanchard in the lobby and, in a panic,
shot him in front of civilian witnesses. He was quickly arrested and served 8 months in county jail before, in the series premiere, standing trial for this murder, represented by
the organizations lawyer Maurice Levy. Though one witness, William Gant, willingly testies, the organization has
scared and/or bribed the other witness, Nakeesha Lyles, to
recant her testimony. D'Angelo is thus acquitted. As punishment for his carelessness, Avon demotes D'Angelo to the
low rise projects known as The Pit, where his crew consists of Bodie Broadus, Poot, Wallace, Cass and Sterling.
Over the course of the season, D'Angelo grows more and
more ambivalent about the drug trade. When William Gant
turns up dead, D'Angelo is shaken, assuming Avon had it
done as revenge for testifying. He is brought in for questioning by detectives Jimmy McNulty and Bunk Moreland,
who trick him into writing a letter of apology to Gants family. Levy arrives and stops him before he can write anything
incriminating, and he is released. He questions his uncle,
who evades his accusations and persuades him to remain
loyal to the family.
D'Angelo is very hesitant about discipline (such as the brutal
beating of Johnny Weeks, or punishing dealers Cass and
Sterling for stealing small amounts).
D'Angelo is also unwittingly involved in a second murder,
Avons girlfriend Deirdre Kresson. When cooperating with
the police department after his arrest they question him
about this murder. D'Angelo claims he had delivered drugs
to Kresson and been a distraction while Wee-Bey Brice
killed her. Wee-Bey gladly takes the blame for this and
other murders that were unsolved at the time of his arrest
since he was facing life without parole either way. Earlier in
the season, D'Angelo had falsely claimed responsibility for
killing Kresson himself, apparently in an attempt to impress
his subordinates Bodie, Poot and Wallace.
D'Angelo has a son, Tyrell, by girlfriend Donette. She
wants him to move in with her, but her nagging often drives
him away. D'Angelo begins dating a dancer from his uncles strip club, Shardene Innes, and lives with her for a
short time, until Shardene nds out about Keesha, another
stripper. The police tell her that Keesha had overdosed,
died, and was left in a dumpster after attending a Barksdale
crew party. She accuses D'Angelo of seeing her as trash
that could easily be discarded, and moves out. She goes on
to cooperate with the police unit investigating the Barksdale
clan.
157
day, the police raid. (Their information is slightly outdated,
and they raid a now abandoned stash house, but Detective
Lester Freamon nds D'Angelos pager number on a wall.)
Stringer chastises D'Angelo for his sloppiness, and Avon
places a bounty on Omars crew. Wallace and Poot identify
Omars boyfriend, Brandon, in an arcade; D'Angelo relays
the message to Stringer, who has Brandon captured, tortured and killed. Wallace becomes haunted by his role in
the death of Brandon.
Relating to Wallaces aversion to the violence of their trade,
D'Angelo develops a friendship with Wallace. When Wallace wants to leave the business after seeing the mutilated
body of Brandon, D'Angelo is supportive and gives him
money. Stringer begins asking after Wallace; D'Angelo
senses that the boy is in trouble and asks Avon to leave
him alone, reassuring him that Wallace is no danger to the
organization. When Wallace returns and asks for his old
job back, D'Angelo tries to get him to leave, but is unable to save him. Wallace is killed at Bells orders, though
D'Angelo remains unaware that Bodie and Poot killed him.
Based indirectly on information Shardene provided to the
police (The microphone inside the club which listened to
Avon), D'Angelo is arrested while running drugs from New
York, and again interrogated. McNulty tells him Wallace is
dead. D'Angelo remembers the trick from before that got
him writing a letter to the ctional kids of Mr. Gant and
doesn't believe him at rst. Stringer Bell comes to talk to
him and refuses to answer the question wheres Wallace?"
Stringer warns D'Angelo to shut his mouth which conrms
in D'Angelos mind what had happened. He grows angry
and tells Stringer he doesn't want to use the family lawyer,
permanently driving a wedge in their already fractured relationship. D'Angelo is furious at the murder of Wallace and
briey turns states witness against the Organization. He
tells them where Wee-Bey has ed to after shooting a police ocer, and oers numerous details of his uncles organization. However, a visit from his mother convinces him
of his duty to his family, and he backs out of the deal. Due
to his refusal to cooperate, he is sentenced to a maximum
of 20 years in prison. While serving his sentence, he says
the best he can hope for is 10 years before a possibility for
parole.
Season two
While in prison with Avon and Wee-Bey, D'Angelo turns to

snorting heroin. Though he is distant from his uncle, Avon
still protects him, and gets him a cushy job in the prison library. Wee-Bey is being harassed by a guard named Dwight
Under D'Angelos rm leadership, The Pit begins to turn Tilghman, who is involved in the prison drug trade. Avon
a good prot. It nevertheless becomes a cause for con- arranges to have his heroin supply laced with rat poison, and
cern when its stash is stolen by Omar Little, and, the next advises D'Angelo to stay o the drug for a few days to prove
158
hes not an addict, but does not tell D'Angelo of the plan.
Had D'Angelo not taken his uncles advice he could easily
have died himself. At least one of the inmates D'Angelo
was friendly with accepted doses of the tainted drugs. After ve prisoners die and eight more are in the inrmary,
Avon informs on Tilghman in exchange for an earlier parole board hearing and a recommendation for release by the
investigators. D'Angelo refuses to take part in the plan and,
disgusted by his uncles immorality, declares that he wants
nothing more to do with his family.
6.17
Cheese Wagsta
Calvin Cheese Wagsta (named Melvin Flagsta

during Season 2, possibly due to faulty police information)
is a ctional character on the HBO television series The
Wire. He is portrayed by hip hop recording artist Method
Man. He is a crew chief for his uncle Proposition Joe's drug
organization and later works for the Staneld Organization
after betraying his uncle. He is also the father of Randy
Wagsta according to creator David Simon, though this is
[1][2]
Stringer Bell grows afraid that D'Angelo may inform on the never explored or even stated on the show.
organization, knowing how close he had previously been.
He hires a contract killer from Washington D.C., who in
turn arranges for a prisoner to strangle D'Angelo with a belt 6.17.1 Character biography
in the back room of the library, staging his body to look
like a suicide. No investigation is launched, although Mc- Season two
Nulty becomes convinced that it was a murder when he is
belatedly informed and investigates it, on his own. The fam- Cheese is the nephew of Proposition Joe and a crew chief
ily members continue to believe it was a suicide until Mc- in his Eastside drug crew. He supplied Ziggy Sobotka with
Nulty confronts Donette and Brianna with his suspicions, a narcotics package and, when Sobotka could not pay him
back, set re to his car and threatened to kill him. Nick
and Stringer nally tells Avon in season three.
Sobotka and La La intervened on Ziggys behalf but could
only convince Cheese to give Ziggy more time. Cheese
was forced to back down when Nick involved The Greek
6.16.2 Critical response
Proposition Joes supplier of high-quality heroin. Cheese
subsequently moved into Barksdale territory following an
A San Francisco Chronicle review picked the scene of agreement with Stringer Bell, much to the chagrin of Bodie
D'Angelo instructing Bodie and Wallace on the rules of Broadus. Avon Barksdale was unaware of the agreement
chess as one of the rst seasons nest moments.[1] They due to being incarcerated, and hired Brother Mouzone, who
praised the character of D'Angelo and the shows portrayal shot Cheese with rat shot to intimidate him and his colof his diculties as middle management in the drug or- leagues.
ganization: having to deal with unreliable subordinates, demanding superiors, and his own conscience.[1]
Season three
In season three, Cheese was one of the major case units
rst targets as a possible route to Proposition Joe himself. Cheese avoided their surveillance eorts through disHis name is a tribute to Donald Angelo Barksdale, the rst ciplined use of his subordinates to make phone calls and by
African-American player of the ABA/NBA team Baltimore only discussing business face to face, and was promoted to
Bullets. His favorite beverage appears to be Ginger Ale, supplying other dealers.
as he is seen asking for and drinking it numerous times
Cheese kept a pit bull terrier and participated in
throughout the course of season one.[2]
underground dog ghts. When his dog lost a ght, Cheese
shot it rather than seek treatment for its injuries. Cheeses
soldier Tri suggested that Dazz, his opponent, might have
6.16.4 References
cheated with another dealer, Jelly. Tri later killed Jelly,
leading to two further deaths and a short war between the
[1] Peter Hartlaub (2002-06-05). Fighting crime, and bureau- rival crews. The major case unit arrested Tri in the course
crats. Creator of HBOs 'Wire' takes police drama in new of preparing for yet another skirmish. The unit mistakenly
direction. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2007-10- presumed Cheese was using slang to discuss a murder when
04.
they overheard him on a tapped phone describing how he
shot his dog. After arresting Cheese, the unit interroga[2] Character prole - D'Angelo Barksdale. HBO. 2012. Re- tors revealed their wiretap evidence to him in an eort to
trieved 2006-08-05.
force his confession. Once the unit realized Cheese had
6.16.3
Other
6.18. WALLACE (THE WIRE)
159
been talking literally about killing an animal, he was re- 6.18 Wallace (The Wire)
leased and promptly told Proposition Joe about the wiretap,
after which his gang changed their communication strate- Wallace is a ctional character on the HBO drama The
gies to thwart further investigation.[2]
Wire, played by actor Michael B. Jordan. Wallace is a 16year-old drug dealer for the Barksdale Organization, who
works in the low-rise projects crew known as The Pit with
his friends and fellow dealers Bodie and Poot. When inSeason four
formation he provides leads to the brutal death of Brandon
Wright, the boyfriend of stick-up artist Omar Little, WalIn season four, Cheese remained a trusted member of
lace feels guilty and tries to leave the drug trade. He informs
Proposition Joes inner circle. He acted as the go-between,
on the Barksdale Organization to the police, and as a result
supplying Joes drugs to the various other Baltimore dealers
is killed by Bodie and Poot under orders by drug kingpin
in the Co-op, including Marlo Staneld, and also picked up
Stringer Bell.
the drug deliveries from agents of The Greek. Omar Little tracked Cheese from Proposition Joes oce to one of
these delivery sites during a major drop and stole the entire
Baltimore heroin supply. When Omar sold the drugs back 6.18.1 Biography
to Joe, Cheese seemed more angry than Joe himself.
Wallace is a 16-year-old drug dealer in the Barksdale crews
low rise projects organization (called The Pit). He serves
with Poot and Bodie Broadus under D'Angelo Barksdale
Season ve
through the entirety of season one. He shows the signs of
a half-nished education he can identify famous peoIn season ve, Cheese assists Marlo Staneld in his eorts ple on currency better than the rest of his crew (including
to control the entire Baltimore drug trade, acting as an infor- D'Angelo, who objects when Wallace correctly points out
mant to Marlo. In exchange for a $50,000 reward for infor- that Alexander Hamilton was never president), but somemation leading to the whereabouts of Omar Little, Cheese times struggles with the math involved with drug dealing.
identies Butchie as someone who knows where Omar is He also takes responsibility for numerous younger kids in
hiding. When Butchie is tortured and murdered by Chris the projects, housing them in a squatters apartment, packand Snoop, Joe immediately suspects Cheese is Marlos in- ing their lunches, seeing them o to school and helping
formant. Fearing Omar might believe he is responsible, them with their homework. He betrays his age when he
Prop Joe prepares to go into hiding. Cheese informs Marlo is found playing with toys while supposed to be on lookout
of Proposition Joes whereabouts after Joe is no longer of duty.
use to Marlo. Marlo rewards Cheese with a top spot in his After Omar Little robs the pit crews stash of drugs, Wallace
organization after eectively dissolving the New Day Co- spots his accomplice Brandon playing pinball and calls this
Op. In the series nale, Cheese and the rest of the co-op information in. Stringer Bell grabs Brandon and tortures
meet to discuss how the group should move forward after him to death. His body is left on display, coincidentally
Marlo is forced out of the drug trade. Waving a pistol in an- outside of Wallaces home. Wallace receives a quarter of
other dealers face, Cheese makes a speech about how Joe the $2000 bounty on Brandons head, but is so sickened by
and Marlo have had their time, but before he can declare the event that he decides he wants out of the game. He
it is his turn, Slim Charles shoots him in the head uncere- approaches D'Angelo and tells him he wants to go back to
moniously and without warning. When another dealer asks school. D'Angelo gives him his blessing and some cash.
Charles why he killed Cheese, Charles replies, That was Poot discovers that Wallace has spent the money on drugs
for Joe. His is the nal onscreen death in the series.
and is spending most of his time at home getting high.
Wallace is picked up by the police and agrees to cooperate
with the Barksdale detail, revealing Stringers involvement
in the killing of Omars boyfriend Brandon. In order to keep
6.17.2 References
him safe until the trial, Wallace is sent to live with his grandmother in rural Cambridge. After detective Kima Greggs
[1] "'The Wire': David Simon schools USC. The Los Angeles is shot in an undercover operation, the detail becomes so
Times
preoccupied with her condition that Wallace is temporarily forgotten. Bored with life away from Baltimore, he re[2] Character prole - Calvin Cheese Wagsta. HBO. turns to the low-rise projects and asks to get involved in the
2004. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
trade again. Stringer Bell becomes suspicious of Wallaces
160
return. D'Angelo tries to reassure Stringer of Wallaces loyalty, but Stringer is not convinced and assigns Bodie to kill
Wallace. Cornered at gunpoint by Poot and Bodie, Wallace
begs for mercy, reminding Bodie of their friendship. Bodie
rst taunts, then hesitates, unable to bring himself to pull the
trigger. Poot urges him on and Bodie nally shoots Wallace,
only to leave him severely wounded and slowly dying. Poot
takes the gun and nishes him o.
D'Angelo is outraged when he learns of Wallaces death. It
is one of the main factors that leads D'Angelo to want to
leave the game himself, and it drives a permanent wedge
between him and Stringer. In season three McNulty nds
the crime scene photo from Wallaces murder and he and
Roland Pryzbylewski share a look.
Wire, Simon read the names of every notable cast member

in the show, and media outlets reported the loudest cheers
came for Jordan and the recognition for his portrayal as
Wallace.[4]
6.18.3
References
[1] Morales, Wilson (2002-09-13). On His Own: An Interview

with Michael B. Jordan. BlackFilm.com. Retrieved 200905-04.
[2] Zarrabi, Nima (2008-10-02). An Interview with Michael
B. Jordan: Catching up with Wallace from The Wire.
SLAM Magazine. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
track (DVD). HBO.
6.18.2
Behind the scenes
He wants to be one of the baddest drug dealers but didnt

know it would come with a price. He wants to have all the
pleasure and all the money but didnt know that the residue
of the drug dealing would come with it.
Michael B. Jordan on Wallace[1]
Michael B. Jordan auditioned before The Wire casting director Alexa Fogel in New York City for the role of Bodie.
He was called back twice and the auditions went well, but
he was turned down for the part because Fogel thought
he was too young. The part went to Jordans friend J. D.
Williams,[1] who grew up in the same hometown with Jordan in Newark, New Jersey. Jordan was asked instead to
audition for the younger character Wallace, and was cast in
the part.[2]
Jordan did little preparation for the part, but used his experiences growing up on the streets of Newark, New Jersey,
as a way to prepare for the role.[2] Jordan said, I live in an
area where there are lots of drug dealers and I know some
people who may or may not sell drugs, so this is not new to
me.[1] The actor found out his character was going to be
killed one week before it was lmed.[2] Series creator David
Simon has described Wallace as an emotional center to the
shows rst season and praised Jordans performance, saying that he was sorry the character had to leave but that the
story comes rst. Simon sees the character as an illustration
of the adage a 14-year-old drug dealer is still 14.[3]
Amos Barshad of New York magazine called Wallaces
death one of an overwhelmingly bleak shows bleakest
moments.[4] MSNBC reporter Michael Ventre described it
as perhaps the most memorable (scene), and one that illustrates The Wire in microcosm.[5] The character remained
memorable years after his departure from the show. During
a January 2008 premiere party for the fth season of The
[4] Barshad, Amos (2009-01-07). ""The Wire Premiere: Wallace Lives, and Rawls Cuts a Rug. New York. Retrieved
2009-05-04.
[5] Ventre, Michael (2004-11-13). On The Wire, sometimes
the bad guys win. MSNBC. Retrieved 2009-05-04.
Chapter 7
Docks
7.1 Characters from the docks of
The Wire
but hides her visits from his parents. Joan is aghast when
the police serve warrants and search her home looking for
Nick and nd drugs and cash.
The ctional HBO drama series The Wire focused largely on

the Baltimore docks in its second season, introducing many
Louis Sobotka
new characters to the cast. Characters from the docks of
The Wire include the working Stevedores and their families
Played by: Robert J. Hogan
as well as the criminal organization that controls smuggling
through the Baltimore docks.
Appears in season 2: "Hard Cases"; "Duck and
Cover"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
7.1.1
Sobotka family
The Sobotka family is a Polish American Baltimore family.

The head of the family is Frank, a treasurer for the local
union. The Sobotkas are hated by Southeastern District
commander Stanislaus Valchek who has a long-standing
feud with Frank.
Frank Sobotka
Main article: Frank Sobotka
Louis is Frank Sobotka's elder brother and Nick's father. Louis was forced to retire early from his trade as a
shipwright. He spends his days hypothetically gambling on
horses (he never places any money on his bets) and drinking at Delores' bar. He refuses to get involved in the familys
smuggling operation. When a warrant is put on Nick for his
drug involvement Louis convinces him to turn himself in.
Nick Sobotka
Frank Sobotka was a respected longshoremen's local union Main article: Nick Sobotka
leader who became involved with an organized crime smuggling operation in order to nance a political campaign to
Louis and Joans son and Franks nephew, Nick is a wellsustain the docks.
liked young stevedore with extensive family connections to
the Baltimore port and links to the criminal underworld.
Joan Sobotka
Played by: Elisabeth Noone
Ziggy Sobotka
Appears in season 2: "Ebb Tide" and "Hard Cases".
Main article: Ziggy Sobotka
Joan is Louis wife and the two live with their grown son,
Nick. Joan bemoans her familys drinking habits and tries
to encourage Nick to get as much work as possible at the
port. She refuses to make breakfast for him if he is not up
in time for work. Nick often has his girlfriend Aimee to stay
Ziggy is Franks son, an impulsive and often reckless young

checker, loosely based on Pinkie Bannion, a real life docker
in the Baltimore area, at the docks with a desire to prove
himself and a respected father to live up to.[1]
161
162
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
7.1.2
Dock workers
He was released on bail later the same day. Franks response was to have Horseface steal a surveillance van from
The dock workers are all members of the Baltimore Union Valcheks district parking lot; Ott helped to load the van into
of the International Brotherhood of Stevedores. They a container to be shipped around the country.
are also hated by Southeastern District commander Stan
Ott was set to take over from Frank as treasurer when the
Valchek who views them as nothing more than dishonornext election came around, per the Stevedores arrangeable thieves stealing anything that comes into the port.
ment that the position swap between a Polish and AfricanAmerican after each term. Ott was supported by his friend
Nat Coxson, president of another local union. Ott realized
Nat Coxson
that Frank planned to run again and was angry that he was
not honoring the agreement. When Frank was murdered,
Played by: Luray Cooper
Ott withdrew his candidacy as a show of unity against the
Appears in
federal governments attempt to break up the union.
Season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"; "Undertow"; "All Prologue";
"Backwash"; "Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings";
Season 5: "The Dickensian Aspect"
Nat is a bald-headed African-American stevedore who is a
union president and is dubious of Frank Sobotka's political
maneuvering. Nat is a rm believer that the unions should
focus on repairing the disused grain pier before it is bought
by property developers. He opposes Franks eorts to have
the canal dredged as he believes that this is a goal beyond
their reach. Nat is concerned about Franks surge in income
and spending on campaign contributions and hiring a lobbyist. He questions Frank about the source of the funds and
when Frank refuses to answer Nat cautions him about the
risks of showing so much money.
Little Big Roy

Played by: Richard Pelzman
Appears in:
Season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Backwash" (uncredited);
"Duck and Cover"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port in a
Storm" (uncredited).
Season 5: "The Dickensian Aspect"
Little Big Roy is a large, balding, Polish crew chief from

Nat Coxsons IBS longshoremens union. He is often seen
drinking in Delores bar with other union members. Frank
Sobotka borrowed Little Big Roys union card in order to
work a ship to clear his head after he was arrested. When
Franks body was pulled out of the docks Little Big Roy
was there to watch with the other devastated Stevedores.
Nat is an advocate for Ott in the forthcoming union election. As well as that, he is well known for being very protective
He expects Frank to stand down to let Ott take his place of his Union Card and is extremely cautious about who he
as the unions have an arrangement that Polish and African gives it to.
American leaders will alternate. Frank asks Nat to allow
him to continue for a second term to try to achieve his po- Thomas Horseface Pakusa
litical goals and Nat is dubious. When Frank is murdered,
Nat is horried along with the other Stevedores. Nats worst
Played by: Charley Scalies
fears are ultimately realized when the grain pier is converted
Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Daminto condominiums.
age"; "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "Undertow"; "All
Prologue"; "Backwash"; "Duck and Cover"; "Stray
Vernon Ott Motley
Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad Dreams" and "Port
in a Storm".
Played by: Bus Howard
Checker from Frank Sobotka's union who assists him in
Appears in season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Dam- moving contraband through the port. Horse was responage"; "Duck and Cover"; "Stray Rounds" and "Port in sible for stealing Valcheks surveillance van in the unions
a Storm".
feud with the police major. Horse was arrested and put on
trial along with Eton Ben-Eleazer following the details inMoustached older African-American stevedore often seen vestigation of smuggling through the Baltimore docks. The
drinking in Delores bar. Ott was arrested on a DWI charge outcome of his trial is not shown, though Nick Sobotka tesas part of Major Valcheks vendetta against the union. tied that Horseface knew nothing of the smuggling.[2]
7.1. CHARACTERS FROM THE DOCKS OF THE WIRE
163
Chess
Played by: J. Valenteen Gregg
Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Duck and
Cover"; "All Prologue" (uncredited) and "Port in a
Storm" (uncredited).
Chess is a large, senior, African-American stevedore who
is often seen drinking at Delores bar. He questions Frank
Sobotka about the source of his political capital at a union
meeting.
Horseface, a longtime stevedore and sometime smuggler played by

Charley Scalies
Johnny Fifty Spamanto

Played by: Jerey Pratt Gordon
Appears in
La La
Played by: Kelvin Davis
Appears in season 2: "Ebb Tide" (uncredited);
"Backwash"; "Duck and Cover"; "Stray Rounds" and
"Port in a Storm".
Bald African-American stevedore from Frank Sobotka's

union. La La has little seniority amongst union men and
therefore struggles to nd work. When Frank got into a
feud with Southeastern police district commander Major
Valchek, La La was arrested on a DWI stop when leaving
Delores bar along with several other union members. He
is a friend of Nick Sobotka and accompanied him to try
Season 5: "Transitions".
to talk a drug dealer called Cheese into giving back his
Johnny Fifty is a young checker from Frank Sobotka's friend and Nicks cousin Ziggys car.
union. Spamanto is Caucasian and wears a long beard. He
received his nickname for drinking fty-three beers on his
Maui
25th birthday and is often seen drinking in Delores bar.
Spamanto assists Nick and Ziggy in stealing from the docks
Played by: Lance Irwin
for The Greek. He refuses to get involved in the drug
Appears in season 2: "Hard Cases"; "Undertow";
trade with Nick and Ziggy. Spamanto was indicted by a
"Backwash"; "Duck and Cover" and "Port in a Storm".
grand jury as part of the investigation in to smuggling at
the docks but gave very little information and escaped uncharged. Johnny Fifty briey resurfaces in Season 5 as a Maui is a checker from Frank Sobotka's union who had
homeless man, demonstrating how far the union has fallen: a relationship with Ocer Beadie Russell. Beadie reconin previous years, Spamanto regularly found work in the nected with Maui to get information about smuggling from
tower, but is now evidently getting very few hours and as a the docks; he refused to inform on his fellow union men but
told her to check the ports computer system for informaresult is hurting nancially.
tion. Maui dislikes Ziggy Sobotka, playing various tricks
on him, culminating with Maui humiliating Ziggy by forcBig Roy
ing him on top of a container and stranding him there.
Season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage";
"Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases"; "Undertow"; "All
Prologue"; "Backwash"; "Duck and Cover";
"Stray Rounds"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad
Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Played by: Doug Lory

Appears in season two: "Ebb Tide"; "Bad Dreams"
and "Port in a Storm" (uncredited).
7.1.3
The Greeks
Main article: The Greeks of The Wire
Big Roy is a ponytailed white stevedore who is much smaller

than his colleague Little Big Roy. Big Roy was part of the The Greeks are an international smuggling and organized
crowd of Stevedores that witnessed their murdered union crime organization with several Eastern European members
in Baltimore operating out of a rundown cafe.
leader Frank Sobotka being pulled from the docks.
164
7.1.4
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
Others
Aimee
Played by: Kristin Proctor
7.2
Francis Frank Sobotka is a ctional character on the

HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Chris Bauer.
Appears in season 2: "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases";

"Undertow"; "Backwash"; "Storm Warnings"; "Bad 7.2.1
Dreams" and "Port in a Storm".
Aimee is Nick Sobotka's girlfriend and the mother of his
daughter, Ashley. Aimee could not stay overnight at Nicks
home because he still lived with his parents. Aimee hopes
to get a place for her young family to share and encourages
Nick to go house hunting with her despite his lack of income
from his dock work. She is shocked when she discovers a
bundle of cash in his basement room, but he explains it by
telling her that it comes from a new warehouse manager
position. Aimee was at Nicks home when the police raided
it and found a stash of heroin. She accepted his misdeeds
and went into protective custody with him; the two nally
sharing a home for a night.
Delores
Played by: Jill Redding
Appears in season 2: "Ebb Tide"; "Collateral Damage"; "Hot Shots"; "Hard Cases" and "Undertow.
Delores is the owner of the bar frequented by the Stevedores. She has a great respect for union leader Frank
Sobotka and holds cash to be handed to workers in his union
who are struggling for money on his behalf. She has an uneasy friendship with Ziggy Sobotka because he is constantly
exposing his genitalia in her bar.
Bruce DiBiago
Played by: Keith Flippen
Appears in season 2: "Hot Shots"; "Backwash" and
"Bad Dreams".
DiBiago is Frank Sobotka's lobbyist with heavy political
contacts. His great-grandfather was a knife sharpener in
Baltimore. His eldest son, Jason, attends Princeton University.
7.1.5
References
[1] David Simon Answers Fans Questions. HBO.com. Retrieved 2009-08-30.
Frank Sobotka
Biography
Frank is a respected Polish-American secretary treasurer

for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores at the Baltimore docks. As the pater familias for the docks longshoremen population, it is his job to manage the nances of
the union and make sure that the workers are taken care of
- a task made harder by the decline of Baltimores shipping
industry and the lack of available hours.
Desperate to return prosperity to the docks, Frank begins
making overtures to lobbyists and politicians to support initiatives that will make the port a more attractive shipping location. His two main objectives are to have the Chesapeake
& Delaware Canal dredged to increase the depth for incoming ships, and to re-open the grain pier. Bruce DiBiago, a
lobbyist, serves as go-between for Sobotka and politicians
such as Senator Clay Davis.
In order to obtain the necessary funds for paying the bribes,
Sobotka makes an arrangement with European gangsters
The Greek and Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos to smuggle illegal goods through the port. Ships with contraband
such as drugs and prostitutes will be tagged by Franks union
cohort Thomas Horseface Pakusa, with the crates disappearing in the computer system and driven out by the
Greeks man Sergei Serge Malatov. Franks nephew Nick
Sobotka, another union member, acts as go-between for
his uncle and Vondas by passing messages and delivering
lists of containers to be moved. Unbeknownst to Frank, his
troubled son, Chester Ziggy Sobotka, often accompanies
Nick to these meetings.
Franks criminal activities begin to be suspected by the police following a feud with Major Stanislaus Valchek, whose
gift of a stained glass window to a local church has been
eclipsed by Sobotkas more elaborate window (a move to
have the priest get Frank closer to a senator in his congregation). Suspicious of how a longshoreman could have
so much disposable income, Valchek manages to persuade
Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell to assemble a detail to
investigate Sobotkas activities. The investigation gains further traction with the discovery of 13 dead girls in a shipping
container (can), who turn out to be prostitutes smuggled
in by the Greek.
Frank is enraged that human smuggling is taking place in

his port, and threatens Vondas, demanding that no other
[2] Character prole - Horseface. HBO. 2004. Retrieved live containers come through. With detectives asking ques2006-08-16.
tions about the dead girls, some strange goings-on with his
7.3. NICK SOBOTKA

cell-phone, and his own suspicions about his friend Ocer
Russells involvement in the case, Frank becomes increasingly nervous. He demands to meet The Greek and tells
him he wants out. The Greek, who needs Franks system,
objects. Nick then asks for more money for them to take on
the extra risk. The Greek and Frank agree to this arrangement - Frank needs the money but Frank is ever more
uneasy, and his world proceeds to unravel.
165
7.2.2
Miscellaneous
A picture of former Baltimore Colts owner Robert Irsay

is pinned on Frank Sobotkas dartboard. Irsay moved the
Colts to Indianapolis in the early morning hours of March
29, 1984. He is one of the most hated sports gures in Baltimore.
Towards the end of the season, Frank is arrested on smug7.2.3 References

gling charges after the detail is pressured into making arrests (around the same time, his son Ziggy is also arrested [1] Episode guide - episode 24 bad dreams. HBO. 2004. Refor the murder of a local fence). Valchek personally escorts
trieved 2006-06-22.
a compliant Frank out of the union hall in handcus, and the
resulting media attention leads lawmakers to cut their ties. [2] David Simon, George P. Pelecanos (2003-08-17). "Bad
Dreams". The Wire. Season 2. Episode 11. HBO.
With his eorts to save the port sunk, and his family facing legal charges (Ziggy for murder, Nick for selling drugs),
[3] The High Hat: Clockers Done Right
Sobotka decides to accept the advice of Beadie Russell and
turn informant on The Greek.
However, before passing information to the police, The
Greek arranges for a meeting to be held, in which Frank
will be oered a deal envisaged by Spiros. The deal would
exchange Franks loyalty and silence about the criminal activity at the port for Spiross assurance that the States witness in his sons murder prosecution would testify that the
shooting occurred in self-defense. However, this attempt to
secure Franks loyalty to The Greeks organization is ruined
at the last moment, when the Greek is tipped o by his inside man in the FBI that Sobotka has scheduled a proer
session with police, in which he will inform on the Greek.
The last the audience sees of Frank alive is during the closing moments of the penultimate episode of the second season - as the screen fades out we see him walking resolutely
beneath a bridge to the rendezvous with The Greek, in a
nal eort to save his son.[1][2]
The following day Franks body is found in the harbor, with
multiple stab wounds and his throat cut. Detectives remark
that numerous defensive wounds indicate he died ghting.
It is implied that Spiros slit Franks throat, echoing a murder earlier in the season. After his death, his fellow longshoremen, in tribute to Frank, re-elect him as treasurer in
deance of federal warnings, which leads to the dissolution
of his local union oce.
The Wire has been described as an examination of how the
failure, amorality, and corruption within institutions eventually destroy the essentially decent individuals involved
with them;[3] within the series Frank Sobotka has come to
be the classic epitome of such an individual.
7.3
Nick Sobotka
Nickolas Andrew Nick Sobotka is a ctional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Pablo
Schreiber. Nick is cousin to Ziggy Sobotka, the wayward
and rebellious son to his uncle Frank Sobotka.
7.3.1
Plot details
Season 2
Nick is a dockworker, and works for his uncle Frank
Sobotka, the secretary treasurer for the International Brotherhood of Stevedores. He often has to keep his cousin,
Franks son Ziggy out of trouble, to whom he shows considerable patience. Nick is much more cautious and levelheaded than Ziggy, a fact his uncle appreciates. He is involved in his uncles smuggling operation and often serves
as Franks go-between in meetings with Spiros Vondas
Vondopoulos. He would meet with Vondas at the diner
which serves as the Greeks oce. Vondas would give
him the serial numbers of the cargo containers The Greek
was bringing into the port, and Nick would convey this information to his uncle.
Nick has a girlfriend, Aimee, with whom he has a daughter,
Ashley. They want to move in together, but they are unable
to aord a place of their own; Nick lives with his parents
and when she spends the night with him, she has to hide
from them. Though Nick very much wants to settle down
with her, his lack of steady income lead to tensions between
them.
Since Nick is one of the younger stevedores, seniority prevents him from getting enough work at the docks. Des-
166
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
perate for cash, he and Ziggy stole a trailer full of cameras, which they sold to the Greeks front man, Glekas.
This brought Nick to the attention of Vondas, who asked
him if he could procure large quantities of certain chemicals. Ziggy was immediately interested, but Nick was more
conscientious, fearing that the chemicals would be used to
make bombs. After some research on the internet, he discovered that they would be used to process drugs and he
agreed to the deal.
tered federal witness protection. The last scene of the second season focuses on him looking at the decaying shipping
shoreline from behind a chain-link fence. After shedding
a few tears, he walks away on a sidewalk leading uphill.
The scene symbolized the seasons main theme, the death
of blue-collar work in American industry.[1]
Ziggy is into drug dealing and invites Nick to join in, but
at rst Nick angrily refuses. Later, when Ziggys ineptitude
nearly cost him his life at the hands of Proposition Joe's
nephew Cheese, Nick asked Vondas to intervene. Vondas
sent Sergei Serge Malatov, who forced Cheese to back o
at gunpoint. Sergei then helped Nick negotiate a settlement
with Prop Joe himself.
Nick makes a brief appearance in season ve, heckling

Mayor Carcettis ribbon-cutting ceremony for the conversion of the old and derelict grain pier into condos and waterfront commercial space, instead of putting the pier back
into working order, as his uncle Frank had hoped. This, together with the appearance of another former dockworker
in a homeless encampment earlier in the season, suggests
that the Port of Baltimore was continuing job cuts between
the end of season two and the beginning of season ve. No
information about Nicks life since the end of season two
was provided, although Simon has since said that Nick left
the witness protection program after missing his friends and
family, as many who are enrolled in the witness protection
program do.[2]
Season 5
When the two cousins brought Vondas the chemicals he

had requested, Nick asked for payment half in cash, half
in heroin. Since Ziggy had proved incompetent, he began
selling the drugs to local dealers himself, with much more
success than his cousin. He was spotted meeting with the
dealer Frog by Herc and Carver, who were doing surveillance of drug dealers near the port. When the drugs he'd received for the chemicals ran out, Vondas put him in contact
with White Mike McArdle, who became his new supplier
7.3.2
of heroin.
Despite Nickys disdain for Ziggys ineptitude and antics,
he seems to genuinely care for his younger cousin, to whom
he treats like a little brother. Nick is distraught when Ziggy
is arrested for killing Glekas. Knowing that Ziggys stature
and temperament make him ill-suited for prison, Nick descends into a drunken depression and tearfully laments the
circumstances that landed Ziggy behind bars.
References
[1] Character prole - Nick Sobotka. HBO. 2004. Retrieved

2006-08-16.
[2] The Wire, The Dickensian Aspect - Those left behind.
Whats Alan Watching?. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
7.4
Ziggy Sobotka
Eventually a warrant was issued for Nicks arrest. The police raided his parents house shortly after Ziggys arrest.
Though Nick was not home, his parents were aghast when Chester Karol Ziggy Sobotka is a ctional characthe police found Nicks stash of drugs and cash in the base- ter on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor James
Ransone. Though his father Frank Sobotka was a wellment.
respected stevedore union leader, Ziggys often reckless and
Later that day Vondas approached Nick with an oer to
juvenile behavior gained him little respect among other
help Ziggy, in exchange for his and Franks silence. The
members of the union and The Greek's crime organization.
young Sobotka eagerly conveyed the oer to his uncle.
Frank told Nick he would go see the Greek alone. Just before the meeting, the Greek learned from his FBI mole that 7.4.1 Biography
Frank had oered to testify against him, so he had the elder Sobotka killed. A grieving Nick turned himself in to the Ziggy is Frank Sobotka's son and Nick's cousin. Ziggy was
police, agreeing to become a witness against the Greek and a dock worker in his fathers stevedores union, but he was
his gang. As his uncle had, he refused to incriminate mem- also involved in criminal activity. Like most of the port
bers of his union. When Danielss detail interrogated him workers, Ziggy frequented Delores' bar, where he amused
he identied the Greek in a photograph, giving the detail its the other customers with his drunken antics. He was known
rst picture of its main target.
for publicly exposing himself. His work on the docks was
At the end of season two, Nick, Aimee and Ashley en- often poor and his father would regularly re him and then
reinstate him. Due to his lack of seniority, Ziggy received
7.4. ZIGGY SOBOTKA

little work. He is often portrayed as a clumsy and inept
beneciary of his fathers hard work and stewardship of the
union who is more interested in goong o than working
hard. He is close to his older cousin Nick, who often bails
him out when his various money-making schemes backre.
Despite his shortcomings, however, he has a better understanding of technology than many of his colleagues. He
uses his computer research skills to assist Nick in his dealings with the Greeks.
167
he was not able to pay by the end of the week. Nick and
La La, a friend from the union, visited Cheese on Ziggys
behalf hoping to bargain the value of the car that Cheese
had taken against Ziggys debt. They found that Cheese had
burned the car and was now asking for more money but willing to give Ziggy a little more time. Ziggy was distraught
when he heard this news.
Nick went to the Greeks to ask for help with the problem.
He found that they were the suppliers of Proposition Joes
entire operation and were able to negotiate with him directly. Nick attended a sit-down with Joe on Ziggys behalf.
Because of their association with the Greeks, Joe agreed to
give Ziggy compensation for the car minus the original debt
he owed.
Ziggy had been dealing drugs supplied by White Mike

McArdle for some time. He sold them at street level using
an East side dealer known as Frog. Ziggy had trouble intimidating Frog and often came up short with the money from
his packages. Frog would keep the money and tell Ziggy he
had been robbed. Eventually, White Mike refused to sup- Ziggy helped Nick to research the chemicals the Greeks
ply Ziggy with further drugs because he knew that he was were looking for and found that they were used in the pronot a sound investment.
cessing of cocaine. Reassured with this knowledge, Nick
Ziggy often tried to convince his more streetwise cousin decided to go ahead and steal them as asked. After Nick
Nick Sobotka into joining him in his drug dealing enter- and Ziggy delivered the chemicals they were oered payprise but Nick refused. When Ziggy suggested that they ment in either narcotics or cash. Knowing the street value
steal a container of digital cameras from the docks, Nick of the narcotics was greater, Ziggy pushed for drugs. Nick
was more accepting. They worked alongside their friend opted to receive half in cash and half in heroin. Nick kept
Johnny Fifty Spamanto, a checker, to move the container Ziggy out of dealing the drugs due to his previous ineptithrough the port. Ziggy and Nick visited George Double tude, taking them to Frog himself. He faithfully delivered
G Glekas, a front man for an international smuggling op- a share of the prots to Ziggy each week, but Ziggys pride
eration that the Sobotka family had been working with, to was hurt by Nick sidelining him and his inability to match
oer him the container. Ziggys research about the street his cousins success. Ziggy dramatically refused his share
value of the cameras allowed Nick to negotiate a better deal of the money, tossing it onto the street from Nicks newly
with Glekas. Ziggy upset Glekas by taking his photo with purchased truck (bought with his share of the drug prots).
one of the cameras during the meeting and Glekas angrily Ziggy had a long running feud with a dock worker named
snatched it from Ziggy and smashed it on the oor.
Maui. Maui took issue with Ziggy stealing from the docks
Ziggy also accompanied Nick to a meeting to discuss
Franks smuggling of containers through the docks. Ziggys
chatter embarrassed Nick and he vowed not to take him
again. The Greeks asked Nick to obtain shipments of chemicals through his work at the port. Unsure what the chemicals would be used for, fearing they may be used for terrorism, Nick was reluctant to get involved. Ziggy used his
share of the money from the stolen cameras to buy a new
leather coat and Nick chastised him for ashing his newfound wealth. Nick also chastised him for talking to everyone about being paid and ashing his money around the
bar.
and confronted him, intentionally spilling coee on the coat

that Ziggy had purchased with the money from the stolen
cameras. Ziggy responded by replacing Mauis desktop image with pictures of his genitalia. In retaliation Maui faked a
paternity lawsuit against Ziggy, which drove him to a drinking binge. Nick realized that the letter Ziggy had received
from a law rm was false and identied Maui as the culprit.
Urged on by La La and other stevedores, Ziggy attacked
Maui while working at the docks. He was easily overcome
by his much larger opponent, and as a result of the ght,
Ziggy was forced to endure another indignity: Maui used a
fork lift truck to strand Ziggy on top of a stack of containZiggy turned to a drug dealer named Cheese for a fresh sup- ers.
ply. Cheese was a lieutenant in Proposition Joe Stewarts Ziggy purchased a pet duck and bought it a diamond necknetwork of drug dealers, and in later seasons was shown to lace (again showing that he is making money). He took it
be Prop Joes nephew. Ziggy continued to use Frog and to Delores bar pretending it was a seeing eye fowl. He was
again came up short on his prots (Frog deliberately shorts compelled to provide the duck with saucers of liquor, claimhim) and found himself unable to pay Cheese back. Cheese ing that it Could drink like a stevedore. The duck died
was more brutal than White Mike and delivered a swift at the bar, driving Ziggy into another depressive episode.
beating to Ziggy and stole his prized car (a Camaro which When Nick approached Ziggy outside the bar, Ziggy atZiggy called Princess). Cheese threatened to kill Ziggy if tacked his cousin.
168
CHAPTER 7. DOCKS
Ziggy began smuggling cars with Johnny Fifty. He oered

to supply them to Glekas, who reluctantly agreed to participate. Ziggy faked the theft of their cars to look like an
outside job by cutting a hole in the port fence, and making
a track across a grassy area. Rather than using these constructions, he drove the cars into containers to be delivered
to Glekass customers overseas. When Ziggy delivered the
cars, Glekas refused to pay him the agreed sum and Ziggy
ew into a rage. Glekas beat Ziggy and threw him out of his
warehouse. This was the last indignity Ziggy could endure;
he took a gun from his car and shot Glekas and a boy working at Glekass electronics store, killing Glekas and badly
wounding the boy. Horried at his own actions, Ziggy was
unable to drive away and broke down in tears.
He was picked up by Sergeant Landsman of the homicide
unit and gave a full confession to the murder. Frank visited
Ziggy in County jail and apologized for not doing more to
help his son. Ziggy told Frank that the union had always
come before him, harkening back towards the memories
they had shared previously on the docks. Ziggy was convicted of the murder and was last seen walking to his cell in
a prison, serving out his sentence (Which would most likely
be 15 years to life with the possibility of parole for 2nd degree murder. But since he confessed and plead guilty, he
most likely charged with manslaughter serving a good 1012 years.[1]
7.4.2
Origins
The actor who portrays Ziggy, James Ransone, is a Baltimore native and has described the character as representative of the diculties people face just trying to get by in
Baltimore. The characters creators have deemed him the
angry prince of goofs.[2]
7.5
Sergei Malatov
Sergei Serge Malatov (Ukrainian: )

is a ctional character on the HBO drama series The Wire,
played by Chris Ashworth. He acts as a driver and muscle
for The Greek. He is Ukrainian, although Americans often
assume he is Russian. He hates this and their subsequent
tendency to nickname him Boris. He is responsible for
picking up containers of smuggled goods from the port and
taking them to The Greeks front warehouse to be fenced.
7.5.1
Biography
Malatov is a trusted lieutenant in The Greek's import business. When vodka, appliances, electronics, drugs or Eastern
Bloc women destined to be sex workers arrive in Baltimore,
Sergei ensures the cargo is delivered to The Greeks associates in the city. He mentions that he has spent four years in
prison in Ukraine, and that American prisons are nowhere
near as harsh.
Season two
Sergei is supposed to collect thirteen prostitutes hidden in
a cargo container from the docks, but when he does not receive the all-clear signal from The Greeks accomplice on
the ship which delivered the women, he abandons the container on the waterfront. The Greek later learns that the
girls were killed, and Sergei is sent to the Philadelphia port
(the ships next destination) to nd the crewman. He inltrates the port and captures the crewman. When The Greek
and Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos arrive, the crewman tells
them everything about how the girls were killed, and Spiros
murders him. Sergei is charged with disposing of the body
and The Greek instructs him to make sure there is no face
or ngerprints. The body is later found and identied by a
tattoo.
In an online interview, David Simon stated that Ziggy is

loosely based on a real stevedore named Pinkie Bannion
whose antics have become a local legend around the docks.
According to Simon, Bannion used to take his duck to the
bar and repeatedly expose 'pretty boy' and all else. As they Sergei is friendly with drug kingpin Proposition Joe, who is
supplied by The Greek. He intervenes on behalf of Nick
said in Bawlmer about Pinkie: 'That boy ain't right.'"[3]
Sobotka because The Greek needs Nick and his uncle
Franks help to smuggle containers o of cargo ships
when Ziggy Sobotka gets into debt with Proposition Joes
7.4.3 References
nephew, Cheese.
He is ruthless in his work, and thorough in clean-up. When
a drug dealer asks whether a recently found body was his
handiwork, he retorts Did he have hands? Did he have
[2] Alvarez, Rafael (2004). The Wire: Truth Be Told. New a face? Yes? Then it wasn't us. Idiot!" As most of the
US population is not in police/federal DNA records (miYork: Pocket Books. pp. 160164.
nus convicted felons, military, etc.), a body that has neither
[3] David Simon Answers Fans Questions. HBO.com. Re- ngerprints, a recognizable appearance, or intact teeth is
trieved 2009-08-30.
generally impossible to identify.
[1] Character prole - Ziggy. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 200608-14.
7.5. SERGEI MALATOV

When security camera footage of him abducting the crewman is discovered by a police detail investigating the deaths
of the girls and smuggling on the docks, Sergei is persuaded
to become an informer and turn on The Greek and Spiros,
but The Greek has already escaped.[1] After the events on
season 2, Sergei was sentenced to life imprisonment without the possibility of parole and sent to Jessup penitentiary
to serve out his sentence.
Season ve
Several years later, as rising kingpin Marlo Staneld gets a
line on Spiros Vondas Vondopoulos and the Greeks, he
has Chris Partlow investigate the port investigation, as well
as Sergeis criminal record at the courthouse. Upon learning
that Sergei is locked up in Jessup, Marlo arranges a meeting
with him. Initially, Marlos access to Sergei is blocked by
Avon Barksdale, who is eectively running the criminal activities within the prison, but after Marlo makes a payment
to Avons sister, Avon grants Marlo access to Sergei.
Sergei, despite receiving a great deal of money from Marlo,
is disrespectful and states that he does not need Marlos help
or money. However, Marlo points out that Sergei can win
back some favor with the Greeks if he gets a message to
Vondas regarding Marlos intentions to do business with
them. Avon encourages Sergei to cooperate with Marlo,
and Sergei, realizing that Marlo is right that he can claim
some credit if the deal happens, agrees to get in touch with
Vondas.
7.5.2
References
[1] Character prole - Sergei Serge Malatov. HBO. 2004.

169
Chapter 8
Politicians
8.1 Politicians of The Wire
Odell Watkins
Played by: Frederick Strother
The following are politicians, family members, and assistants administrating the politics of Baltimore on The Wire.
8.1.1
Appears in:
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soldiers"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick"; "Middle
Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Maryland State Politicians
Clay Davis
Season four: "Soft Eyes"; "Home Rooms";

"Refugees"; "Alliances"; "Margin of Error";
"Unto Others"; "Final Grades".
Main article: Clay Davis
Season ve:
"Unconrmed Reports",
Clay Davis is a corrupt State Senator who is an important
"Transitions"
Democratic fundraiser. Baltimore mayors therefore try to
stay on his good side.
State Delegate Odell Watkins is a longtime major Baltimore
political gure and a wheelchair user. Watkins is a member of the inuential State Appropriations Committee
Damien Lavelle Price
with strong voter inuence and is known as a kingmaker.
Watkins is also the moral voice of authority within Balti Played by: Donnell Rawlings
more politicians as he has full support of the religious leaders, looks to address the concerns of the citizens in an ethical and representable way, and is most critical of politicians
Appears in:
prone to bribes and corruption.
Season one: "One Arrest" and "Lessons".
Season ve: "Not for Attribution" and "Took".
In season three, Watkins backs Marla Daniels' campaign

for the Western district council seat. Watkins believes that
the council woman Marla aims to unseat, Eunetta Perkins,
has become uninterested in the job. Initially, Mayor Royce
resists, as Perkins was loyal to him. However, when he
needs Watkins support after a controversy involving Major
Colvin legalizing drugs, Royce agrees to support Daniels.
Watkins is disappointed, feeling that Royce should have decisively red Police Commissioner Ervin Burrell over the
scandal. Royce claims that ring Burrell though would only
fuel re aimed towards city hall given the reasoning for the
Hamsterdam fallout. Watkins also connects Daniels with
Dennis Wise, helping the former criminal to open a boxing
gym for local children in her district.
Damien Lavelle Price (also known as Day Day) is an aide

to Senator Clay Davis. He is a convicted felon who appears unrened on several occasions, casually contemplating a home burglary at a public gathering (and in the presence of Cedric Daniels), and stating things such as, Y'all
tryin' to 'criminate me while on the witness stand in court.
He acts as a bag man in collecting cash from drug organizations. Price is arrested with a bag of cash after making a pick-up from the Barksdale Organization in season 1
but is released without charge when Davis pressures Deputy
Commissioner Ervin Burrell. Price reappears in Season 5 Watkins becomes further disillusioned after working with
testifying as part of the case against Davis.
Royces political rival Tommy Carcetti to secure funds for
170
8.1. POLITICIANS OF THE WIRE

witness protection, and asking the mayor to match the
funds. The mayor ignores their proposal, and Carcetti uses
this against Royce in a debate after another witness is killed
in the fourth season. Watkins, Carcetti, and Marla Daniels
all attend the funeral of the murdered witness.
Watkins splits from Royce once and for all after he notices that Royces campaign sta only has Daniels on his
ticket in districts where she is strong, and has her opponent Eunetta Perkins in the same position in districts where
Daniels is weaker. He is also angered by Royces immorality in supporting corrupt developers and politicians (such
as Clay Davis). Furthermore, Watkins claims that as Royce
has gotten into bed with every developer, he has forgotten
his roots by not helping the citys African American community and is covering it up by using Marcus Garvey posters
in his campaign. Watkins angrily confronts Royce about
his failure to keep his word and tells him he will no longer
support his campaign, and instead sits out of the primary.
Carcetti learns of Royces failure to keep Watkins trust
through the police security detailed to protect the mayor
as Deputy Rawls is looking to help the mayoral candidate
who will do the right things with the PD. Carcetti appeals
to Watkins to support him and become a guiding voice in
his administration. Watkins support on the campaign trail
swings the tight primary to Carcettis favor, and he easily
goes on to become Mayor. Watkins rst piece of advice to
Carcetti is that he would be unable to re Burrell because of
his race and Baltimores African American majority of voters. Watkins at the same time agrees with the others in the
administration that an out of town African American police
commissioner should be sought as he has no condence in
Burrell either.[1]
8.1.2
Baltimore City Administration
Current
Nerese Campbell
Played by: Marlyne Aack
Appears in:
Season four: "Boys of Summer"; "Margin of
Error"; "Know Your Place"; "Misgivings"; and
"Thats Got His Own"
Reports"; "Transitions"; "React Quotes";
"Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and "30".
Nerese Campbell is the Democratic president of the Baltimore City council. She is the only member of Clarence
Royce's campaign ticket to win election to their respective
171
position.[2] Campbell rst appeared drawing the attention of
the Mayors security detail ocers. Campbell is the leading
voice of opposition to Mayor Tommy Carcettis plan to re
Commissioner Ervin Burrell claiming that a good portion of
her constituency would be against this action. She is close to
the ministers and politicians from Clarence Royces era and
frequently uses that inuence as leverage against Carcetti.
She admits to Carcetti that a gentlemans agreement had
been in place under Royce whereby she would become the
next mayor at the end of his tenure and that resentment over
having been passed over for the oce is the source of much
of her hostility to his policies. In turn, Carcetti alerts her
that she may become mayor by default if he decides to run
for governor in 2008. When issues pertaining to the city
school system arise, Campbell suggests that Carcetti go to
Marylands Republican governor to beg for the money to
solve the $54 million decit that the district is running.
In the fth season, Campbell is seen to inuence and intimidate several key gures in politics and the police department. When Clay Davis threatens to incriminate other
politicians of the Royce administration when he feels illsupported during his trial, it is Campbell who convinces him
that it is more advantageous for him to go quietly. Otherwise, he would return from prison and have nowhere to
hang his hat in Baltimore. She advises him to follow exCommissioner Burrell's example, who has been promoted
to a more lucrative job after leaving quietly when Mayor
Carcetti red him over falsied crime statistics. Burrell
had threatened Campbell to leak an FBI le about Cedric
Daniels, Carcettis candidate for new Commissioner, if the
mayor red him. Campbell retains the le and threatens
Daniels in the last episode of season 5 to reveal it, if he
doesn't comply with the mayors orders to falsify the crime
statistics. In the nal montage of the series nale, it is
revealed that Campbell becomes the Mayor of Baltimore
after Tommy Carcetti leaves to become the Governor of
Maryland.
Campbell bears similarities to former Baltimore mayor
Sheila Dixon, who was the city council president and became mayor following Martin O'Malley's 2006 election as
governor.[3]
Tommy Carcetti Main article: Tommy Carcetti

Tommy Carcetti is the new Mayor of Baltimore.
Marla Daniels
Played by: Maria Broom
Appears in:
172
CHAPTER 8. POLITICIANS
Season one: "The Detail"; "One Arrest";
"Lessons" and "Sentencing".
Season two: "Collateral Damage"; "Backwash"
Season three:
"Time After Time";
"Hamsterdam"; "Homecoming"; "Slapstick" and
Season four: "Home Rooms", "Refugees"
Season ve: "Not for Attribution", and "30".
Gerry
Played by: Karen Vicks
Appears in season four: "Boys of Summer" (uncredited); "Soft Eyes" (uncredited); "Refugees"; "Margin
of Error"; "Unto Others"; .
Jerilee Bennett[5] was a key member of Tommy Carcettis
campaign sta in the Mayoral election race. She helps to
decide campaign strategy along with Norman Wilson and
Theresa D'Agostino. She becomes a senior staer in the
Carcetti administration.
Marla is the ex-wife of Colonel Cedric Daniels. She always

had ambitions for her husband to progress in the police force
and his failure to do so contributed to the demise of their Anthony Gray
relationship. As their marriage fell apart, she decided to run
Played by: Christopher Mann
for City Council, and is currently Councilwoman from the
11th District of Baltimore.
Appears in:
Cedric seems a likely candidate to receive a promotion
when he is assigned to run the controversial Barksdale deSeason three: "Time After Time"; "Dead Soltail. Throughout the rst season, Marla advised Cedric to
diers"; "Hamsterdam"; "Straight and True";
build the case his superiors were demanding (quick and sim"Homecoming"; "Moral Midgetry"; "Slapstick"
ple, low-level busts), but he is pushed to more elaborate inand "Mission Accomplished".
vestigative work by the detectives he commanded. He also
Season four: "Boys of Summer", "Soft Eyes";
meets Day Day Price while attending a function she drags
"Alliances"; "Margin of Error".
him to, which turns out to be important for the investigation.
Tony Gray rst appeared as a Democratic Baltimore
Cedric is banished to evidence control after upsetting his Councilman in season three, working alongside his good
superiors, and Marla convinces him to leave the department friend Tommy Carcetti on the public safety subcommittee.
and become a lawyer. Cedric is ready to do so until he got Gray becomes disillusioned with Mayor Royce and uses his
a second chance to do the kind of investigative work he position on the committee to berate senior police ocials
wanted in the new Sobotka detail. Marla greets his deciincluding acting commissioner Burrell. Gray decides to run
sion to stay with the police with worry and skepticism, and for mayor on an education platform; Carcetti encourages
eventually they separate.
the decision, manipulating him to run. Gray hopes that
Marla runs for City Council in season three; Cedric ap- Carcetti would join his campaign with a position as council
pears publicly in uniform as a content husband to support president as a reward, but Carcetti plans to run for mayor
her. Marla had the support and guidance of State Delegate himself, and is hoping Gray will split the black voting maOdell Watkins, but was running against Eunetta Perkins, an jority and allow him to win. This deception upsets Gray
old ally of Mayor Clarence Royce. Because of this, her hus- and destroys their friendship.
bands promotion to major is being held up by Royce. She In season four, Gray continues his stalling campaign.
eventually seeks a reconciliation with Cedric, but he de- Carcettis deputy campaign manager Norman Wilson feeds
clines as he had become involved with Rhonda Pearlman. Gray a story about the police department covering up the
As a way of appeasing Watkins, the Mayor eventually lends murder of a states witness. Wilson rationalizes that Gray
her his support and allows Cedrics promotion to pass.
cannot win the election and has to choose between losing
Even with the Mayors support, Marla is having trouble
overcoming her entrenched rival at the beginning of season four. She attends the funeral of a witness murdered
in the district alongside Watkins and learns that Tommy
Carcetti is supportive of her campaign, despite her being
part of Royces ticket. Watkins switches to Carcettis ticket
at the last minute, and Marla comes with him and she wins
the election.[4]
with 24% of the vote or with 28%, the latter of which would
do far more good to Grays career and political credibility
as well as help Carcetti win the election by taking valuable
votes away from Royce. Gray acquiesces, and his public
criticism of Royce is integral to Carcettis eventual victory
in the mayoral race. Grays last appearances in the show
were attending church with his wife on the eve of the election, and voting in the election itself.[6]

Michael Steintorf
Played by: Neal Hu[7]
Appears in
Season four: "Thats Got His Own" and "Final
Grades".
Reports"; "Not for Attribution"; "Transitions";
"The
Dickensian
Aspect";
"Took";
"Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and "30
".
Michael Steintorf becomes Mayor Tommy Carcetti's chief
of sta soon after he takes oce.[8][9] Steintorf counsels
Carcetti to reject the Governors plan to force them to expend the political capital they need for Carcetti to later run
for governor in exchange for the capital they need to rectify
the decit in the education budget.[5][10][10][11]
Actor Neal Hu joined the starring cast for season
ve.[12][13][14] Steintorf continues to push Carcetti towards
his run for Governor and their decision to decline the
Governors funding leaves the city with a dicult budget crisis.[15][16] Steintorf is concerned that Carcetti needs
to pick a suitable successor so that people feel comfortable with him leaving Baltimore for the Governors chair.
Steintorf thinks that Nerese Campbell's links to corruption make her unsuitable and suggests that States Attorney
Rupert Bond might be a preferable alternative. Carcetti and
Steintorfs focus on running for Governor brings criticism
from Norman Wilson and State Delegate Odell Watkins
but Steintorf believes Carcettis ambitions are typical of the
world as a whole.[17][18] Steintorf is pleased when Carcetti
is able to re Commissioner Ervin Burrell and supports the
plan to replace him with Cedric Daniels in time. Carcetti
and Steintorf reject State Senator Clay Davis' oer to
smooth over the transitions in the police department in exchange for assistance in his corruption case.[19][20] Steintorf is petulant when Campbell and the politically inuential ministers use the situation in the police department
to negotiate for political favors but Carcetti grants their
demands.[21][22]
173
fake Steintorf negotiates with William Rawls, Daniels,
Bond, and Rhonda Pearlman to ensure that a thorough
cover-up is put into eect. Rawls and Pearlman are rewarded for their co-operation with new posts. After the
crisis is dealt with Steintorf renews pressure on Daniels to
produce a drop in crime and order him to falsify statistics.
When Daniels refuses Steintorf approaches Campbell and
convinces her that Daniels will remain problematic when
she replaces Carcetti as Mayor. Campbell intervenes and
forces Daniels to step down and Steintorf receives his required statistics from his replacement, Stanislaus Valchek.
At the close of the series Steintorfs machinations ensure
that Carcetti becomes Governor.[31][32]
Norman Wilson Main article: Norman Wilson
Wilson is a former journalist, professional Democratic political operative and deputy manager of Tommy Carcetti's
campaign in the mayoral race. He becomes Carcettis
deputy chief of sta after he is elected.
Former
Eunetta Perkins
Played by: Unknown
Appears in:
Season three: "Mission Accomplished"
Season four: "Refugees"; "Alliances"
Eunetta was the City Councilwoman from the 11th District
of Baltimore. According to a commentary track, it was a
running joke on the show that Perkins was never present at
City Council meetings. Despite this, Mayor Royce sticks
with her, due to her loyalty. Eventually, Royce agrees to
support her opponent, Marla Daniels. Royce is seen supporting both candidates causing Odell Watkins to throw
his support to Tommy Carcetti taking Daniels with him.
Perkins remains on the ticket keeping the race tight, but
ultimately loses the position to Marla Daniels.
Following the breaking of the homeless serial killer story

Steintorf is instrumental in developing homelessness into
a key issue for Carcettis gubernatorial campaign.[23][24] Coleman Parker
Steintorf is also involved in dealing with the bud Played by: Cleo Reginald Pizana
get ramications of shifting resources back to the police department.[25][26][27][28] Steintorf is responsible for
Appears in:
pressuring the police department to provide a drop in
crime to protect Carcetti from criticism and refuses to
Season three: "Time After Time"; "Dead
honor Carcettis earlier promises to reform the police
Soldiers"; "Straight and True"; "Homecoming";
department.[29][30] Once the serial killer is revealed to be
174
"Back Burners"; "Reformation"; "Middle
"Home Rooms"; "Refugees"; "Alliances"; "Unto
Others" and "Final Grades".
Parker was the chief of sta and main advisor to Mayor

Clarence Royce, organizing Royces time and limiting access to the mayor. Parker relies on property developer Andy
Krawczyk for large donations and assistance in fund raising. He organizes the mayors re-election campaign including public speaking events with major property developers.
He is also responsible for negotiations over debates with the
mayor.
In season three, Parker is the rst to see that Royce is politically vulnerable because of Baltimores rising crime rate
and urges the mayor to re acting Police Commissioner
Ervin Burrell. Royce resists, because he values loyalty and
Burrell has always proved useful to him. When drug tolerant zones set up by police district commander Howard
Bunny Colvin are exposed in Western Baltimore, Parker
advisers that it would be a disaster to support them, despite
a fall in the areas crime rate. Royce entertains the idea of
extending the experiment, but Parker eventually convinces
him that this would be too dicult to explain to the public. Parker again calls for Burrell to be red and Royce
agrees. However, Burrell convinces Royce that he will deect responsibility o of Royce, and expects to receive a full
term as commissioner as a reward for his loyalty. Parker
and Royce privately agree to re Burrell once they win reelection.
Parker rst appears quick to crack down on Burrell and
Demper when key political gures are served with subpoenas for their records by the Baltimore police department in
season four. He and Royce extracts an assurance from Burrell that there will be no further surprises from the department. In Royces rst debate, opponent Tommy Carcetti
scores points against him using knowledge of the recent
murder of a states witness. The Mayor orders Parker to institute a series of measures to strike back against Carcetti,
including disrupting Carcettis campaign and bullying contributors into solely contributing to the Royce war chest, but
Carcetti continues to gain on the Mayor in the polls. When
Burrell reassigns the lead detective on the witness case this
gives Carcetti, Royces other opponent Anthony Gray uses
this against him. Parker urges Royce to re Burrell and this
time he agrees.
later meet with Carcetti and his chief of sta Norman Wilson to amiably discuss the transfer of power. Parker is last
seen discussing future prospects with Wilson, planning to
either lead another campaign for Royce in a dierent oce
or, barring that, a new buck.[33]
Clarence Royce Main article: Clarence Royce
Royce was the mayor of Baltimore, but Carcetti beat him
in a primary upset.
8.1.3
Campaign sta
Theresa D'Agostino
Played by: Brandy Burre
Appears in:
Season three: "Hamsterdam"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Back Burners"; "Moral
Midgetry"; "Slapstick"; "Reformation"; "Middle
"Home Rooms"; "Refugees"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"
Terry D'Agostino is a Washington-based political consultant and campaign xer. She grew up in Baltimore and
graduated from the University of Maryland School of Law
at the same time as councilman Tommy Carcetti. In season three, Carcetti aggressively pursues D'Agostino to work
as his campaign manager for his planned run for Mayor of
Baltimore. She is reluctant to work for a white candidate in
a predominantly African American city, but Carcetti convinces her he is worth taking a chance on. Once on board,
D'Agostino was quick to plan a strategy for the campaign.
Carcetti suggested they use his colleague Anthony Gray,
who was also planning to run, to split the African American voter base. D'Agostino meets Detective Jimmy McNulty at a school open house for his sons and they quickly
become involved in a strictly sexual relationship. The relationship quickly sours after McNulty reveals his lack of
culture and education: his lack of a college degree and,
even worse, his indierence about politics over a rare dinner date. It then ends abruptly after D'Agostino meets him
under the pretense of wanting to start back up again: McNulty leaves when he realizes that she is pressing him for
information about Bunny Colvin and Hamsterdam to help
with Carcettis campaign.
Parker is dismayed when Royce alienates State Delegate

Watkins, a key supporter with inuence among religious
leaders, by failing to support Watkins protegee Marla
Daniels. Parker desperately pursues Watkins to urge him to D'Agostino arranges for Carcetti to receive coaching on his
reconsider. This proves to be a turning point in the election public speaking. She felt that he is too focused on winrace, and Royce is defeated by Carcetti. Royce and Parker ning arguments and that he should put appearing likable

rst. When Carcetti discovers that a police district commander, Howard Bunny Colvin, has created drug-tolerant
zones, D'Agostino saw an opportunity to attack the current
mayor, Clarence Royce, and encourages her candidate to
use it. He uses this to launch into an inspiring speech, convincing many that he is a political force to be reckoned with.
In season four, the campaign is in full swing, and
D'Agostino works alongside new deputy campaign manager
Norman Wilson. She encourages Carcetti to become involved in fundraising, forcing him to stay in his oce until he has raised set amounts. She also shields him as best
she could from polling data that did not meet his expectations. D'Agostinos strategizing and Wilsons hard work
on the campaign trail contribute to Carcettis victory in
the mayoral primary. D'Agostino chooses the night of his
win to approach him for her win bonus by seducing him.
When Carcetti resists her advances she is bemused but respects his wishes. D'Agostino returns to Washington with
a higher prole to work for the DCCC after her success in
Baltimore.[34]
8.1.4
Fund-raisers
Andy Krawczyk
Played by: Michael Willis
Appears in:
Season two: "Collateral Damage" (uncredited)
and "Port in a Storm" (uncredited).
Season three: "Hamsterdam"; "Straight and
True"; "Homecoming"; "Moral Midgetry";
"Middle Ground" and "Mission Accomplished".
Season four: "Soft Eyes"; "Refugees"; "A New
Day"; "Thats Got His Own".
Season ve: "The Dickensian Aspect"; and "30
".
175
a regular xture at Royces fundraising poker games, where
players deliberately lose (to get around campaign nance
laws). Detective Kima Greggs personally serves Krawczyk,
who does not seem particularly worried by this, with a subpoena for nancial records, as part of Lester Freamon's investigation into the Barksdale money trail. He is shown in
seasons four and ve in scenes showing his political inuence and trying to get in the new administration. In one
of the mayors meetings he is also revealed to be president
of the school board, and takes no responsibility for the systems debt. There is some suggestive dialogue in the scene
that hints he may be involved in the defrauding of the school
budget.
Michael Willis was previously a recurring character on
David Simons previous show, Homicide: Life on the Street,
playing a corrupt deceitful lawyer.
8.1.5
Relatives
Jen Carcetti
Played by: Megan Anderson
Appears in:
Season three: "Dead Soldiers"; "Homecoming";
"Back
Burners";
"Moral
Midgetry";
"Reformation" and "Mission Accomplished".
"Margin of Error"; Final Grades.
Season ve: "The Dickensian Aspect" (uncredited); "Clarications"; and "30".
Jen Carcetti is the wife of councilman Tommy Carcetti.
They have two children, a son and a daughter. Jen supports
Tommys political ambitions and is seemingly unaware of
his indelity.[35]
Krawczyk is a property developer who is at least marginally 8.1.6 References

corrupt. He discusses Frank Sobotka's union business with
[1] Character prole - Odell Watkins. HBO. 2006. Retrieved
Major Valchek. He is working on a model of the prospec2006-09-15.
tive grain pier condominium development which Sobotka is
against. He is later shown breaking ground on the develop- [2] Character prole - Nerese Campbell. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
ment with State Senator Davis.
In season three, Krawczyk is revealed to be the property
developing consultant to Stringer Bell. He is constantly trying to calm Stringer down, explaining the business to him,
and is ultimately present when Omar Little comes calling
on Bell for revenge. In season four, he continues to make
campaign donations to Clarence Royce in exchange for assistance with his property developments. Krawczyk is also
[3] Baltimore Mayors House Raided. newsone.com. 2008.

[4] Character prole - Marla Daniels. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
2006-07-22.
[5] Ernest Dickerson (2004-12-10). "Final Grades". The Wire.
176

2006-09-15.

2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
[7] Cast & Crew - Neal Hu as Michael Steintorf. HBO.

2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
[29] Joe Chappelle (2008-03-02). "Late Editions". The Wire.

[8] Ed Burns, George Pelecanos (2004-12-03). "Thats Got His

Own". The Wire. Season 4. Episode 12. HBO.

2008. Retrieved 2008-03-10.
[9] Episode guide - episode 49 Thats Got His Own. HBO.

2006. Retrieved 2007-03-30.
[31] Clark Johnson (2008-03-09). "30-". The Wire. Season 5.

Episode 10. HBO.

2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.

[11] Character prole - Michael Steintorf. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
[33] Character prole - Chief of Sta Coleman Parker. HBO.

2006. Retrieved 2006-09-15.
[12] About the Show. HBO. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-12.
[34] Character prole - Theresa D'Agostino. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-15.
[13] HBO Re-Hangs 'Wire' in January. Zap 2 It. 2007. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
[35] Character prole - Jennifer Carcetti. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12.
[14] Kelly Jane Torrance (2007). Tuning In. The Washington

Times. Retrieved 2007-12-07.
8.2
Tommy Carcetti
Thomas J. Tommy Carcetti (/krkti/ kar-KE-tee) is a

ctional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by
Irish actor Aidan Gillen. Carcetti is an ambitious Baltimore
[17] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". politician who rises from a seat on the city council to the
oce of the Mayor of Baltimore, and to the oce of the
Governor of Maryland by the end of the series.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[21]
[22]
[23]
[24]
8.2.1
Biography
Season 3
Tommy Carcetti rst appears as a member of the Baltimore

Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season City Council. Carcetti is a loving husband and a father,
although he is unfaithful to his wife, Jen. He also works
5. Episode 4. HBO.
closely with Tony Gray, a fellow councilman. Carcetti is
"The Wire episode guide - episode 54 Transitions. HBO. idealistic and ambitious, and has the backing of the local
2008. Retrieved 2008-02-05.
Democrats in Baltimores 1st city council district as well as
Seith Mann (2008-02-10). "The Dickensian Aspect". The Baltimore Police major Stan Valchek. To improve upon the
crime and urban decay plaguing Baltimore, Carcetti considWire. Season 5. Episode 6. HBO.
ers running for mayor against the African-American incum"The Wire episode guide - episode 56 The Dickensian As- bent, Clarence Royce, despite the prospect of being a white
pect. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-29.
candidate in a predominantly black city.

Episode 7. HBO.
[27] Anthony Hemingway (2008-02-24). "Clarications". The
Using his power and his connection to Valchek, Carcetti

successfully manipulates acting-Police Commissioner
Ervin Burrell into working with him, promising Burrell
with resources and political capital in exchange for inside information about Mayor Royces decision-making.
Carcetti becomes increasingly disillusioned with Royce,
especially when Royce disregards Carcettis proposal for
8.2. TOMMY CARCETTI

a witness protection system in Baltimore. Carcetti makes
up his mind to run against Royce, recruiting college friend
and Washington political consultant Theresa D'Agostino as
his campaign manager.
177
dence restored, Carcetti hits the campaign trail with renewed vigor, receiving assistance from black state delegate
Odell Watkins. Carcetti convinces Watkins, who has had a
falling out with Royce, to join his campaign. With his alliance with Watkins, Carcetti defeats Royce in a close but
decisive Democratic primary election. In a city with a 9 to
1 Democratic advantage, Carcetti easily defeated a Republican named Crawford in the general election, winning with
81% of the vote.[1]
With Carcettis encouragement, Gray starts his own campaign for mayor. Realizing that Grays campaign would split
the African American voter base in the election, D'Agostino
advises Carcetti that enhancing Grays chances of success
would in turn improve Carcettis. Carcetti dislikes the idea
of abusing his friends trust, but follows D'Agostinos strat- As mayor-elect, Carcetti immediately makes changes beegy nonetheless.
fore his inauguration. After discussions with city ocials,
After the BPD learns about Hamsterdam Major he decides to replace Burrell as the commissioner of the
Howard Bunny Colvin's drug-tolerant zones in West Bal- BPD, planning to attract outside candidates while asking
timore Royce refuses to allow the department to im- Burrell to resign. Burrell quickly realizes what is happenmediately shut them down, leading Burrell to suspect that ing and rallies support from City Council President Nerese
Royce is making a play against the police. Burrell decides Campbell, corrupt State Senator Clay Davis, and a group
to leak the information to Carcetti as a means of attack- of inuential black ministers. Burrell orders an increase in
ing Royce. At D'Agostinos suggestion, Carcetti approaches arrests at Davis suggestion, hoping to prove that the BPD is
Colvin and tours the area, seeing that Hamsterdam has had functioning well under his leadership. A frustrated Carcetti
the positive impact of isolating the drug trade from the rest restricts Burrells authority and insists that he clear his orders through Deputy Commissioner William Rawls.
of Colvins district.
Together with Gray, Carcetti uses Hamsterdam against
Royce on the campaign trail. At the next city council meeting, Carcetti implicitly blames Royce for the Hamsterdam
debacle in an impassioned speech. Through this, Gray realizes that Carcetti is running for Mayor without his knowledge or input. After Carcetti publicly launches his campaign, Gray ends both their alliance and their friendship.
Carcettis speech relies heavily on war rhetoric, including
words such as weapons and arsenal, which clashes with
Colvins view that such perspectives have made the War on
Drugs unwinnable.
Season 4
Major Cedric Daniels, a politically neutral African American district commander, impresses Carcetti with his interest in securing quality felony arrests instead of statistically
based reductions in crime. Carcetti oers Major Daniels
a promotion to the Criminal Investigations Division and
an automatic promotion to the rank of colonel. Through
Daniels, Carcetti learns of Burrells arrest hike and consequently orders the BPD to reform its approach by prioritizing quality felony cases over statistical quotas.
Carcettis plans for the BPD are derailed when he learns
that Baltimores schools face a $54 million budget decit.
Carcetti and Wilson travel to Annapolis in order to convince
the governor to bail out the schools. The governor does on
the a condition that Carcetti face public humiliation by publicly admitting to eliciting his aid. Carcetti rejects the oer,
as it would be damaging to his own planned campaign for
governor; Wilson is left disappointed at Carcettis decision
to put his ambition ahead of the needs of the city. Carcetti
claims that he would be in a better place to help the city
schools as governor.
Carcetti continues his campaign for mayor, with Teresa

D'Agostino serving as his campaign strategist while the
newly hired Norman Wilson acts as his deputy campaign
manager. When early polls show low numbers for Carcetti,
he assumes that he had already lost on the basis of his
race and begins to lose interest in the campaign. Carcetti
chooses not to prepare for an upcoming debate with Royce Carcetti deals with a brutality complaint against BPD
and Gray, believing that he could win the debate but still sergeant Thomas Herc Hauk. At Wilson and Rawls suggestion, Carcetti decides to let Daniels, Hauks former comlose the election regardless.
manding ocer, decide the punishment. Daniels decides
Carcettis debate performance is invigorated when he learns that a reprimand for excessive force is sucient punishfrom Valchek that a states witness was recently murdered. ment. Burrell approaches Carcetti to suggest that a more
He uses this inside information and his previous request rigorous review of Hauk is needed. Hauk is forced to leave
for a witness protection scheme to ambush Royce to great the BPD as an eventual result. Burrell is nally able to prove
eect, even persuading adversary Tony Gray to publicly his usefulness to Carcetti by exploiting his political intellect,
criticize Royce with the promise of a prominent council but Carcetti continues to consult Daniels on policing stratposition in exchange for taking a large share of the vote egy.
that would otherwise potentially go to Royce. His con-
178
Season 5
governor of Maryland. Campbell, as the city council president, succeeds him as mayor for the remainder of his term.
Rawls and Valchek are promoted to superintendent of the
Carcettis decision to reject the governors bailout leaves Maryland State Police and Commissioner of the Baltimore
him with intractable budget problems. He is forced to cut Police Department, respectively.
spending in other areas in order to plug the school budget decit and is unable to keep his promises to reform the
BPD. Despite the problems facing the city, Carcetti remains 8.2.2 Critical response
focused on running for governor two years into his term.
Carcetti meets with Burrell and Rawls to discuss the BPDs Was there any Baltimorean ... who didn't think Carcetti
problems, becoming concerned with crime statistics despite bore an undeniable resemblance to O'Malley?
his prior decision to discourage stat-based policing. Morale
David Zurawik, The Baltimore Sun[9]
in the BPD is at a low because Carcetti is withholding payment of overtime. The commissioners convince Carcetti to
lift a cap on secondary employment for ocers in order to Entertainment Weekly named Carcetti one of the ve most
interesting characters in season four.[10]
improve their morale.
Carcettis new chief of sta, Michael Steintorf, replaces
Wilson as his primary advisor. Carcetti faces criticism from
Wilson but still seeks his counsel. Meanwhile, he meets
with the U.S. Attorney to discuss federal assistance in the
vacant murders case. The U.S. Attorney, a Republican, desires federal handling of a corruption investigation against
Davis. Carcetti refuses to allow Bond to make the case federal because he is worried it will be used to discredit Baltimores Democratic Party.[2][3]
Carcetti, intent on running for governor, alienates Watkins
with his lack of attention to the city. Carcetti considers the
prospect of being replaced by either Bond or Campbell, the
latter of whom has become tainted by a corruption scandal. Carcetti also tries to nd an issue to use against the
governor.[4][5] Rawls leaks BPD statistics to Carcetti showing a rising crime rate. When Burrell delivers manipulated
statistics to Carcetti, the mayor nally has the political ammunition needed to have him red. Carcetti plans to replace Burrell with Daniels, but is worried that he will not
be accepted by Campbell and the ministers. He plans to
temporarily promote Rawls to acting commissioner while
Daniels prepares for the role as Deputy Commissioner of
Operations. Carcetti leaks news of the plan to the press via
Wilson to test the waters.[6][7]
Carcetti oers favors to Campbell and the ministers to accept his plans for the department. Carcetti grants Campbell
permission for the demolition of the McCullough homes, a
housing project that is adjacent to Andy Krawczyk's latest
building development. Campbell convinces Burrell to leave
oce quietly by promising him a lucrative replacement position. Carcetti reluctantly accepts the deal when Campbell hints that Burrell has knowledge of corrupt activity in
Daniels past, but Carcetti remains unaware of the specics.
Carcetti ocially announces his plans for the BPD at a press
conference.[8]
In the end of series montage, it is shown that Carcettis political machinations have succeeded and he has been elected
8.2.3
Character inspiration
A ctionalized version of the events of the 1999 Baltimore

mayoral election were presented in third and fourth seasons
of The Wire, which aired in 2004 and 2006, respectively.[9]
Many saw the connection between Carcetti and Martin
O'Malley, an Irish-American Baltimore City Councillor
who was elected mayor, defeating two African American
opponents. Carlos Watson of MSNBC once introduced
O'Malley as one of the real-life inspirations for the mayor
of the hit TV show The Wire", to which O'Malley responded
that he was instead the shows antidote.[11]
Show creator David Simon denied that the character of
Tommy Carcetti was supposed to be O'Malley.[12] Simon
did acknowledge that O'Malley was one of several inspirations for Carcetti.[13] He further stated that while Carcetti
was reective of O'Malley, Carcetti was a composite
drawing aspects from other local politicians that he had covered when he worked as a reporter for The Baltimore Sun.
8.2.4
References
[1] Character prole - Tommy Carcetti. HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006-09-13.

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
8.3. CLARENCE ROYCE
179

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
however, soon sense that Carcetti will use the citys rising
crime rate to attack the Mayor.

5. Episode 4. HBO.
Royce calls on Burrell to reduce the felony rate citywide,

and orders the BPD to reduce felonies by a minimum of
5% in each district and keep the murder rate below 275
for the year in order to counter Carcettis campaign. When
crime rates begin to rise, Parker and Watkins urge Royce
to re Burrell as commissioner. Royce nds himself caught
between the careerist Burrell and the decent States Attorney Demper, both of whom have been loyal to the Mayor.
When Watkins helps Marla Daniels take the seat of Royce
loyalist Eunetta Perkins on the City Council, Royce holds
up her husbands promotion and supports Perkins.
[9] Zurawik, David (2006-07-12). Local gures, riveting

drama put `Wire' in a class by itself. The Baltimore Sun.
[11] Maryland Politics: The Wire may be o the air, but
O'Malley still dealing with Carcetti drama - Politics and Policy from Baltimore, Annapolis and Washington - baltimoresun.com. Weblogs.baltimoresun.com. July 22, 2009. Retrieved October 20, 2013.
Royces propensity to put his career ahead of the needs

of the city creates political enemies. Carcetti seizes on
Royces unwillingness to divert funds into a witness pro[12] Warren Boardley | Passing resemblance - Baltimore Sun. tection scheme, drawing the support of Watkins and other
Articles.baltimoresun.com. September 26, 2004. Retrieved black politicians. Councilman Tony Gray, a black ally to
October 20, 2013.
Carcetti, runs against Royce on the platform of education
reform. Gray initially suggests that Carcetti run as his Vice
[13] Sweetland, Haley. Should Martin OMalley Be President?
by Haley Sweetland Edwards. The Washington Monthly. Mayor. However, Carcetti launches his own campaign and
uses Gray and Royces position to split the citys black voter
base.
When Royces oce gets wind of the existence of drugtolerant zones set up in West Baltimore by BPD Major
8.3 Clarence Royce
Howard Bunny Colvin, collectively known as Hamsterdam, Parker again advises the Mayor to re Burrell. HowClarence V. Royce is a ctional character on the HBO
ever, seeing the drop in crime citywide, Royce considers
drama The Wire, played by Glynn Turman.
Hamsterdam open. Parker and Watkins realize that such
a decision would be disastrous for Royce, earning the loss
of the black communitys support and the ridicule of the
8.3.1 Biography
government. Despite their concerns, Demper and several
Clarence V. Royce is the incumbent Mayor of Baltimore, public health ocials support keeping Hamsterdam open.
originally elected to oce in 1998 and in the process of Burrell comes to believe that Royce is using Hamsterdam to
seeking re-election at the time of the show. He is advised make a power play against the BPD, and leaks information
by Chief of Sta Coleman Parker and State Delegate Odell about the zones to Carcetti and the press. In the wake of the
Watkins. Royce values loyalty and aims to reward it when- public outcry against Hamsterdam, Royce regrets his prior
ever it will not hurt his position to do so. He appoints Ervin support. When Burrell threatens to go public with Royces
Burrell as acting commissioner of the Baltimore Police De- lack of action over Hamsterdam, demanding a full term as
partment following the retirement of Warren Frazier.
BPD Commissioner in exchange for scapegoating Colvin.
Needing Burrells clout to deal with the City Council, Royce
caves to Burrells blackmail against Watkins wishes. HowSeason 3
ever, Royce and Parker secretly agree to re Burrell once
they win re-election.
Royce rst appears at the demolition of the Franklin Terrace housing projects as a means of demonstrating reform throughout Baltimore. With a new election approach- Season 4
ing, Parker notices the increasing inuence of Councilman
Tommy Carcetti, a public critic of Burrell, and deduces that Royces election campaign is a well-oiled machine. Parker
he planning a run against Royce for Mayor. Royce initially is an eective fundraiser and Royce is booked into many
scos at the idea of Carcetti becoming Mayor, believing high prole speaking opportunities with property developthat the white Carcetti couldn't possibly be elected in a pre- ers to push his motto of reform and development. Royce redominantly black city like Baltimore. Royce and his team, ceives massive contributions and fundraising help from de-
180
veloper Andy Krawczyk. Royce retains state senator Clay
Davis as his deputy campaign chairman. Royce is given
more reason to be displeased with Burrell when these key
political guress records are subpoenaed by the police departments major case unit.[1] Davis in particular is outraged
and visits Royce personally to tell him that he never asks
where his money comes from suggesting that it is potentially
corrupt coming out of West Baltimore in a large amount.
He warns Royce though to protect him if he wants funding
for the campaign to come from Davis. Royce then displays
this anger to Burrell who then assures that there will be no
more surprises within his department.
Royce has an adulterous relationship with a female assistant. He is caught receiving oral sex in his oce by one of
his security detail, Thomas Herc Hauk. He later checks
with Parker to see who Hercs friends are in the department
and considers having him reassigned. Royce then talks with
Herc, asking his career goals in the department and why he
chose the mayors detail. Herc claims he did it to move
up on the sergeants list, and Royce then immediate calls
Burrell to have him promoted. (Major Valchek spoke with
Herc about the oral sex incident and predicted the promotion would occur in the way that it had).
Royces campaign receives its rst major setback in the debates. Carcetti drops a bombshell on Royce when he uses
news of a recently murdered states witness in an answer
taking the opportunity to accuse Royce of ignoring his request for witness protection in Baltimore - Royce is unaware
of the killing and unable to respond adequately. Royces
campaign then goes downhill as Carcetti has now grasped a
sizeable amount of Black voters.[2]
Royce gets more angered when Commissioner Burrell
fails to successfully downplay the witness investigation
and promises to re Burrell at Parkers request following
an election victory. Furthermore, Royce is criticized by
Delegate Watkins who is instrumental in keeping Royce eye
to eye with the city council members. Watkins is angered
by Royces support of both Marla Daniels and her opponent Eunetta Perkins who he promised to drop from his
ticket. Furthermore, Watkins believes that Royce is more
interested in appeasing the developers who have funded his
campaign and the large sums of money that Royce has been
illegally collecting on the side. Watkins also believes that
Royce has disregarded the citys black community stating
that he is hiding behind Marcus Garvey campaign posters to
win their vote. Watkins then breaks with Royce after claiming that he is immoral and unable to keep his promises. The
security detail to Royce notices this and informs Deputy
Rawls who believes that Tommy Carcetti can do better
things for their police department. Carcetti gets Watkins
support and with Watkins support, Royce loses the election. He appears to have taken his loss in stride, though;
following his defeat, he and Carcetti reconcile amicably.
Season 5
Royce appears in season 5 speaking at a rally in support of
Clay Davis, who is facing a grand jury investigation.
8.3.2
Relationships With Various Groups

and People
Through Royces depiction on the show, his relationships

with various subordinates and groups is shown in a diering manner. Mayor Royce is shown having a good relationship with Property Developers, a bad relationship with
Commissioner Burrell and Councilmen Carcetti and Gray,
and a circumstantial relationship with other various characters whom he interacts with on the show.
Relationship with Property Developers

Mayor Royce cares greatly about those who fund his campaign as he seeks re-election through development and reform of a decayed city. Royce is quick to protect developers such as Andy Krawcyzk who own development agencies
and contribute heavily to his oce. In turn, Royce overrides their permits to be approved by power of the Mayors
oce regardless of opposition to developing in a specic
area (The Grainery in Season 2 which IBS members were
ghting to keep is an example). Every month, Royce held
a poker game where the developers losses (most of which
occurred by purposeful folds) would go into Mayor Royces
pockets to buy inuence throughout Baltimore Citys residents and politicians. Royce also is seen showing support
for Senator Clay Davis, a corrupt politician who receives
illegal money that contributes heavily to the support of the
city administration oces. As Royces campaign is dependent on developer money, he is stated to be in bed with
every developer having their security as a paramount concern of his.
Relationship with Police Department and States Attorneys oce

As Mayor Royces oce is viewed as being soft on crime by
the public safety subcomittee, Royce is extremely critical of
the Baltimore Police Department often blaming Commissioner Ervin Burrell solely for the departments problems.
Other politicians such as Odell Watkins view Burrell as
merely the hack of the ministers and often pass down the
negative criticism of the department to the mayors oce.
To improve his oces view on crime, Royce pressures Burrell to reduce it by any means necessary as a means of being
re-elected. The pressure causes Burrell to relieve two of his
8.4. CLAY DAVIS

majors Marvin Taylor and Howard Colvin, two black district commanders whose districts uncontrollable drug trade
made them unable to reduce crime by conventional methods instructed to them by the departments upper command.
Burrell was quick to criticize his own subordinates in order
to protect Royce from the City Council. Because of this,
Royce initially values Burrells loyalty but is later angered
by the department for issuing subpoenas against election
fundraisers and making the public aware of the murder of a
dead states witness. Royce looks from there to re Burrell
upon re-election and promote William Rawls to the BPD
Commissioner. Royce is also criticized for keeping Steven
Demper, the Maryland States Attorney for Baltimore City
on his campaign ticket as Demper is more interested in his
elected position then pursuing justice. Demper, like Burrell
is valued for his loyalty and keeps his post under Royces
rule. Following the election, Royce and Demper both lose
however and a new front oce consisting of former Councilman Thomas Carcetti and States Attorney Rupert Bond
take their places respectively.
Relationship with City Council and Politicians

Royce generally relies on Chief of Sta Coleman Parker
and Delegate Watkins to help him remain eye to eye with
city council members. Royce appreciates loyalty from city
politicians keeping them on his campaign ticket even when
their position is questionably granted. He is shown being
hammered by Baltimore City Council members Tony Gray
and Thomas Carcetti for the decay of the city due to the rise
in crime and decline in quality of public education. To appease the two of them, especially Carcetti whom he views
as a threat to his chair, Royce criticizes Ervin Burrell and
other public gures pressuring them to meet the councils
demands if for any other reason to guarantee re-election.
It is noted early in Season 3 that Royce receives no support from the rst district represented by Carcetti as it is
a predominantly white ethnic area in Southeastern Baltimore which has a history for voting against black politicians. When Royce is questioned about witness protection
from Carcetti, Odell Watkins assists Carcetti in obtaining
the matching funds, but Royce ignores the councils pleas
which eventually result in becoming a problem in his campaign. Royce also nds conict with Watkins in the citys
eleventh district for keeping incumbent councilwoman Eunetta Perkins on his ticket. Royce eventually lies to Watkins
promising to drop her for Watkins protg Marla Daniels,
but keeps Perkins on the ticket anyway. This causes a split
from Delegate Watkins who is the kingmaker essential in
keeping Royce in line with the council members. Coleman Parker remains loyal to Royce up until the election
where following the loss, he plans to help a new candidate from Marylands Eastern Shore with Carcettis Chief
181
of Sta Norman Wilson. Royce also relies heavily on West
Baltimore State Senator Clay Davis who when properly positioned is an instrumental player in gaining the necessary
votes from specically needed people. Davis loyalty however is circumstant to bribery and those who protect him
from criminal investigations.
Relationship with Voters
Following Royces introduction in Season 3, city voters are
angered by the rise in crime and other negative attributes
from Royces oce. Royce appeases the voters through
criticizing and threatening to demote his subordinates such
as Burrell to make the city look better. Royce is actually
more concerned about creating a good image amongst city
voters temporarily as a means of winning the election and is
not as concerned about having his oce create good permanent changes that occur based on the voters actual needs.
To win against Tommy Carcetti and Tony Gray, Royce plays
the race card in the election in Season 4 relying on Baltimores black majority to vote for him. Royces oce gures
that with their funding, Carcettis race, black ag campaign
colors, and Marcus Garvey posters that Royce appears as
the best candidate amongst black voters. Odell Watkins
however sees through Royces scheme pointing out that his
interest in the voters safety is not as high as his interest
in the property developers security causing him to move
his support to Tommy Carcetti which becomes the turning
point during re-election.
Relationship with Family
Royce is shown to be married in Season 4 but is caught
in an adulterous aair with a female secretary by Ocer
Thomas Herc Hauk. After establishing Hercs loyalty,
Royce grants him a promotion and keeps his aair secret.
Royces wife appears accompanying him to church on the
Sunday before the election.
8.3.3
References
[1] Number 1 reason to watch HBO The Wire - Sen. Clay

Davis!". YouTube. 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-13.
[2] Character prole - Mayor Clarence V. Royce. HBO. 2006.
8.4
Clay Davis
State Senator R. Clayton Clay Davis is a ctional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Isiah
182
Whitlock, Jr. Davis is a corrupt Maryland State Senator

with a reputation for pocketing bribes. However, throughout the series Davis remains protected by other ranking
politicians and Police Commissioner Ervin Burrell.
taking the money and doing nothing in return. Stringer, furious, tells Slim Charles that he wants him to assassinate
Davis, but Barksdale warns him that murdering a public
gure will bring too much unwanted attention from the auDavis was known for his idiosyncratic profanity, often when thorities.
confronted with bad news, comically elongating the word
"shit" as sheeeeee-it.[1]
Season 4
Davis acts as Mayor Clarence Royce's deputy campaign
chairman, and is a key fundraiser in his re-election campaign. When Detective Leander Sydnor serves a subpoena
These are summaries of events depicted in Davis career in for Daviss nancial records as part of the major crimes
each season of the television show:
units ongoing investigation into the Barksdale organizations nances, the senator is outraged. In retaliation, he
goes to Royce and threatens to cut o the campaigns fundSeason 1
ing unless Royce interferes with the subpoenas.
8.4.1
Storylines
When Lt. Cedric Daniels' detail discovers $20,000 of Avon

Barksdale's drug money in the car of Daviss driver, they try
to expand the wiretap-based investigation to include Davis.
Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell calls Daniels into a private meeting with Davis, pressuring him into excluding the
senators alleged involvement. However, Daniels is unwilling to drop the case. Nevertheless, Burell pulls the plug
on the investigation, and Clay Daviss involvement is eectively left buried. However, it is mentioned that Davis has
a reputation for taking bribes, and has been under federal
investigation for the last two years.
Season 2
Davis attends a Democratic Party fundraiser thrown by
stevedore union leader Frank Sobotka, accepting contributions in return for assurances that he would vote to construct
the granary pier that Sobotka believes will help revitalize
the union. After the press reports on criminal activities
within the union, Sobotkas lobbyist advises him that none
of the politicians -- including Davis, presumably -- will follow through. Davis is later seen at a groundbreaking ceremony for dockside condominia being built on the site of the
proposed granary pier.
Season 3
Davis acts as a consultant for Stringer Bell, taking bribes
from the Barksdale Organization while claiming to win state
government contracts for the drug empires legitimate business front, B&B. However, Bell becomes suspicious when
he learns that block grants have been given to several city
developers instead of B&B. Maurice Levy, Bells lawyer,
concludes that Davis has rain made Bell; the senator has
played o Stringers inexperience in legitimate business,
The day before the mayoral primary, Davis approaches candidate Tommy Carcetti, oering to hold o on bringing out
the vote for Royce in exchange for a $20,000 payment. On
Election Day, Davis campaigns for the mayor as if his offer to Carcetti had not taken place. After Carcetti defeats
Royce, Davis explains that Royce gave more money, pointing out that he could easily have eeced Carcetti for even
more.
Davis strikes a deal with the City Council President Nerese
Campbell, oering a $25,000 jump in salary to a replacement commissioner in an attempt to appear as if Carcetti
is an ally while believing the amount insucient to attract
any serious candidate. Davis is especially motivated to help
Burrell when he learns that the most likely replacement is
Daniels, whom he regards as too uncontrollable. Davis opposes Danielss potential appointment based on his attitude
regarding Price. He realizes that Daniels may continue investigations into Daviss alleged money laundering. Davis
convinces Campbell and Burrell that Daniels is more interested in serving Mayor Carcetti and is unwilling to be of use
to the citys black community. To keep Daniels from being
promoted, Davis agrees with Burrells plans to present information regarding illegal activities from Danielss past.[2]
Season 5
Davis becomes a target of prosecution for Baltimore City
States Attorney Rupert Bond following the major crimes
unit investigation. Detectives Lester Freamon and Leander
Sydnor are assigned to the States Attorneys unit to lead the
investigation at Bonds behest following the rest of the units
reassignment.[3][4]
Davis approaches Burrell and demands his support against
the investigation. Burrell explains that he could not intervene with Carcetti and the new States Attorney. Davis reminds Burrell that he helped to negotiate a pay raise on Bur-
8.4. CLAY DAVIS

rells behalf: enough to help Burrell purchase a new patio
but not enough to attract a Pittsburgh Deputy Commissioner
who was looking to take his post. Burrell explains that he
would have to go around Daniels to interfere in the case and
that Daniels is loyal to the Mayor; he also reminds Davis
that interfering in the investigation would be a criminal act.
Davis refuses to accept that Burrell would not return his
previous support and accuses Burrell of believing him to be
nished in Maryland politics.[5][6]
Assistant States Attorney Rhonda Pearlman begins a series
of grand jury depositions to prepare evidence to prosecute
Davis, with one of the key witnesses being Davis driver,
Damien Lavelle Day Day Price. Learning that Mayor
Carcetti has planned to replace Burrell, Davis oers to use
his connections to smooth the transitions in exchange for
help with the case. Carcetti refuses.[7][8]
Having uncovered evidence that Davis lied on a mortgage
application, Freamon and Sydnor suggest taking the case
to federal law enforcement. However, Bond elects to ignore the evidence, hoping to gain recognition by prosecuting Davis himself. Called to testify, Davis invokes his
Fifth Amendment rights to avoid incriminating himself.
Davis confronts a press opportunity staged by Bond on the
courthouse steps, turning on the charm and denying any
wrongdoing.[9] When called to the stand in his own defense,
Davis gives a rousing speech defending his public role, is
acquitted, and beams before the assembled cameras and reporters afterward while Bond and Pearlman look on, unable
to believe what they have just witnessed.
With Bonds case concluded but the mortgage fraud uncharged, Freamon approaches Davis in a bar with the incriminating mortgage paperwork. Not knowing that Freamon has been unable to bring these charges, Davis gives
up information about back-room deals involving the citys
political elite. In a second conversation, Davis is last seen
giving Freamon additional information, as well as boasting
about a drug dealer named Bell whom he had bled.
183
Mannerisms
The character is well known for his elongation of the word
shit, pronouncing it as sheee-it. This mannerism originated with Whitlocks uncle, from whom he picked up the
habit himself. It was featured in the 2002 lm 25th Hour,
after Spike Lee encouraged him to use it. When Whitlock
received his rst script for The Wire it was already written into the part.[11] He is also known to speak dierently
depending on his company, indicative of his manipulative
and untrustworthy nature: He freely speaks in black vernacular when among blacks, but adjusts his speech to sound
whiter when dealing with his (largely) white business partners.
8.4.3
References
[1] Plotz, David (September 21, 2007). Oh, How We've

Missed You!". Slate magazine. Retrieved 2007-09-23.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
8.4.2
Origins
Production

5. Episode 4. HBO.
[10] Rafael Alvarez (2009). The Wire: Truth Be Told - The Com-
plete Ocial Series Guide. Canongate Books. p. 280.

Creator David Simon has said that Clay Davis is based on
three dierent politicians in the Maryland State Senate, and
that his aectionate use of the word partner is based on [11] http://www.slate.com/id/2181449/pagenum/all/
one of them, saying that everybody in Baltimore knows who
this is.
In an essay in the ocial series guide The Wire: Truth Be 8.4.4 External links
Told, William Zorzi implies that Davis is patterned on former Maryland State Senator Larry Young.[10]
Clay Davis at the Internet Movie Database
184
8.5 Norman Wilson (The Wire)
his chance to re him. Carcetti hopes to eventually replace

Burrell with Cedric Daniels but worries if Nerese Campbell
and the politically inuential councilors will accept Daniels.
Carcetti instructs Wilson to leak the story to test the waters.
Wilson contacts Gus Haynes, a friend from his previous career as a newspaper reporter, and gives him the details along
with a photograph of Daniels.[7][8]
Norman Wilson is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by actor Reg E. Cathey. Wilson is a professional political operative and works closely with ambitious politician Tommy Carcetti. The character rst appeared in the shows fourth season and Cathey is part of
the starring cast for the fourth and fth seasons.[1]
When the truth of the homeless killer is revealed, Wilson
expresses a forlorn wish that he was still a journalist so I
could write on this mess. Its too fucking good.
8.5.1
Biography
Eventually, Carcetti wins the gubernatorial election and becomes governor with the machinations of Steintorf, and
Wilson is a professional political operative. He was preNormans future with Carcetti is left ambiguous.
viously a night editor at The Baltimore Sun and was much
loved by his reporters. He has a professional, savvy and
honest presence.[2] He grew up in Catonsville, a southwest- 8.5.2 Production
ern Baltimore County suburb of Baltimore.
Season four
The character rst appeared in the shows fourth season premiere "Boys of Summer"[9][10] and Cathey is part of the
starring cast for the fourth and fth seasons.[1]
Wilson serves as councilman Tommy Carcetti's deputy

campaign manager in his run for mayor of Baltimore, under 8.5.3 References
campaign manager Theresa D'Agostino. Wilson is practical minded and organized, essential qualities because he [1] Cast & Crew - Reg E. Cathey as Norman Wilson. HBO.
is tasked with keeping Carcetti on a strict schedule. Wil2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
son was once a night editor for the Baltimore Sun and has
many connections amongst the citys media. He is an hon- [2] Character prole - Norman Wilson. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-15.
est voice in Carcettis campaign and is often the sounding
board for Carcettis worries about race in Baltimore poli- [3] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire.
tics, admitting (perhaps jokingly) that he will most likely
vote for one of his black opponents. When poll results do
not go in Carcettis favor, Carcetti loses interest in the cam- [4] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
paign, believing that it is impossible to win. Wilson is left
to keep his candidate on track despite his pessimism.
After Carcetti wins the primary and subsequent election,
D'Agostino moves on, but Wilson continues to serve as his
right-hand man, accompanying the newly elected mayor everywhere he goes. At the end of the season, Wilson becomes disillusioned with Carcetti, who puts his own ambition above the needs of the city. He talks with Clarence
Royce's former advisor, Coleman Parker, and muses about
managing the campaign of another up and coming politician
on the Eastern Shore of Maryland.[2]
Season ve
Despite his misgivings Wilson remains on Carcettis sta
for the next year and watches the Mayor struggle with
the budget crisis while still planning his run for Governor.
Carcetti is aware of Wilsons feelings about his decision but
still seeks his counsel.[3][4][5][6] When commissioner Ervin
Burrell delivers altered crime rate statistics Carcetti seizes

HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
[9] David Simon, Ed Burns (2004-09-10). "Boys of Summer".
[10] "The Wire episode guide - episode 38 boys of summer.
HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-08-09.
Chapter 9
School
9.1 School system of The Wire
Appears in
Season 4: "Boys of Summer"; "Soft Eyes";
"Home Room"; "Refugees"; "Alliances";
"Margin of Error"; "Unto Others"; "Know Your
Place"; "Misgivings"; "A New Day"; "Thats Got
His Own"
The school system of The Wire is a ctional education system in the city of Baltimore depicted in the HBO drama series The Wire. The fourth season of the show introduced an
examination of the Baltimore city school system and many
new characters including pupils, sta and education board
employees.
9.1.1
Administration
Howard Bunny Colvin

Main article: Howard Bunny Colvin
Colvin was a thirty-year veteran of the Baltimore Police Department and a district commander before his radical policies caused his forced retirement. He moved into working
with potential repeat violent oenders in the school system.
Marcia Donnelly
Marcia Donnelly played by Tootsie Duvall
Played by: Tootsie Duvall
Season 5: "30".
Marcia Donnelly is the Assistant Principal of Edward
J. Tilghman Middle School. She is a disciplinary, nononsense person whom the students have learned to obey. A
veteran administrator, Mrs. Donnelly has become used to
the chaotic environment of the school, but she often feels
frustrated with the diculty of keeping order among the
children and retaining teachers from year to year. Donnelly
is world-weary to the point where she sees an in-school stabbing victim being HIV-negative as a silver lining. She performs sweeps of the school grounds looking for concealed
weapons on a regular basis.
Donnelly employs Dennis Cutty Wise ostensibly as a
custodian to perform the duties of a truant ocer. By
forcing truants to attend one day in September and another
in October, the school secures more funding. Cutty eventually returns to her to resign the post because he expected
to be doing something more rewarding. She works with
Howard Bunny Colvin in setting up an initiative to separate students into two groups to improve discipline. She
urges Colvin to protect Principal Withers from the consequences of dividing the students, because he has gone out on
a limb to support the initiative. She selects the students for
the program with input from her colleague Grace Sampson.
Donnelly meets with Bubbles and allows his young assistant Sherrod to enroll in the school. She insists that Sherrod is socially promoted to the eighth grade because of his
age. She tells Bubbles that he cannot be allowed to return
to the last grade he attended because of the diculties it
would present regarding classroom discipline and funding.
She is supportive of impoverished student Duquan Dukie
Weems and sends clothes home for him via his classmate
185
186
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Crystal Judkins.
Donnelly convinces eighth grade student Randy Wagsta to
become an informant against other students by threatening
to call his foster mother when he is caught with a fake hall
pass. When Randy is later involved as a lookout in a possible rape on school grounds Donnelly is forced to suspend
him. He tells her that he knows about a murder to try and
convince her not to call his foster mother and Donnelly is
forced to hand him over to the police department.
Donnelly has a relationship based on mutual respect with
the Principal, Claudell Withers. He allows her to handle
the operational aspects of running the school while he deals
David Parenti played by Dan DeLuca
more with external interests like the education board and
the parents. Donnelly tries to protect the school from being taken over by the state by focusing on improving per Appears in season 4: "Home Room"; "Refugees";
formance in state assessments. She insists on her teachers
"Alliances"; "Margin of Error" (uncredited); "Unto
sticking to core subjects and is against deviations from the
Others"; "Misgivings" and "Final Grades".
curriculum. She tries to guide trainee teacher Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski into following this strategy.[1]
Dr. David Parenti is a professor of sociology at the
University of Maryland with a special interest in repeat violent oenders.[2] He receives a grant from the university
Miss Duquette
for a pilot study aimed at reducing this behavior. He plans
to target 18-21 year olds as this is the age group when the
Played by: Stacie Davis
behavior is most commonly exhibited.
Appears in
Season 4: "Unto Others"; "Corner Boys"; "Know
Your Place"; "Misgivings; "A New Day"; "Thats
Got His Own"; "Final Grades"
Miss Duquette is a Doctoral student who assists Dr. Parenti and Bunny Colvin in teaching the corner kids special class. A social sciences and psychology student, she
uses several psychological techniques to get the children
to describe themselves and how they feel about their roles
in life. As a rookie teacher from an educated and nonBaltimore City raised background, she is initially disrespected by many of the students especially the classes two
female students Chandra and Zenobia but she eventually
manages to manipulate the children into articulating their
problems and talk about how or why they should improve
themselves. When school ocials decide to pull the plug
on the program, she assists Colvin and Parenti in protesting
the programs end claiming that the students have actually
made progress in the class as human beings. The program
is nonetheless shutdown.
David Parenti
Played by: Dan DeLuca
He is known to the West Baltimore church deacon who puts

him in touch with retired police ocer Howard Bunny
Colvin. Parenti is interested in meeting Colvin because he
is well known around campus for his last action in the police
department a program of drug tolerant zones that signicantly reduced crime in his district. Colvin takes a salaried
position to assist Parenti with his study. Colvin wants Parenti to target younger age groups by showing him that violent behavior is entrenched in 18-21 year olds. A visit
to Colvins old district and introduction to an 18-year-old
criminal, who tries to assault Parenti for taking notes, convinces Parenti.
Colvin and Parenti decide to focus on eighth grade middle
school children and approach the Edward Tilghman middle
school with their program. The principal, Claudell Withers,
agrees to let them separate children with behavioral diculties into their own class where they can be targeted and
studied. Parenti also gets approval from the education department on Baltimores North Avenue on the condition that
his program does not make any headlines.
With the assistance of eighth grade head teacher Grace
Sampson and assistant principal Marcia Donnelly he selects
a class of ten students. Colvin refers to their target group
as corner kids. They hire a class teacher and assistant to
deal with the students. Parenti is fasciniated by the behavior exhibited by his students. When the program is eventually terminated, Colvins frustration is in stark contrast to
Parentis excitement about the attention the research will
9.1. SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE WIRE

receive from academics.[3]
187
and asks a responsible student, Crystal Judkins, to phone
for an ambulance.
Grace works with Howard Bunny Colvin to establish separate classes for two groups of eighth graders that he terms
corner kids and stoop kids. By separating the probMain article: Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
lem corner kids from classes he hopes that he can address
their specic needs and give the other students more time
Prez is an ex-detective who showed great aptitude for to learn. Grace helps him to identify children who might
surveillance and wiretap cases but struggled to maintain his be considered corner kids. She suggests Namond Brice.
composure in the eld. He has embarked on a new career She works alongside Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly
as a middle school math teacher.
to select another nine students for the class.
Roland Prez Pryzbylewski
Played by: Dravon James
Grace sees Cutty once more when he is working as a custodian bringing truanting children into the school. This time
both of them are content to leave their relationship in the
past.
Appears in
Actress Dravon James portrays both Grace and her sister

Queenie.[4]
Grace Sampson
Season 3: "Dead Soldiers" and "Mission Accomplished".
Claudell Withers
Season 4: "Soft Eyes"; "Home Room";

"Refugees"; "Alliances"; "Margin of Error";
"Unto Others"; Corner Boys"; "Know Your
Place"; "Misgivings and "Final Grades".
Sampson is a senior middle school English teacher and is the
head teacher for the eighth grade at the Edward Tilghman
Middle School. She plays a matriarchal role in the school
as many of the students view her as a disciplinary motherly type (all the students act correctly when she approaches
them). Grace has son named Allen, after the boys father.
She had a relationship with Dennis Cutty Wise before he
was sentenced to a long prison term. When he was released
Claudell Withers played by Richard Hidlebird
from prison he tracked Grace down and learned where she
was working. She avoids reconnecting with Cutty but offers him help in the form of putting him in touch with her
Played by: Richard Hidlebird
church deacon to help him nd work. Cutty visits Grace
Appears in season 4: "Boys of Summer"; "Refugees";
again when he has established a boxing gym for local kids.
"Alliances"; "Know Your Place"; "Misgivings".
She rebus his advances again and tells him that she is proud
of him. Graces sister Queenie is a drug addict and is envious of the way her sister has taken control of her life.
Withers is the principal of Edward Tilghman Middle School
Grace is feared and respected by her students who know her and has held the post for eleven years. He is regarded as
as Mrs. Sampson. She is able to subdue a classroom quickly something of a renegade. He entrusts much of the operaand commands the attention of children easily. As head of tion of the school to Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly.
the eighth grade she encourages her teachers to use simple Withers goes out on a limb to allow Dr. David Parenti
consistent rules in the classroom to make it easy for the stu- and Howard Bunny Colvin to launch a controversial pidents to comply. She is supportive of new teacher Roland lot study at his school. Withers holds the education departheadPrez Pryzbylewski and helps him with discipline prob- ments administrators in low regard and refers to their
[5]
quarters
on
North
Avenue
as
the
Puzzle
Palace.
lems in his classes when she can. When a student named
Chiquan is attacked by a classmate wielding a boxcutter in
Pryzbylewskis class it is Grace who steps in and slaps the
9.1.2
violent student to disarm her. She comforts the injured girl
Students
188
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Namond Brice
Main article: Namond Brice
Namond Brice is a tough-talking eighth-grade student who
struggles to follow in the footsteps of his father, Wee-Bey.
Aaron Bug Manigault
Played by: Keenon Brice
Appears in
Season four: "Refugees", "Corner Boys", "Know
Your Place", "Final Grades"
Season ve: "More with Less" (uncredited), "Not
for Attribution", "React Quotes", "Clarications"
Bug is Michael Lee's younger half-brother. Michael shows
concern in taking care of Bug; he helps Bug with schoolwork and has Dukie look after Bug. When Michael gets in
trouble with the Staneld Organization, he leaves Bug with
his Aunt in Howard County.
Zenobia Dawson
Played by: Taylor King
Appears in season four: "Alliances", "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Unto Others", "Misgivings", "A
New Day" (uncredited), "Thats Got His Own" and
"Final Grades".
Zenobia is a student at Edward Tilghman middle school
who often disrupts classes, in particular she is disruptive
in Mr. Prezbos math class. She is one of the children
selected for the special class by Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly. By the end of the season Zenobia is one of
the three students that makes the most progress through the
corner boys class. When she returns to her regular class
she is attentive and doesn't cause any disturbances.
Donut
Played by: Nathan Corbett
Donut played by Nathan Corbett
Donut (given name Tyrell, as evidenced in the season

four nale, "Final Grades") is a student at Edward Tilghman Middle School, and was in 6th grade during season 4.
He is interested in cars and is an accomplished, compulsive
auto thief. He is friends with Namond Brice, Michael Lee
and Randy Wagsta. He brings Sergeant Ellis Carver's attention to the group when he is spotted in a stolen Cadillac
Escalade. Carver warns the boys that if he ties them to any
further auto thefts he will organize alleyway beatings for
each of them. Donut remains deant or perhaps is simply
unable to keep quiet with a car in the vicinity, quietly remarking that Carver has a nice car as he walks away. He
carries a homemade slim jim that he keeps in his sock.
On request, Donut breaks into math teacher Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski's car when he locks his keys in it, leaving Prez
grateful but rather worried about having a kid at school who
is evidently able to break into cars. When Randy is unexpectedly tasked with distributing Carcetti campaign literature on the day of the primary election, Donut steals an
SUV to make the job go faster. Once Donut learns that
Randy has already been paid upfront, he asks for his share
of the walk-around money and leaves.
Donut works with Namond and their even younger friend
Kenard selling drugs around their school hours. Donuts
carjacking abilities however get him into trouble with corrupt patrolman Walker who breaks his ngers. Donut is a
reckless driver, often speeding, ignoring trac signs, and
occasionally wrecking the cars he steals. In the nal scene
of the season four nale, as Namond is on the Colvins porch
getting ready for school, Donut drives by in a stolen SUV
with the stereo blasting. Donut and Namond share a nod
and then Donut speeds away, through a stop sign at the end
of the corner, nearly running into another honking driver
while Namond is left smiling at the spectacle.
Appears in season four: "Boys of Summer", "Soft

Eyes", "Alliances", "Margin of Error", "Unto Others", Crystal Judkins
"Misgivings", "A New Day", "Thats Got His Own",
and "Final Grades".
Played by: Destiny Jackson-Evans
9.1. SCHOOL SYSTEM OF THE WIRE
189
Appears in season four: "Soft Eyes", "Home Rooms"

(uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances"
(uncredited), "Misgivings" (uncredited).
Darnell is a student at Edward Tilghman middle school who

has a drinking problem and often disrupts classes. He is one
of the children selected for the special class by Assistant
Principal Marcia Donnelly. Darnell is another one of the
three
students that show real progress through the special
Crystal is a keen student at Edward Tilghman middle school
class.
and often helps her teachers outside of school. She works
with assistant principal Marcia Donnelly over the summer
to prepare the school for the new year. She delivers clothes
Randy Wagsta
to her impoverished peer Duquan Dukie Weems on Donnellys behalf. She is in Roland Prez Pryzbylewski's math
Main article: Randy Wagsta
class with Dukie and advises Prez about Dukies home circumstances. When a girl is wounded in a ght in Prezs
classroom Mrs. Sampson sends Crystal to the oce to call Randy Wagsta is an enterprising eighth-grade student who
is dependent on social services.
an ambulance.
Michael Lee
Duquan Dukie Weems
Main article: Michael Lee (The Wire)
Main article: Duquan Dukie Weems
Played by: Tristan Wilds
Duquan Dukie Weems is an eighth-grade student who

lives in abject poverty.
Michael Lee is a soft spoken eighth-grade student who has

adult responsibilities.
Karim Williams
Albert Stokes
Played by: Jason Wharton
Played by: Jerey Lorenzo

Appears in season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Misgivings"
(uncredited), "Thats Got His Own" and "Final
Grades".
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Corner Boys",
"Know Your Place", "Misgivings" (uncredited), "A
New Day" and "Final Grades".
Karim is a student at Edward Tilghman middle school who
hopes to become an NBA basketball player and sports an
Albert is a small, yet boisterous eighth grade student at afro. He is in Roland Prez Pryzbylewskis math class with
Edward Tilghman middle school who often uses profane his former friends Randy Wagsta and Namond Brice.
language and disrupts classes. He is one of the children
selected for the special class by Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly. He shows some improvement in the special 9.1.3 References
class under Howard Bunny Colvin. It is revealed that his
mother dies on the couch of their home and no one comes [1] Character prole Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly.
HBO. 2006. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
for days to get her.
Darnell Tyson
Played by: Davone Cooper
Appears in season four: "Home Rooms" (uncredited), "Refugees" (uncredited), "Alliances" (uncredited), "Margin of Error" (uncredited), "Corner Boys",
"Know Your Place", "Misgivings", "A New Day" (uncredited), "Thats Got His Own".
[2] Character prole UM Professor David Parenti. HBO.

2004. Retrieved 2006-10-28.
[3] Episode guide - episode 50 Final Grades. HBO. 2006.
[4] Dravon James Filmography by TV Series.
2008-07-04.
Retrieved
[5] Character prole Principal Claudell Withers. HBO.

2006. Retrieved 2006-10-29.
190
9.2 Howard Bunny Colvin
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Dennis Mello stated that they waited too long to make the
arrests they had while Colvin begins to question what it is
Howard Bunny Colvin is a ctional character on the they are really doing on their job.
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Robert Wisdom.
Colvin is a wise and able Major in the Western District,
alienated from the Baltimore Police Department and po- Season three
litical systems concern with criminal statistics and careerclimbing, to the consistent detriment of substantive case- In season three, Colvin was nearing retirement and decided
work and the over-preoccupation with crude 'rip and run' to make a last eort to have a real impact on the commutactics: that is, petty drug charges on low-level players. He nity he had been policing for thirty years. He recognized
often expresses nostalgia for policing in earlier decades, that much of his time and resources were spent on policparticularly for the way in which ocers amiably inte- ing addicts and low level dealers, which never seemed to
grated into and supported communities; something he holds improve the situation in his district and left little time for
in sharp distinction with the contemporary 'drug war', in real police work. All of Baltimores district Majors were
which neighborhoods are treated like 'occupied territory'. under extreme pressure from the mayors oce to reduce
Close to retirement, he secretly breaks chain-of-command the citys violent crime rate in preparation for the mayoral
and re-assigns his resources to create 'Hamsterdam', three primary campaign. After Commissioner Ervin Burrell rezones within his district where drug dealing is pressured to lieved Major Taylor of his post as the Eastern district comnon-violently conglomerate in exchange for informal legal mander for his poor performance, every other major besanction. Colvin also concentrates policing in these areas gan juking their stats to make crime rates appear to drop.
and attracts important ground-level social services, such as Colvin refused to do this, and his stats honestly reected
needle and condom distribution. Despite unprecedented a 2% rise in felonies. He was quickly berated for this by
statistical gains, Colvin meets reprimand, demotion (and Deputy Rawls and his command post was threatened by
thus lowered pension) and retirement, later to become a Commissioner Burrell who claimed I don't care how many
eld researcher alongside academic Dr. David Parenti in years you have on this job, if the felony rates don't fall, you
Baltimore city schools. In this role, Colvin falls into the most certainly will.
guardianship of Namond Brice.
Colvin wondered if there was a way for drugs to be made
safe for low-level users to take them without facing punishment; comparing the citys drug problems to the illegal
public consumption of alcohol, which was circumvented
9.2.1 Character storyline
when people began keeping their beer in a paper bag. AfColvin joined the Baltimore Police Department around ter the attempted murder of Ocer Dozerman, Colvin 1973 (according to Season 3, he had 30 years on) pa- nally decided that he would independently set up three free
trolling his home neighborhood in the departments West- zones in his district where addicts and dealers were alern District; one of his early posts was at Pensey and Fre- lowed to conduct their business under supervision but withmont. Over his tenure, he advanced to the rank of District out interference. This would move the drug trade into a
Commander (Major) in the Western District. Colvins phi- controlled, uninhabited area to protect the rest of his dislosophy of policing involved protecting the community he trict. Colvin did not seek the permission or approval of
served by making quality arrests through the use of trusted any of his superiors before implementing his plan, and iginformants on his foot post. As a commander he insisted nored the concerns of his subordinates Lieutenant Dennis
that his men learn their sense of direction, their foot post, Mello and DEU Sergeant Ellis Carver, who were charged
and urged them to focus on doing real police work. Toward by Colvin with ensuring no violence took place within the
the end of his career, he began seeing the war on drugs as free zones. One of these areas became known as Haman ineective waste of time and resources in his district that sterdam, after Amsterdam's liberal drug laws. Because
his retirement was imminent and he was guaranteed a mabrought about too many unnecessary deaths.
jors pension, Colvin believed he would be free from any
consequences should his plan be discovered. Although his
Season two
project initially drew suspicion from the districts dealers,
he convinced them to move their trade by brutally cracking
Colvin was rst seen as a Major and commander of the down on any drug dealing outside of the free zones. LegalWestern district in season two.[1] He attended the scene of izing drugs in Hamsterdam allowed him to reassign police
the accidental shooting of a child during a drug turf war and resources to solving quality felony cases elsewhere. After
was appalled at the senselessness of the killing. When or- implementing the Hamsterdam plan for ve weeks, Colvin
dered to crack down on the area, his second in command delivered a cumulative 14% reduction in the felony rate, un-
9.2. HOWARD BUNNY COLVIN
191
heard of in the Western districts history.
change. He convinced Parenti to look at Edward Tilghman

Colvin was forced to take his vacation time immediately Middle School for his target group.
after revealing his experiment to the departments upper Colvin identied for Parenti the two types of West Balticommand. The mayor Clarence Royce considered trying to more students: stoop kids, the kids who obey their parspin Hamsterdam as an enforcement strategy because of its ents instructions to stay on the stoop or front steps of their
success in lowering the crime rate. However, in the mean- house, go to school, and are respectful of authority; and
time, the existence of the free zones was leaked to the press. corner kids, the kids who sell drugs on the corner, disAfter realizing that public opinion was sharply against the rupt class, and are aspiring gangsters disrespectful of aufree zones, and that there would be broader political ram- thority. Together, they isolated ten corner kids into a classications, the Royce administration recanted and decided room where Parenti and UM doctoral student Miss Duto end the Hamsterdam experiment. Commissioner Bur- quette studied them while Colvin acted as the mediator.
rell oered Colvin to the mayor as a sacricial oering and In this classroom, the students were not allowed to be susscapegoat. He and Deputy Rawls convinced Colvin to ac- pended, a punishment the students often utilized to get out
cept the responsibility silently by threatening to persecute of class intentionally.
his ocers after he retired. They demoted him to lieutenant Colvin began to take an interest in Namond Brice, one of
and thus lowered his pension. Burrell made things even the most disruptive students. He allowed Namond to stay
worse for Colvin, having contacted Johns Hopkins Univer- at his home when Carver arrests Namond for selling drugs,
sity which had agreed to hire him as their deputy comman- and his mother was out of town. Colvin took him home
der of campus security upon his retirement. Burrell per- the next day and sees rst hand that his mother is pushsonally informed them of his actions involved with Hams- ing him into drug dealing. After seeing how Namond has
terdam and they withdrew Colvins job oer.
progressed in school, Colvin sees Namonds potential. He
As a commanding ocer, Colvin was well liked by his men.
Colvin had a signicant impact on Ellis Carver, convincing him to reassess his role as DEU sergeant and to take
a more community-minded approach to policing. Colvin
also reconnected with Jimmy McNulty, who had started out
as a beat ocer under his command. Colvins last piece
of detective work involved McNultys major case unit
Stringer Bell contacted Colvin to inform against his partner
Avon Barksdale and Colvin passed the information on to
McNulty. In Colvin, Bell had seen a fellow reformer who
felt his superiors were preventing useful work from being
done. As Bell puts it, they are both trying to make sense
of this game, though from opposite sides of the law. [2]
Season four
As season four began, Colvin was supplementing his (diminished) pension by working as head of security for a
downtown hotel. Colvin became disillusioned with the post
when the hotel manager refused to let him arrest a wealthy
client who had assaulted a prostitute in his hotel room. He
left the job soon afterwards.
realizes that Namond was never t for the corners and will
only end up being killed or in jail if he remains in his current household. Colvin then talks with Wee-Bey Brice, Namonds incarcerated father, explaining Namond could have
a life outside of West Baltimore given the proper support
from Colvin and his wife. After thinking it over, Wee-Bey
tells Namonds mother to send him to live with Colvin as
he wants him to have a future. Namond is seen to be living
with Colvin and his wife at the conclusion of season four.[3]
Season ve
Colvin appears briey, late in the season ("Late Editions")
with a gray and white goatee, attending Namonds high
school competitive debate. He looks displeased when
Mayor Carcetti visits the event, using it to burnish his political image. Outside the debate, Carcetti approaches Colvin
and apologizes for being unable to support the Hamsterdam
experiment from the third season, saying no politician could
run with the idea politically, even though Carcetti hinted in
season three that he supported Colvins initiative. Colvin
refuses to shake Carcettis extended hand, and says nothing
about his education plans which were similarly ignored by
Carcettis city hall in season four.
Colvin was approached with another job by his friend, The

Deacon. The deacon had learned of a large grant to the
University of Maryland School of Social Work to look at
repeat violent oenders. The study was led by Dr. David 9.2.2 References
Parenti. Colvins reputation among academics as the man
who attempted to legalize drugs in Western Baltimore se- [1] Dan Kois (2004). Everything you were afraid to ask about
cured him a job oer as a eld researcher. Parenti initially
planned to focus on 18-to-21-year-olds, but Colvin sensed
that they would have to look at a younger group to eect any [2] Org Chart - The Law. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-07-22.
192
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
Michael gets into trouble with his math teacher Roland

Prez Pryzbylewski because he will not do his homework
or participate in classroom exercises. Prez gives him detention, which Michael skips in order to pick up Bug from his
own school. Prez learns from Randy why Michael did not
9.3 Michael Lee (The Wire)
attend and approaches him directly with an appeal to discuss
any problems he might have. Michael begins to work harder
Michael Lee is a ctional character on the HBO drama in the class and is a quick study when Prez uses games of
The Wire, played by Tristan Wilds. He is a middle school cards and dice to teach probability. He also completes his
pupil and is friends with Namond Brice, Randy Wagsta homework.
and Duquan Dukie Weems. He is more soft-spoken and
composed than his friends, and appears to have a leader- Michael continues to be wary of Cutty when using the boxship role among his peers. Michael is very protective of his ing gym. He attends a professional ght with Cutty and
younger half-brother Bug, to whom he is eectively a par- Justin but refuses to let Cutty drive him home after Justin
ent, and Dukie, who is often ridiculed by his peers for his is dropped o. He is suspicious of Cuttys motives because
poverty. His mother Raylene is a drug addict and he avoids he tends to get involved with the mothers of boys who use
any adult interest in his home life because of the precar- the gym. Cutty continues to try to break down Michaels
ious nature of his situation. It is strongly implied that he defenses but Michael remains suspicious of him, later hintwas sexually abused by Bugs father, even though Bugs fa- ing to his friends that he suspects that Cutty is a pederast
ther seemed helpful when returning from prison. Because (which isn't true). This could be because of trust issues
of this, Michael has little trust in the adults in his life and, Michael has with adult men stemming from his treatment by
rather than trust or conde in any of the law-abiding men Bugs father. When Namond is attacked by rival drug dealwho try to mentor him, becomes a protg of Marlo Stan- ers, Michael is there to support his friend. However, when
Cutty asks Michael what Namond is getting into, Michael
elds enforcer Chris Partlow.
tells him it is none of their business. Later, at Cuttys gym,
Michael beats Namond for teasing Dukie, and runs out.
Cutty tells him to never return, but later feels guilty about
9.3.1 Biography
it. When Cutty decides to apologize and meets up later with
Michael, standing on a street corner with other members of
Season four
Marlos crew, Michael initially rebus him. Monk shoots
Cutty twice in the leg for not leaving Michael alone. FiMichael is interested in boxing and often works out in a lonally understanding Cuttys worthy character, Michael stops
cal gym. He distrusts authority gures; he rebued both
Monk from delivering a third and fatal shot, then oers to
Dennis Cutty Wise's oer to train him in boxing and
wait until the ambulance comes. Cutty tells Michael to go
Marlo Staneld's oer of a cash handout with no strings
with the people who injured him, apparently accepting that
attached. He tells his friends that he is reluctant to feel like
Michael is now a lost cause.
he owes anyone. Regardless, Staneld is impressed with
Michaels strength of character in denying a handout, not Over the shows fourth season, Michael evolves from softbudging even after Staneld personally confronts and insults spoken introvert to a cold-blooded killer. When Bugs fahim. In order to provide new school supplies for himself ther is paroled and returns to their home, Michael becomes
and his brother, he temporarily took over Namonds job as desperate to get rid of the man. While not stated explicitly,
a runner for drug dealer Bodie Broadus. Bodie took a strong it can be assumed from Michaels reactions that Bugs fainterest in him and oered to employ him permanently, but ther sexually abused Michael before going to prison. This
is hinted by Michaels distrust in adult males and the rather
Michael turned him down.
negative attitude he displays when subjects involving sexuCutty continues to encourage Michael to take an interest in
ality are brought up. It is also made more clear in Season
boxing and even takes him to a professional ght. Michael
5, episode 7, Took": while reviewing the case les of the
avoids conversation and physical contact with Cutty and
bodies in the vacants, Bunk comes across Devars prole
refuses a lift to his house after the ght. Marlo orders
and says, Look at you, you baby-bumping motherfucker.
Chris Partlow to nd out more about him. Chris approaches
The abuse is further hinted at later in the same episode while
Michael and oers him cash and protection to join the orBunk is interviewing Michael and says, Look at you...not
ganization. Michael turns down the oer, claiming that he
even blinking. Not that I blame you, after what this heinous
must look out for his family rst and that Chris was never
motherfucker did to you. He asks Randy what would hapthere for him or his mother. Michael also turns down Randy
pen if he were to call social services on his stepfather, and
to work delivering iers on election day. He also refuses to
Randy, speaking from experience, says that Michael and
work with Namond selling drugs.
[3] Character prole - Major Howard Bunny Colvin. HBO.
2006. Retrieved 2006-09-14.
9.3. MICHAEL LEE (THE WIRE)

Bug would be split up and would both be placed in group
homes. Out of options, Michael turns to Marlo and Chris
for help. Chris murders Bugs father, Devar, after asking if
he likes to fuck little boys and telling him that he knows
why he is going to be killed. Chris deviates from his normal style of killing by savagely beating him. Marlo provides Michael and Bug with their own apartment. In return,
Michael becomes a drug dealer and soldier in Marlos operation. Marlo jokingly refers to Michael as Chris pup
when Michael is not around. While he has moved on
to a new life within the drug trade, he nonetheless oers
Dukie a place to live, although with the apparent price of
enlisting Dukie into Marlos crew.[1]
Season ve
Michael continues to work with the Staneld Organization
more than a year later and still reports to Chris Partlow.
His crew has changed somewhat and while Duquan Dukie
Weems and Kenard remain, Michael also now has Spider
and a young dealer named Marcus working for him. The
other dealers do not respect Dukie and do not respond to
him. Michael decides to withdraw Dukie and pay him to
look after Bug instead. He promotes Spider to act as his
second.[2][3]
193
strength to do a brutal murder like that himself and asks
who did the murder. Michael refuses to tell him anything.
Along with Chris, Snoop, and O-dog, he participated in the
botched ambush on Omar Little in Monks apartment. He
was frightened when Omar approached him on sending a
message to Staneld, fearing that he might recognize him
from the apartment that night. With Omar in the streets terrorizing Marlos corners, and Marlo doing little in response,
Michael begins to question his boss erce reputation. This
begins to cause a rift between him and the higher ups in the
organization.
When Marlo, Chris, Cheese and Monk are all arrested due
to the investigation, Monk suspects Michael of being an informant. Although neither Marlo or Chris believe Michael
to be a snitch, Marlo reluctantly orders Snoop to kill him,
not wanting to take the risk of leaving Michael on the
streets. Snoop attempts to set Michael up, by telling him
a local drug dealer is responsible for the bust. Suspicious,
Michael follows Snoop and discovers that it is indeed a setup. Before Snoop has the chance to kill Michael, he draws
his gun on her, and tells her he gured out the plot by following Chriss earlier advice to show up to a job early. He asks
what has he done to be killed. Snoop replies that they think
hes been talking to the police. Michael denies the claim,
but Snoop tells him that hes too isolated and asks too many
questions to ever be considered a true member of their crew.
Michael shoots her in the head and leaves Snoop in the car
dead. Michael rushes home, and in a panic, tells Duquan
and Bug to pack their things. On the run from Marlos crew,
the three are forced to split up. Michael leaves a tearful Bug
at his aunts house in the suburbs. Duquan chooses to stay
with the junk man he has been working for. Michael bids
farewell to his friend and drives o, and goes into hiding.
Michael eventually returns as a stick-up artist, and with a
partner robs Vinson in his rim shop, shooting him in the
knee with a shotgun. His actions parallel those of Omar
Little.
Partlow continues to train Michael as an enforcer. Michael

is brought along to kill Junebug after Marlo Staneld hears
that Junebug has been questioning his sexuality. They arrive
over an hour early to do the hit, as Chris tells Michael to
arrive early for a murder to scope out the scene and make
sure there are no surprises. Michael questions the necessity
of the murder since the rumors are unfounded and have not
been proved to originate with Junebug. However, Snoop
angrily rebukes Michael. Partlow orders Michael to watch
the back of the house and kill anyone who tries to escape
while Partlow and Snoop enter from the front. Once inside,
the older enforcers kill three adults, but a small child runs
out of the house. Michael cannot bring himself to shoot the
9.3.2
boy.[4][5]
Following his involvement in the Junebug triple homicide
Michael becomes socially withdrawn. Dukie convinces
Michael to take a day trip to Six Flags with him and Bug.
The two enjoy their day but when they return Monk confronts Michael about leaving his corner unattended.[6][7]
Michael and his crew are arrested by Ocer Anthony Colicchio but no charges are led. Raylene signs Michael out of
jail and chastises him for not bringing Bug to see her more
often. She asks Michael for money but he refuses to pay her
to act as his mother.[8] Bunk Moreland questions Michael
about the murder of his stepfather, saying he doesn't blame
Michael for having him killed because of the sexual abuse
he suered, but knows that Michael lacked the size and
References
[1] Character prole - Michael Lee. HBO. 2004tt. Retrieved

2006-09-16. Check date values in: |date= (help)
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
194
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
math class. Chiquan is attacked with a boxcutter by a female classmate whom she bullied earlier in the season. The
girl injures Chiquan and is then disarmed by Mrs. Samp[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. son. Dukie approaches the disarmed girl as she sits on the
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
oor in a state of shock. He gives her his repaired electric
fan.

5. Episode 4. HBO.
9.4 Duquan Dukie Weems

Duquan Dukie Weems is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by Jermaine Crawford.
Dukie is a student at Edward Tilghman Middle School. He
has a dicult home life because many of the adults in his
home are either alcoholics or drug addicts. Because of his
struggles through abject poverty - there is no running water
in his house - he is a recurrent target for teasing and bullying for his poor hygiene, oensive body odor and dirty
clothes ("dookie" is also a slang term for feces). He relies heavily on his friends Namond Brice, Michael Lee and
Randy Wagsta for emotional and sometimes nancial support, despite Namonds tendency to bully him. Michael remains loyal to Dukie, giving him both work and residency
at the end of the fourth season.
9.4.1
Series
Season 4
Dukie faces bullying and beatings from a rival gang of
boys, from whom his friends ercely protect him. Following Dukie receiving a beating, his friends plan a retaliation.
Dukie takes part but the plan backres and some of his
friends are caught and beaten. Namond rewards his eorts
with an ice cream at Michaels urging.
Dukie helps to convince Randy that Staneld soldier Chris

Partlow is a murderer rather than a supernatural force. He
tells Randy he witnessed Chris kill someone in a vacant
building but asks him to keep it a secret. He shows Randy
and Michael a body interred in a vacant house as proof.
Prez tries to help Dukie by giving him food at lunchtime and
providing him with new clothes. The clothes are soon taken
by Dukies family to be sold for drugs and booze. Prez later
gives Dukie another set of clothes, which are to be kept
in a gym locker at school. He oers to let Dukie inside
the gym early to wash up in the morning and to take his
clothes home to clean in the evening. Dukie becomes close
to his teacher and helps him to unearth a computer from
storage at the school which he later uses for a special class
project. Dukie begins to enjoy the class and becomes one of
the more competent students, as well as learning a variety
of skills on the computer.[1]
Before the end of the school year, Duquans improved performance gets him promoted to the ninth grade, much to
his dismay. He is promoted, according to Ms. Donnelly, to
be with his peers. Although its clear Duquan is not socially ready to enter the ninth grade, the school looks at it
as a way to juke stats which makes it look like their students are showing better progress and advancement in their
skills than they really are. Duquan bids farewell to Prez,
who tells Duquan to visit him at school whenever he can.
Duquan goes to his house one night with Michael and sees
an eviction notice on the door. With Duquans family being
evicted and no place to live, Michael oers Duquan to stay
at his new residence which was provided by Marlo. Duquan
accepts. Michael further shows his loyalty as a friend to
Dukie by beating down Namond after Namond makes fun
of him for a last time in Cuttys gymnasium.
The assistant principal at Dukies middle school, Marcia

Donnelly, provides him with second-hand school supplies.
She has one of his peers, Crystal, deliver it to him at home In the season nale Duquan makes an attempt at going to
but is careful to instruct her to give it directly to Dukie to his new school but, without the presence and support of his
friends, he can't bring himself to go to class. Later he pays a
be sure that it reaches him.
visit to Prez at school without his backpack, wearing brandWhen the school year begins, Dukie walks to school with new clothes, and bearing a gift for Prez. Suspicious of this,
his eighth grade classmates Randy, Michael and Namond. Prez follows Duquan, only to nd out hes now dropped out
Rather than them calling for him he waits for them and then of school and is on the corner selling drugs as part of his
joins them. Randy gives Dukie his packed lunches to eat. friend Michaels crew.[2][3]
De'Londa Brice refuses to let Dukie into her home when
the boys visit Namond. Outside school Dukie nds a discarded electric fan and he spends his free time on the rst Season 5
day of school repairing it. He is teased by his classmates
for his lack of personal hygiene. In particular, a girl named Duquan fails to win the respect of Michaels drug dealing
Chiquan refuses to sit next to him in Mr. Pryzbylewskis crew including Spider and Kenard. When the drug deal-
9.5. NAMOND BRICE

ers won't communicate with Dukie, Michael decides to take
him o the corner and pay him to look after Bug. Dukie
is worried about the emasculating eect of the decision
and concerned over how he will spend his time but accepts
Michaels recommendation.[4][5]
Following his involvement as a lookout in a triple homicide Michael becomes socially withdrawn. Dukie convinces
Michael to take a day trip to Six Flags with him and Bug.
The two enjoy their day but when they return Monk confronts Michael about leaving his corner unattended.[6][7]
After being taunted by Kenard and beaten up by Spider,
Dukie tries to get Michael to teach him to shoot, and approaches Dennis Cutty Wise for training in self-defense.
Dukie tries to nd work at a shoe store but the salesman,
Poot Carr, tells him that he can not apply until he is 17.
When Michael is forced to go on the run from Marlos crew,
Dukie goes to stay with the heroin-addicted arabber who offered him work. Duquan pays a visit to his former teacher,
Mr. Pryzbylewski, asking him for a loan in order to get
back in school and get his GED. Prez is immediately suspicious of this, but gives Duquan the money anyway. When
Pryzbylewski drops him o after giving him the money he
sees that, as he expected, he has in fact been hustled by
Duquan, who returns to the arabber with the money in hand.
Pryzbylewski drives o as Duquan and the arabber go o
to buy drugs, evidently disappointed. In the ending montage, Dukie is shown shooting heroin with the arabber. His
actions parallel those of Bubbles.
195
lum. Namond is the son of Wee-Bey Brice and De'Londa
Brice and is a middle school student during season 4.[1] He
is friends with Michael Lee and Randy Wagsta and often
bullies Duquan Dukie Weems. Namond lives with his
mother and the two are well looked after by money from
the Barksdale drug dealing organization that his father was
a part of. Wee-Bey is serving consecutive life sentences for
multiple homicides committed on behalf of the Barksdales,
having even confessed to crimes he did not commit. Grateful because Wee-Bey shielded the rest of the organization
by taking the prison sentence on himself, the Barksdales
provide for Namond and De'Londa. Even after the organization is shattered by the incarceration of Avon Barksdale,
his sister Brianna Barksdale continues to pay them. This
steady income means that Namond is much better o than
his peers.
9.5.1
Character storyline
Season 4
Namond often accompanies Michael to a community gym

run by Dennis Cutty Wise but does not usually box
himself. Namond works for onetime Barksdale lieutenant
Bodie Broadus as a drug runner. Bodie gave Namond the
job out of respect for Wee-Bey who he worked with before his arrest and is careful to remind Namond of this fact.
He is clearly not interested in this line of work and often
reads while working and is seen leaving early to catch pi9.4.2 References
geons with his friends. He becomes impatient with Randy
[1] Character prole - Duquan Dukie Weems. HBO. 2004. while waiting to catch a potential homing pigeon but is quieted when Michael tells him his voice may be scaring away
the birds. Namond is enraged when Dukie scares the birds
[2] Ernest Dickerson (2004-12-10). "Final Grades". The Wire. away by smashing a bottle nearby. He taunts Dukie until he
attacks him and Michael breaks up the ght.
2006. Retrieved 2007-10-17.
When Dukie is beaten up by a rival gang Namond expresses

a desire for revenge. He suggests using guns but Randy
[4] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. has the idea of an ambush using water balloons lled with
urine. The plan backres on Namond who bursts his bal[5] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. loon on himself. The terrace boys chase after Namond and
his friends. While Michael is caught and receives a beatHBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
ing, Namond hides nearby and watches. Namond later buys
[6] Scott and Joy Kecken (2008-01-20). "Not for Attribution". ice cream for all of his friends, even including Dukie at
Michaels urging.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Namond and De'Londa visit Wee-Bey regularly at the

prison. Wee-Bey relies on them to take care of his beloved
pet sh and Namond follows his fathers instructions. WeeBey is glad that Namond is working with Bodie and gives
9.5 Namond Brice
him advice on succeeding as a drug dealer including getting a less distinctive haircut. De'Londa is unimpressed
Namond Brice (/nemnd/ NAY-mnd) is a ctional char- with Namonds attitude towards his work and threatens to
acter on the HBO drama The Wire, played by Julito McCul- withhold money for new clothes until he applies himself.
196
Namond swaps the job with Michael so that his friend can
make money for a time, irritating Bodie who points out that
his corner is not social services. Despite her threats and
Namond giving up his job De'Londa buys him new clothes
for school.
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
cuing Namond from a beating. His young dealers are not
impressed with his second choice of territory and their trade
slows down.
Namond begins to enjoy the Special Class when the teacher
gives him a chance to talk about his ambitions and his views
on what makes a successful corner boy. Namond says he
believes that he will be dead in ten years time but still claims
to have the ambition of becoming a kingpin in the drug
trade. He also reveals something of a motive for his disruptive behaviour when he tells the class that he does not
believe he should obey the rules when there are so many
examples of others proting from wrongdoing - he states
steroids, liquor, cigarettes and Enron as examples.
When school begins, Namond proves to be disruptive in

class and to have a general disregard for school rules. He
quickly runs afoul of Assistant Principal Marcia Donnelly
for wearing non-uniform clothing. He is in Roland Prez
Pryzbylewski's math class along with Michael, Dukie and
his friend Kareem Williams. Also in the class are Chiquan,
Laetitia and Zenobia. Namond often disrupts the class and
eventually gets suspended for three days because of his actions. He apologizes to Prez of his own volition afterwards. Namonds shrewd descriptions of life on the corner in the
Namond keeps a knife hidden in a bush at school, but this classroom do not translate into success in his business. He
is conscated by Donnelly on a random sweep.
fails to move the package as fast as his mother is expectDe'Londa takes Namond to visit his father during his sus- ing and upsets her by transferring the narcotics into vials in
pension. Wee-Bey continues to take more interest in the their home. She tells him to recruit a lieutenant to handle
street than Namonds school. While he admires Namonds that aspect of the business and visits Bodie once more to deattitude, Wee-Bey cautions his son on the increasingly sav- mand better territory for Namond. Namond makes Kenard
age and two-faced nature of the drug trade as symbolized his lieutenant and entrusts him with the package. Namond
by Marlo Staneld's organization.
seems to not have inherited his fathers stomach for the vioNamond and De'Londa suer a major change in circum- lence inherent in drug dealing. Namond talks and acts tough
around his friends to enhance his corner boy image, but
stances when Brianna decides to cut them o. De'Londa is
outraged but powerless to argue. Brianna tells Namond that they all eventually see through his charade. This reaches
a pivotal point when, after Kenard steals Namonds packshe wanted them both to be there so that DeLonda could
age, Namond berates Dukie verbally, resulting in Michael,
not lie to him about what happened.
already growing into a ruthless hitter under Chris tutelage,
De'Londa sets Namond up dealing narcotics to support slapping Namond three times and pushing him into a wall.
them. She still refuses to let him drop out of school. She Namond breaks down in tears, saying his friend ain't Mike
insists that she will convince Bodie to give him a package. any more and as Sergeant Ellis Carver tries to explain the
Namond asks about what Brianna meant about them already situation over the phone to his mother, she assumes the pohaving enough money and De'Londa tells him that Brianna lice are calling about a charge and instructs him to throw
was lying. She visits Bodie and convinces him to give Na- him into "baby booking" to teach him a lesson, hanging up
mond a package to work, threatening to tell Wee-Bey with before Carver can explain that Namond has done nothing
the suggestion that he might arrange something unpleasant wrong. De'londa then throws Namond out and thus gains
for Bodie if he refuses.
the attention of Howard Colvin.
When Namond returns to school he is placed in a special
class under Howard Bunny Colvin. He acts out to try to
get out early to begin selling his package but learns that
in his new class there will be no further suspensions. He
also is unable to faze Colvin as Colvin is a former Western district police commander who has himself grown up
in West Baltimore. Because of this, Colvin is not as scared
as the academic types in the classroom as he has dealt with
many people much worse than Namond during his 30 year
tenure with the Baltimore Police Department. Namond recruits Donut, Little Kenard and Byron to help him move
the package he has been given. Despite his best eorts he
cannot convince Michael to get involved. Namond is driven
away from his rst choice of territory by a rival crew. Another young dealer called Sherrod attacks him as he leaves
Cuttys gym to warn him o. Cutty breaks up the ght res-
Colvin then talks Wee-Bey into letting him adopt Namond

so he can have a better chance of life than out there on the
streets. Namonds father agrees and tells De'Londa to give
up the boy even though she still wants him to become a drug
dealer. She is given no choice but to give in, as everything
good she has is due to Wee-Beys place in the Barksdale
organizationand Wee-Bey makes it clear she will be cut
o if she doesn't get out of the way. Colvin and his wife
Lolita ultimately become Namonds legal guardians.[2] Namonds fate parallels that of D'Angelo Barksdale, in that
both have domineering mothers who force their sons into
the drug game. Namond, however, avoids D'Angelos end
by being adopted by Colvin.
9.6. RANDY WAGSTAFF
197
Season 5
ing pigeons to sell to drug kingpin Marlo Staneld for his

pigeon coop.
A year later, Namond is excelling academically, participating in a citywide school debate, as the Colvins look on with
pride. He has apparently escaped the dangerous streets of
West Baltimore, unlike Michael, Duquan and Randy.
Randy was naively involved in the murder of local drug

dealer Lex. Lexs colleague Lil Kevin paid Randy to give
Lex a message that would lead him into a trap set by Staneld soldier Chris Partlow. Lil Kevin later told Randy of
Lexs fate and gave him more money. Randy was troubled
by his involvement.
9.5.2
Critical response
Randy receives money from Staneld drug dealer Monk

Entertainment Weekly named Namond one of the ve most Metcalf as part of an eort by Marlo Staneld to ingratiate himself to neighborhood kids. Randy loses the money
interesting characters in season four.[3]
to Western district ocer Eddie Walker when he is chased
away from a car stolen by his friend Donut. Walker refuses
9.5.3 References
to believe Randys story that the money is from his foster
mother and pockets it, telling Randy his mother can come
[1] Back To School The Wires Fourth Season Is For the Chil- to the district headquarters to reclaim it.
dren. Baltimore City Paper. 2006. Retrieved 2006-08-30.
When the school year begins Randy ingratiates himself to

his home room teacher Roland Prez Pryzbylewski with
a hand shake and assists in controlling the class. When
Prez is distracted Randy asks permission for a hall pass and
[3] Neil Drumming (2006-09-15). High Wire Act. Entertain- then takes several passes from Prezs desk. He uses the hall
ment Weekly. Retrieved 2006-09-27.
passes to get around the school selling candy and snacks to
the other students. To reach the other grades Randy wears
layers of clothing so that he can don the appropriate color
9.6 Randy Wagsta
uniform for the grade he is selling to.
[2] Character prole - Namond Brice. HBO. 2004. Retrieved
2006-09-16.
Randy Wagsta is a ctional character on the HBO drama

The Wire, played by Maestro Harrell. Randy is an enterprising student who is dependent on social services. During
season 4, he was an 8th grade pupil at Edward Tilghman
Middle School and is friends with Namond Brice, Michael
Lee and Duquan Dukie Weems. He had been living with
a foster mother, Miss Anna, who instilled some discipline
in his life, until her house was rebombed, forcing Randy
into a group home. He is well known amongst his peers
for his imagination and ideas. Randy runs a small business selling snacks and drinks to his peers and neighborhood
drug dealers. He shares his last name with drug lieutenant
Cheese Wagsta. Though the relationship was never established on the show, creator David Simon revealed Cheese
to be Randys biological father -- which would also make
Proposition Joe Randys great uncle.[1]
Randys scheme gets him into trouble when he is caught

in the sixth grade cafeteria by Miss Reese, who recognizes
him from her class two years ago. He is sent to Assistant
Principal Marcia Donnelly's oce. She threatens to tell his
foster mother about his actions unless he gives her information about who has been gratiing school property. Randy
complies with her demands. He continues to cut class to sell
snacks. He is enlisted by another student to act as a lookout
while he has a tryst in a bathroom. Randy is reluctant to get
involved but does so anyway.
Lexs murder continues to trouble Randy. He discusses

Chris Partlows activities with his friends who tell him that
Chris is a zombie master. Randy believes his friends and
begins to fear that Chris will come after him. When Chris
visits Michael on another issue Randy assumes he has come
to ask about him. His friends tease him about his fears.
Randy talks to Dukie about his worries and Dukie tells him
that Chris is a murderer. He shows Randy a dead body Chris
has hidden in a vacant building to convince him. Despite his
9.6.1 Character storyline
promise to Dukie not to share the secret, Randy oers his
knowledge of the murder to Mrs. Donnelly after she disSeason four
covers his role in the bathroom incident; the girl involved
In a dispute with a rival gang of children Randy came up claimed to have been raped.
with the idea of lling water balloons with urine and am- Randy is suspended from school for acting as a lookout in
bushing the other gang. The plan backred somewhat when the bathroom incident. Donnelly also puts him in touch
Namond burst a balloon on himself but Randy escaped un- with the police because Randy confesses that he knows
scathed. He also attempts to make money by catching hom-
198
about Lexs murder. Prez intervenes and approaches Cedric
Daniels to protect Randy from the system. Daniels puts
Randy in the care of Sergeant Ellis Carver. Carver interviews Randy to nd out what he knows and then returns
him to his foster mother, reassuring her that Randy is not a
bad kid.
Suspended Randy then accompanies Miss Anna to the
polling station on election day. While he waits for her he
picks up a days work delivering campaign material. He recruits Dukie, Donut and Little Kenard to help him. Donut
steals a car so that they can travel around more easily despite Randys hesitation. Randy loses his workers when they
learn that he was paid up front and decide to take their share
of the money without completing the job. Randy carries on
the work alone.
Carver turns Randy over to his old partner Thomas Herc
Hauk because he is desperate for information about the
Staneld organization. Herc misjudges Randy and believes
he is lying about not actually seeing Lexs murder. He pressures Randy to admit that he was there with little success.
Herc believes that Randy is useless and allows him to return
home. Later, while interviewing Little Kevin, Herc lets slip
that he learned about Lexs murder from Randy.
Ti eventually drops the rape allegation and Randys suspension is lifted. He returns to school to nd his math
class transformed - Prez is teaching the class probability
through dice and card games and a new computer has been
set up. His friend Michael is suspicious of his time away
from school and subtly warns Randy against getting involved
as an informant for either the police or the teachers.[2]
From Little Kevin, the conversation between the police and
Randy soon leaks out to the streets and Marlos crew. Although the penalty for informing to police is usually death,
Marlo declines to order a hit on the grounds that Randy
poses no further threat to him. Instead, he instructs Chris
and Snoop to spread the word that Randy has been speaking to the police and he is labeled as a snitch in the streets.
Randy is walking with Michael and Duquan when he is confronted at school by a group of students who want to ght
him for being a snitch. Although Michael protects Randy
and ghts the kids o, Randy is beaten badly. Word soon
gets back to Carver that Randy is in trouble around school
and in his neighborhood and puts a police car on lookout at
Randys house promising Randy that hes going to take care
of everything. People looking to hurt Randy notice the car
and make a false police call from a nearby telephone booth
to get them to leave the scene. With the cops gone, molotov
cocktails are thrown into the house - burning it down, hospitalizing Miss Anna, and leaving Randy without a guardian.
Carver tries his hardest to help Randy nd another foster
parent but to no avail. He asks if he can become Randys
foster parent but is told that the vetting process would take
CHAPTER 9. SCHOOL
months and, in the end, might not be successful. Randy ends
up going back to a group home. There Randy still hasn't
escaped his snitch title and ends up getting into ghts with
the other older, hostile kids in the home.
Season ve
A year later, Bunk revisits the Lex murder and attempts to
question Randy. Randy (noticeably taller and more muscular), having lost his childlike innocence, is unresponsive
to Bunk and storms o pushing another kid in the group
home down for being in his way. Clearly, Prezs fear of
Randy being chewed up by the system is realized.
9.6.2
Critical response
Entertainment Weekly named the character one of the ve

most interesting characters in season four.[3]
9.6.3
References
[1] "'The Wire': David Simon schools USC. The Los Angeles
Times
[2] Character prole - Randy Wagsta. HBO. 2004. Retrieved 2006-09-16.
Chapter 10
Journalists
10.1 Journalists of The Wire

Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions",
"Took", "Late Editions", and "30.
The Wire is a ctional television drama series produced by

the Home Box Oce network. The fth season of the show
included a focus on the media and in particular a ctionalized version of The Baltimore Sun. The series introduced James Whiting is the papers executive editor and is responmany new characters who were professional journalists.
sible for guiding the papers reporting. He has ambitions
of winning a Pulitzer prize for his paper and his fascination
with the Dickensian aspect of stories leaves him often out10.1.1 Editorial sta
of-touch with the problems facing the city.[4] His managing
editor is a colleague from their days working in PhiladelRebecca Corbett
phia, Thomas Klebanow. Klebanow handles the day-to-day
running of the paper and the handling of cutbacks from the
Played by: Kara Quick
papers owners.[5] He is interested in pursuing stories that
stir emotion in the reader over those that examine the con Appears in:
text and roots of social problems facing the city. Whiting
values his network of connections in the industry, and used
his authority to prevent the paper from publishing a negaReports", "Not for Attribution" (uncredited),
tive story about shortfalls in racial integration at the Univer"Took", and "30.
sity of Maryland to protect his old friend Gene Robbins, the
dean of journalism.[6] Whiting is based on former Baltimore
Rebecca Corbett is the papers Regional Aairs Desk Sun editor John Carroll.[7]
Editor.[1]
She is named after real-life former Baltimore Sun editor Rebecca Corbett.[2]
Thomas Klebanow
Played by: David Costabile
Augustus Haynes
Appears in:
Main article: Augustus Haynes

Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions",
"Took", "Clarications", and "30.
Augustus Gus Haynes is the city desk editor for the paper
and is a principled but unrened presence in the newsroom.
Haynes is played by Clark Johnson.[3]
James Whiting
Played by: Sam Freed
Appears in:
Thomas Klebanow is the papers managing editor and is

responsible for the day-to-day running of the paper. Klebanow is renowned for hiring young female reporters with
questionable writing skills. He worked with executive editor James Whiting at The Philadelphia Inquirer and followed him to The Baltimore Sun. Klebanow is often left
199
200
CHAPTER 10. JOURNALISTS
with the responsibility for cutbacks and buyouts by Whit- Jay Spry
ing. He comes across as vain and lacking character strength,
Played by: Donald Neal
but he has a good sense of the bottom line and the potential of a story to draw readers.[5] Klebanow chairs the daily
Appears in
budget meetings and decides how much space to allocate to
[6]
each story. Klebanow is based on former Baltimore Sun
Season ve: "More With Less;" "Unconrmed
managing editor Bill Marimow, whom series creator David
[7]
Reports;" "Transitions;" "The Dickensian AsSimon despises.
pect" (uncredited); "Clarications"; "Late Editions"; and "30.
Tim Phelps
Played by: Thomas J. McCarthy
Appears in:
Reports", "Transitions" (uncredited), "React
Quotes", and "30.
Jay Spry is the overnight copy editor, or rewrite man, for

the metro desk of the paper.[11] He is a veteran reporter and
now takes pride in ensuring the standards of the paper are
maintained.[11] He has a dry sense of humor and is diligent,
detail-oriented and a veritable newsroom wordsmith.[11] He
often has to correct the mistakes of younger reporters like
Alma Gutierrez.[6]
Tim Phelps is the editor of the papers State Desk. He is He is named after Jay Spry, the rewrite man during David
[9]
pressured by cuts to sta and funding. Phelps is particularly Simons tenure at the Baltimore Sun.
displeased to be beaten to a story by the Daily Record.[8]
Phelps is a smoker and often spends time on the loading
10.1.2 Reporters
dock with his colleagues Gus Haynes, Roger Twigg and Je
Price.[6]
Alma Gutierrez
He is named after Timothy Phelps, the state editor during
David Simons tenure at the Baltimore Sun.[9]
Main article: Alma Gutierrez
Phelps is played by actor Thomas J. McCarthy. Another
journalist character named Scott Templeton is played by a Alma Gutierrez is an eager and talented young reporter.
dierent Thomas McCarthy.[6] In the David Simon-written Gutierrez is played by Michelle Paress.[12]
Homicide: Life On The Street episode Wus On First,
Thomas J. McCarthy played a Baltimore Sun editor who has
come from Philadelphia obsessed with winning Pulitzers, Scott Templeton
not unlike Whiting or Klebanow.
Main article: Scott Templeton
Steven Luxenberg
Played by: Robert Poletick
Appears in:
Season ve: "More With Less", "Not for Attribution" (uncredited), "React Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Clarications", "Late Editions",
and "30.
Steven Luxenberg is the editor of the metro section and
oversees other editors including Rebecca on Regional Affairs, Phelps on State Desk and Gus Haynes on City Desk.
Luxenberg is a hands-on editor and likes to watch his writers as they work. His section lost its transportation reporter
in the last round of buyouts.[6][10]
Scott Templeton is an unscrupulous and ambitious young

reporter. Templeton is played by Tom McCarthy.[13]
Je Price
Played by: Todd Scoeld
Appears in:
Season three: "Dead Soldiers" (uncredited)
Reports"; "Not for Attribution"; "Transitions";
"Took" (uncredited); "Clarications"; "Late Editions" (uncredited)
He is named after real-life former Baltimore Sun editor Je Price is the city hall reporter for the metro desk. He
Steve Luxenberg.[2]
has covered the beat since before Tommy Carcetti became
10.1. JOURNALISTS OF THE WIRE

Mayor and was once leaked a story about police department funding by Carcetti.[14] His experience has given him
a touch of complacency.[15] Price misses a potential story
in the zoning section of a council meeting agenda that is
picked up by his editor Gus Haynes. Price is quick to explore the story further and Haynes still gives Price full credit
for nding the story.[6]
Bill Zorzi
Played by: William F. Zorzi
Appears in:
Season one: "The Buys"
Season ve: "More With Less", "Transitions",
"Took", "Clarications", "Late Editions", and "
30.
Bill Zorzi is a veteran reporter for The Baltimore Sun facing an increased workload since the last round of buyouts.
He is now covering the courthouse and working the rewrite
position on the weekend. He is an acerbic and profane presence, particularly when his workload increases.[16] Zorzi often smokes with his colleagues Phelps, Twigg, Haynes and
Price.[6]
Mike Fletcher
Played by: Brandon Young
Appears in:
Season ve: "More With Less", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions" (uncredited), "React
Quotes", "The Dickensian Aspect", "Took",
"Clarications", "Late Editions", and "30.
Mike Fletch Fletcher is a general assignments reporter
for the metro desk of the paper.[17] He is a talented writer
but sometimes struggles to submit his work in time for
deadlines.[17] Fletch has a relaxed approach to his work and
a sometimes ippant attitude.[17] While he is still young he
is savvy enough to know that a victims background is more
important than good writing in getting a murder story on
the front page.[17] Fletchs failure to meet deadlines earns
him a reproach from city desk editor Gus Haynes.[6]
While researching a feature on the homeless, Fletcher gets
to know Bubbles, spending a considerable amount of time
with him over a span of a few weeks,[18] while Bubbles
acts as Fletchers guide to the citys homeless population.
201
Fletcher visits Bubbles in various settings: the soup kitchen
where he volunteers, an NA meeting, and while selling
newspapers.
After getting his permission, Fletcher publishes an article
about Bubbles. The article was favorably received by both
Haynes and Bubbles.[19] Fletcher is promoted to city desk
editor after Haynes is demoted. The quality and depth
of Fletchers article about Bubbles is in contrast to what
David Simon says is a major theme of the season: The
Sun misses the important stories about the city.[20] Fletcher
may be based on former Baltimore Sun reporter Michael A.
Fletcher, now at The Washington Post.
Roger Twigg
Played by: Bruce Kirkpatrick
Appears in:
Reports", "Not for Attribution", "Transitions"
Roger Twigg is a veteran police reporter for the City
Desk.[21] He has been working at The Baltimore Sun for
twenty years.[21] Twigg has heard enough tall tales to see a
newspapermans joke coming long before the punchline and
his humble attitude and wealth of police department sources
often enable him to get the truth on a story.[21] Twigg often
smokes with editors Tim Phelps and Gus Haynes. Haynes
dispatched Twigg to report on a rowhouse re that Haynes
spots from the Newsroom window.[6] He left the Sun after
accepting a buyout, depriving the Sun of its most senior police reporter, and leaving Alma Gutierrez in the position of
senior cop reporter.
10.1.3
References
[1] Character prole - Rebecca Corbett. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-02-12.

[2] Talbot, Margaret (2007-10-22). Stealing Life: The crusader behind The Wire"". The New Yorker. Retrieved
2008-02-17.
[3] Character prole - City Editor Augustus Gus Haynes.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[4] Character prole - Executive Editor James Whiting. HBO.
2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[5] Character prole - Managing Editor Thomas Klebanow.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
202
[7] David Simon at My Nemesis (Stoop Storytelling Series)

[8] Character prole - State Editor Tim Phelps. HBO. 2008.
Department. Haynes is profane and unrened and chafes

with the management of The Sun. He is a reporters editor and is quick to both compliment and criticize his team
where deserved and likes to keep his reporters motivated.[1]
[9] Simon, David (2008-02-16). A Newspaper Cant Love You

Back. Esquire. Retrieved 2008-03-11.
[10] Character prole - Steven Luxenberg. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[11] Character prole - Rewrite man Jay Spry. HBO. 2008.
[12] Character prole - Alma Gutierrez. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[13] Character prole - Scott Templeton. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[14] David Simon, Dennis Lehane (2004-10-03). "Dead Soldiers". The Wire. Season 3. Episode 3. HBO.
[15] Character prole - Je Price. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
2008-01-07.
[16] Character prole - Bill Zorzi. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
2008-01-07.
[17] Character prole - Mike Fletcher. HBO. 2008. Retrieved
2008-01-07.
Season 5
Haynes often smokes on the loading dock of the building
with fellow veterans police reporter Roger Twigg,[2] court
reporter Bill Zorzi[3] and State Desk Editor Tim Phelps.[4]
Haynes reports to Metro Desk Editor Steven Luxenberg[5]
and is required to manage a team of journalists including
city hall reporter Je Price,[6] general assignments reporters
Scott Templeton[7] and Mike Fletcher, [8] Twigg and Alma
Gutierrez[9] on the police beat, ornery veteran Bill Zorzi
and rewrite man Jay Spry,[10] among others. Haynes is responsible for editing the stories his reporters submit, keeping them on deadline and in organizing the submissions for
daily budget meeting with managing editor Thomas Klebanow.[11] The budget meeting determines how much space
each story is allocated and Haynes often calls for budget
lines (short summaries of stories) from his sta so he can
present them in the meeting. Haynes is also working with
executive editor James Whiting on a prospective series of
articles about the city school system.[12]
[18] Anthony Hemingway. "Clarications". The Wire. Season 5.

Episode 8. HBO.
Haynes is upset at continuing cutbacks at the paper causing the closure of foreign bureaus and the loss of veteran
[19] Clark Johnson. "30-". The Wire. Season 5. Episode 10. reporters and their institutional memory. He is outspoken
about the loss of their transportation reporter when The Sun
HBO.
is beaten to a story about city bus cutbacks by the Daily
[20] Alan Sepinwall. The Wire: David Simon Q & A. Blogger. Record. He clashes with Whiting when the executive editor
suppresses a story about the University of Maryland fail[21] Character prole - Roger Twigg. HBO. 2008. Retrieved ing to meet its desegregation goals. Whiting refuses to run
the story because he is friends with the Dean of Journalism,
2008-01-07.
who assures him that the universitys reputation is improving amongst black faculty and students.[13][14]
10.2 Augustus Haynes

Augustus Gus Haynes is a ctional character on the
HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Clark Johnson, who
is also a director for the series. Haynes is the dedicated and
principled editor for the Baltimore Sun city desk.
10.2.1
Character depiction
Haynes is a dedicated, principled and experienced reporter

who now serves as city desk editor of The Baltimore Sun. He
has worked at the paper for many years; he claims to have
dropped out of journalism school and worked his way up
from the police beat and labor beat to his current position.
He maintains several contacts within the Baltimore Police
Haynes helps to identify and generate stories, including dispatching Twigg to report on a row house re and noticing a
zoning issue in a set of city council minutes that indicates a
political scandal. While checking the minutes from a meeting Price has attended, Haynes notices the name of known
drug dealer Ricardo Fatface Rick Hendrix, who owns a
strip club that is being relocated by the council. Haynes discerns that the city will lose a substantial amount of money on
the deal, to the benet of the drug dealer. He has reporters
investigate and links the property exchange to campaign
contributions from Hendrix to city council president Nerese
Campbell. Haynes is even able to manipulate Campbell into
revealing that there are further campaign donations that he
has not recognized. When Klebanow congratulates Haynes
on the story, he gives full credit to Price. Haynes rewards
his team by taking them out for drinks.[13][14]
10.2. AUGUSTUS HAYNES
203
Templeton delivers a story about a mother of four who died

of an allergic reaction to crabs. Templeton includes mention of a scholarship fund for the womans children. However, Haynes later learns that the details of a correction by
Templeton involving a scam being run by the moms relative
are phony. Haynes meets with Whitings education piece
team to discuss their approach to a series of articles on the
subject. Haynes and Scott Shane argue that the school children face wider problems than a lack of funding for their education. Templeton disagrees and Whiting backs his view
that a tightly focused story will be easier to read and will
appeal more to their audience. Haynes is angry that they
are focusing on one aspect of a larger problem but Whiting
insists that widening the focus would dilute the impact of
the story. Although he doesn't like the story idea, Haynes
later tries unsuccessfully to revive the series as a project for
Templeton (who he has become distrustful of), but is rebued by Klebanow and Whiting because they want Templeton to continue the homeless serial killer story. Haynes
lies awake that night worried he has transposed gures in an
article about activity at the port and phones Spry to check.
He is relieved to learn that the details were correct.[15][16]
for the piece and is suspicious when Templeton comes up

with an incredibly worded quote. Haynes presses Templeton for his source and he claims that it came from Nerese
Campbell. After work Haynes drinks with Twigg and they
discuss their reasons for getting into the industry and bemoan the current state of the paper. Haynes reveals that
watching his father set time aside to read the paper each
day convinced him of its importance and that he wanted to
be a part of it. Twigg quotes H.L. Mencken and Haynes dismisses their predecessor, Twigg leaves telling Haynes that
he forgives him.[17][18]
Haynes is apologetic when Gutierrezs story about a home

invasion triple homicide is cut in length and relegated to
the metro section. Gutierrez also presents a story about a
series of potentially linked murders of homeless men but
the details are not sucient for it to receive a great deal of
coverage.[17][18]
a meeting with Nerese Campbell, she reveals that she was

surprised to hear that someone said that Cedric Daniels had
a hand in then-Commissioner Burrells dismissal - a quote
previously attributed to Campbell herself by Templeton.
He confronts Klebanow, who stands by Templeton. Later,
in an argument, Templeton throws a notebook which he
says has all his notes in it - when Gutierrez takes a look
at it, she discovers it is blank. She relays this information
to Gus, who once again confronts Whiting. This time, he is
sent back to the copy desk as punishment.
Haynes amuses the newsroom with running commentary on

the press conference Carcetti holds to announce the transitions in the department. Klebanow wonders how much of
Haynes insight will lter into their coverage and Haynes
comments that with the loss of Twigg it will be dicult
to nd sources to support a thorough analysis of the promotions. Klebanow becomes annoyed with Haynes use of
profanity and asks him to moderate it. Haynes team are
also forced to hurry to catch up when the lack of a daily city
court reporter causes them to miss the development of the
Clay Davis corruption investigation. Haynes is impressed
Templeton is assigned to write a color piece about the with Templetons work on this story.[19]
Baltimore Orioles' Opening Day. When Templeton deliv- Eventually, Haynes begins to suspect that Templeton is fabers an unveriable story about a disabled boy who would ricating his stories. When a homeless veteran confronts
only give his nickname and was cutting class to attend the Templeton and Haynes about a combat story that he claims
game Haynes is reluctant to run it because it violates the Templeton made up, he takes a trip to Walter Reed Medipapers policy on naming its subjects. Haynes is overruled cal Center in Washington, D.C. to talk to another vet, who
by Whiting.[15][16]
conrms that the veteran is an honest man. Also, during
Haynes is angry when Executive Editor James Whiting announces another round of buy outs and the closure of several foreign bureaus (including Beijing and Jerusalem) and
questions why their funding is being cut when the newspaper remains protable. Haynes is further disappointed
when his friend and fellow veteran Twigg is manipulated
10.2.2 References
into accepting a buy out. Haynes himself is told by Whiting
and Klebanow that he is essential in managing the transi[1] Character prole - City Editor Augustus Gus Haynes.
tions in the newsroom.[17][18]
HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008.
Norman Wilson, an ex-colleague and current advisor to
Mayor Tommy Carcetti, leaks a story to Haynes about the
Mayors plans for the police department. Carcetti is going
to force commissioner Ervin Burrell to resign and eventually replace him with colonel Cedric Daniels. Haynes offers the story to Templeton but reassigns it to Twigg when
Twigg demonstrates in depth knowledge of Daniels background. Haynes assigns Templeton to gather react quotes
[2] Character prole - Roger Twigg. HBO. 2008. Archived
from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-0107.
[3] Character prole - Bill Zorzi. HBO. 2008. Archived from
the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
[4] Character prole - State Editor Tim Phelps. HBO. 2008.
204
Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved

2008-01-07.
[5] Character prole - Steven Luxenberg. HBO. 2008.
2008-01-07.
[6] Character prole - Je Price. HBO. 2008. Archived from
the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
10.3
Scott Templeton
M. Scott Templeton is a ctional character on the HBO

drama The Wire, played by actor Thomas McCarthy. The
actor joined the starring cast as the series fth season began.
10.3.1
Biography
[7] Character prole - Scott Templeton.

HBO. 2008.
2008-01-07.
Templeton is a young reporter who allows his extreme ambition to lead him to falsify stories. He has previously
worked at the Wichita Eagle and the Kansas City Star. Tem[8] Character prole - Mike Fletcher. HBO. 2008. Archived pleton sees his current job as a general assignment reporter
from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01- at The Baltimore Sun as a stepping stone to The Washington
07.
Post or New York Times. His prose is reective of his personality and is often overwrought and exaggerated. Tem[9] Character prole - Alma Gutierrez. HBO. 2008. Archived pletons style is welcomed by Managing Editor Thomas Klefrom the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01banow and Executive Editor James Whiting.[1]
07.
[10] Character prole - Rewrite man Jay Spry. HBO. 2008.

2008-01-07.
Season 5
Templeton is involved with breaking a story about a drug

[11] Character prole - Managing Editor Thomas Klebanow. dealer making campaign contributions and receiving profHBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. itable property deals in return. He nds his role of preparing background information dissatisfying, and he is dismisRetrieved 2008-01-07.
sive of the paper as a whole to his colleague Alma Gutier[12] Character prole - Executive Editor James Whiting. rez. Nevertheless, Templeton is eager to write a follow-up
HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 10 January 2008. story and requests the assignment from City Desk Editor
Gus Haynes. Haynes denies the request as he has already
given the story to city council reporter Je Price but en[13] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire. courages Templeton to continue seeking stories.[2][3]
Templeton is part of a team led by Executive Editor James

[14] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less. Whiting planning a series of articles about the problems
HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 19 January 2008. with education. Templeton wins favor with Whiting when
he backs his philosophy that the piece requires little conRetrieved 2008-01-22.
text and should remain tightly focused on the schools
[15] Ernest Dickerson (2008-01-13). "Unconrmed Reports". themselves. Haynes unsuccessfully argues the alternative
positionthat more context increases the relevance and efThe Wire. Season 5. Episode 2. HBO.
fectiveness of any story.[4][5]
[16] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
Templeton is assigned the color story about the Baltimore

Orioles opening day game. He plans to write a story about
a dedicated fan but his canvassing does not render anyone
that ts his prole. When he returns to the paper he tells
Haynes that his subject is a thirteen-year-old disabled boy
who wanted to attend the game but could not aord a ticket.
[18] "The Wire episode guide - episode 53 Not for Attribution. Haynes is concerned by Templetons claim that the boy
HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 25 January 2008. would only give his nickname E-Jay. Haynes asks Templeton for more detail and Templeton claims E-Jay didn't
want to give his name because he was truant from school in
[19] Dan Attias (2008-01-27). "Transitions". The Wire. Season order to attend. He also says that E-Jay is an orphan who
5. Episode 4. HBO.
lives with his aunt and was injured by a stray bullet causing
10.3. SCOTT TEMPLETON

his disability. Haynes tries to verify the story by dispatching
photographers to nd the boy and checking the archives for
a story about his original injury. When he is unsuccessful
in corroborating Templetons work Haynes confronts Templeton a second time and Templeton tells Haynes that he
resents the implication that his work is fabricated. Haynes
is forced to run the piece when Whiting gives Templeton
his full support.[4][5]
Templeton also submits a story about a mother of four who
has died of a toxic reaction to blue crabs. He claims the
womans sister is collecting for a fund to pay for the childrens education.[4][5]
When buyouts are announced at the paper Templeton comments to his colleagues that he hopes they will get rid of
some of the dead wood in the newsroom. Haynes is perturbed by the perceived insult to his friend, veteran police
reporter Roger Twigg, who has accepted a buyout. When
Haynes gets news of a story about commissioner Ervin Burrell being forced to retire and replaced by colonel Cedric
Daniels he oers the story to Templeton because of Twiggs
impending departure. Templeton is not aware of Daniels,
and Twigg manages to recite a quick history of his career
and expresses an interest, so Haynes gives him the assignment. Haynes asks Templeton to canvass for react quotes
to the story. Templeton is seen not making phone calls
and then submits an incredibly worded quote. Haynes is
again dubious about the material and asks Templeton for his
source. Templeton reluctantly credits the quote to Nerese
Campbell and claims that Twigg is not the only skilled reporter in the newsroom. Haynes accepts the quote for the
piece.[6][7]
205
who suers from PTSD after an IED hit his patrol unit in
Iraq. However, Templeton also claims in the same episode
to have checked on a fraud case, and Haynes later nds out
his explanation for the story doesn't check out. The vet later
comes in and says Templeton lied about his story as well,
from saying they were in a Black Hawk Down-level reght to saying they had coee instead of chocolate milk.
Haynes goes to the Walter Reed Center in D.C. and talks to
a wounded veteran who backs up the interviewed vet, saying
hes not a liar. Templeton continues to fabricate information for the fake serial-killer plan that McNulty hatches, and
the detective quickly realizes Scott is a fabulist. However,
in the end Haynes and Gutierrez both receive demotions
for questioning Templetons work, while he wins a Pulitzer
Prize for his reporting on the homeless in Baltimore.
10.3.2
Origins
Critics have stated that Templeton is based on reporter

Jim Haner.[9][10][11] In January 2000, Haner wrote a story
which the Sun retracted several days later due to inaccuracies. Show creator and writer David Simon, a former
Sun reporter, stated that he believed that Haner invented
quotes and events without punishment from his editors.[12]
The character also appears to reference some famous cases
of journalists falsifying stories to advance their careers,
such as Stephen Glass at The New Republic, Janet Cooke
at the Washington Post, and Jayson Blair at The New York
Times.[11][13]
Templeton is pleased when he is oered an interview with 10.3.3 References

The Washington Post and takes the day o to attend. When
he rst arrives he is eager to observe a budget meeting [1] Character prole - Scott Templeton. HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-07.
but during the interview he becomes discouraged when his
prose is described as overwrought and he is not familiar with [2] Joe Chappelle (2008-01-06). "More with Less". The Wire.
the stories that have most impressed the editors of the Post.
They do not oer him a position but do promise to keep his
resume on le and ask him to reapply when he has more ex- [3] "The Wire episode guide - episode 51 More with Less.
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
perience. As he leaves hes asked if he still wants to observe
the budget meeting, but he now shows no interest in the
meeting. Templeton returns to Baltimore disheartened.[8]
Haynes asks Templeton to assist Bill Zorzi in catching them

up on a missed story about a local corruption charges against
Clay Davis. Templeton is assigned to contact states attorney Rupert Bond and Haynes later praises his hard work in
preparing the story in time for the next edition. Templeton
admits to Gutierrez that he was unsuccessful in his job interview and reverses his position on The Sun stating that it
is not a bad paper.[8]
Haynes is briey impressed by Templeton when he hits the
streets and writes an excellent prole of a homeless man
HBO. 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
206
[9] Hot o The Wire"". Salon. 2008-01-14. Retrieved June

10, 2011.
[10] Scocca, Tom (2008-01-29). Whose Bastard Sun: If The
Wire Is Wrong, Why Is Baltimores Paper So Bad?". The
New York Observer. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
mishap, but her colleague Mike Fletcher tells her the piece
was cut because of the area where the victims are from.[2][3]
Gutierrez is worried when buy-outs are announced to cut
costs at the paper, but ultimately has more opportunities
as veteran crime beat reporter Roger Twigg accepts a buyout.[2][3]
[11] Athitakis, Mark (2008-02-01). What Happened to Our

Show?". Washington City Paper. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
Without Twiggs expertise and contacts, Gutierrez struggles

to nd sources to provide analysis for a story about Mayor
[12] Chalkey, Tom (2000-10-04). Throwing Stones. Baltimore Tommy Carcetti replacing police commissioner Ervin BurCity Paper. Retrieved June 10, 2011.
rell. Gutierrez also works with the city desk team to prepare a last-minute story about the Clay Davis corruption
[13] "The Wire Final Season. Slate. 2008-03-12. Retrieved
case which was initially missed because there is no daily
June 10, 2011.
city court reporter on sta.[8]
10.4 Alma Gutierrez
10.4.2
Alma M. Gutierrez is a ctional character on the HBO

drama The Wire, played by actress Michelle Paress. Gutierrez is a dedicated and idealistic young reporter on the city
desk of The Baltimore Sun.[1]
Paress is married to former The Wire star Larry Gilliard

Jr., who played D'Angelo Barksdale.The part is Paress rst
major role on screen, having previously worked primarily
on stage. Paress submitted an audition tape expecting to be
considered for a smaller role and was asked to play Gutierrez by executive producer and head writer David Simon.
Paress describes her character as ambitious, principled and
light hearted.[9]
10.4.1
Biography
Production
Gutierrez joins the sta of The Baltimore Sun ve months

before the fth season begins after working for the Sun10.4.3 References
Sentinel in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.[1] She is eager for
the chance to prove herself and is enjoying her new [1] Character prole - Alma Gutierrez. HBO. 2008. Archived
career.[1] Her abilities have already caught the attention of
from the original on 10 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01city desk editor Gus Haynes.[1] Gutierrez lives with her
07.
boyfriend.[2][3]
Season 5
Gutierrez submits a story about a re in a row house and
is embarrassed in front of the whole newsroom by her editor Gus Haynes and copy editor Jay Spry, who take her to
task over her use of the word evacuate. Gutierrez is also assigned by Haynes to get a reaction quote from drug dealer
Ricardo Fat-Face Rick Hendrix after the editor notices a
lucrative real estate deal between Hendrix and the city council. Gutierrez is sent to Hendrixs strip club Desperado and
comes back with a strong quote. She receives a contributing
line in the story for her eorts. Her colleague Scott Templeton is disparaging about the credit she received and the
credentials of the paper as a whole but Gutierrez remains
upbeat.[4][5]
Gutierrez usually covers the police beat and is excited when
she reports on a home invasion and triple homicide.[6][7] She
awakes early the next day to look at her story in print, but is
disappointed to nd that it has been edited down and buried
within the paper. Haynes tells her that it was a bureaucratic

[7] "The Wire episode guide - episode 52 Uncomrmed Reports. HBO. 2008. Archived from the original on 17 January 2008. Retrieved 2008-01-22.
5. Episode 4. HBO.
[9] The Wire interviews: Michelle Paress. HBO. 2008.
2008-01-27.
Chapter 11
Miscellany
11.1 And All the Pieces Matter
Nina K. Noble producer

Mike Potter engineer
And All the Pieces Matter - Five Years of Music from The
Wire is a soundtrack album for the HBO television show
The Wire, that was released on January 8, 2008.
11.1.1
Track listing
11.1.2
Personnel
Richard Shelton producer

David Simon executive producer
Karen L. Thorson producer
Louis Tineo producer
Jamal Roberts - producer
Ivan Ashford vocals
Juan Donovan - producer
Avery Bargasse vocals
Doreen Vail arranger, producer
Karina Benznicki production supervisor

James Bevelle engineer, mixing
11.1.3
References
David Bither executive producer
[1] Pitchfork Media review
Cameron Brown vocals
[2] Jurek, Thom. And All the Pieces Matter at AllMusic
Andre Burke violin

Greg Calbi mastering
11.1.4
External links
Page on Nonsuch records
Eli Cane production coordination

Milton Davis producer
Michael Franti producer
Ronen Givony editorial coordinator
Loren Hill producer
Andy Kris mixing
Rod Lee producer
Blake Leyh mixing, producer
James Mbah producer
Ivan Neville producer
207
Chapter 12
Text and image sources, contributors, and

licenses
12.1 Text
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Sampson, Sam, LordShitzu, Nike, Qjuad, Reex Reaction, Discospinster, Rich Farmbrough, NrDg, Ahkond, Horkana, Arthur Holland, Bender235, FrankCostanza, Chriscf, Pablo X, Causa sui, Tjic, Infocidal, Giraedata, Ivansanchez, Kbir1, Unused000701, Yamla, Mysdaao,
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209
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Szquirrel, Tom, Pablo X, Cmdrjameson, Gary, Solarcaine, Gene Nygaard, Mindmatrix, Dariob, Marudubshinki, Kbdank71, Padraic, Rjwilmsi,
Nightscream, Koavf, Jweiss11, Vary, KamasamaK, MarnetteD, Jersey Devil, Hall Monitor, ThunderPeel2001, Tommyt, Gaius Cornelius,
CLW, Mrtea, Tanet, Closedmouth, Aoa8212, SmackBot, Eperotao, Hux, MrBoyt, Schmiteye, Chris the speller, Alan smithee, Athenchen,
OrphanBot, Seduisant, Davecampbell, IrisKawling, Wikipedical, Ceoil, Lanford, Ser Amantio di Nicolao, Gobonobo, Guat6, Beetstra, Tawkerbot2, ShelfSkewed, Cracker017, Cydebot, MC10, Paulkeller, Jack O'Lantern, Travelbird, Otto4711, Flowerkiller1692, Opark 77, JohnInDC,
TonyTheTiger, J-Party, DanDud88, Edelmand, Skomorokh, Lawikitejana, Tullyano7, BillDeanCarter, Waacstats, KConWiki, C-sonic, RoyBatty42, Zipzipzip, Athene cunicularia, 97198, Plasticup, Nikthestunned, Malik Shabazz, L.A.Nutti, David Umpteen, C.J. Grin, Broadbot,
Herm720, Dvanvliet, Brandon97, 4wajzkd02, CutOTies, Prestonmag, Reservoirhill, OKBot, Kumioko (renamed), Dillard421, Henry Merrivale, ReeseronnieL, All Hallows Wraith, Xavexgoem, Jeanenawhitney, Nymf, Goalieman36, 7&6=thirteen, Jo to po-1, Jerseyjack21, Aquatech, Hunter Kahn, Asabovesobellow, Addbot, Sebseb81, LaaknorBot, RTG, Semidash, SpBot, RobSchop, Luckas-bot, Yobot, Dodgerblue777,
Juggler2005, Citizenryan, AnomieBOT, Sstrnod, JohnFromPinckney, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts, The Interior, Prezbo, GrapedApe, TheBearPaw, RjwilmsiBot, MShabazz, Twix1875, CennoxX, NathanielTheBold, H3llBot, Jazbit, Kellyselden, Kall, DASHBotAV, ClueBot
NG, Thomas Thoren, William.wlizlo, Jows136, Horsepal, Bernie44, Calvesblood, Helpful Pixie Bot, Maria camila, BattyBot, RichardMills65,
Bkat004, Makecat-bot, TheAngryLampshade, VIAFbot, Anakronik, Slowends, Sawdust Restaurant, Michealscott69 and Anonymous: 110
List of The Wire writers and directors Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_The_Wire_episodes?oldid=642823437 Contributors: Ed
g2s, Bwmodular, Robbot, Andrew Levine, Asparagus, David Gerard, MarkSweep, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Circeus, Verdlanco, Cristan, Angr,
Sfufan2005, Thebogusman, Markkawika, Darkday, Feydey, MZMcBride, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Jared Preston, The Rambling Man, Peregrine
Fisher, ThunderPeel2001, Msp, SmackBot, IronDuke, Bluebot, Alan smithee, Ned Scott, Homerandanders, Quadparty, Matthew, Jdpeck2147,
Conradege, Warhol13, Radagast83, Ohconfucius, Chris 42, JeW, Westin, Mattbr, Cew118, Peteb16, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Milton Stanley, 17Drew, TTN, East718, TobinMoatt, J0nnyH, Minderbinder, Malik Shabazz, Timotab, L.A.Nutti, Saber girl08, TravelingCat,
NapHit, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, WikHead, MystBot, Addbot, Chamal N, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Downloadmeh, Grapesoda22, F,
Omgilikebob, Mhiji, JohnGormleyJG, Rayna Jaymes and Anonymous: 46
List of awards and nominations received by The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20awards%20and%
20nominations%20received%20by%20The%20Wire?oldid=626941530 Contributors: Causa sui, Mysdaao, Rjwilmsi, Opark 77, Bradley0110,
Addbot, Erik9bot, ScottMHoward, Velcro Christmas Tree, GobBluthGambitDeadpool, H3llBot, Furryatp666, Jjlynnf and Anonymous: 8
List of The Wire episodes Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20The%20Wire%20episodes?oldid=642823437 Contributors: Ed
g2s, Bwmodular, Robbot, Andrew Levine, Asparagus, David Gerard, MarkSweep, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Circeus, Verdlanco, Cristan, Angr,
Sfufan2005, Thebogusman, Markkawika, Darkday, Feydey, MZMcBride, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Jared Preston, The Rambling Man, Peregrine
Fisher, ThunderPeel2001, Msp, SmackBot, IronDuke, Bluebot, Alan smithee, Ned Scott, Homerandanders, Quadparty, Matthew, Jdpeck2147,
Conradege, Warhol13, Radagast83, Ohconfucius, Chris 42, JeW, Westin, Mattbr, Cew118, Peteb16, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Milton Stanley, 17Drew, TTN, East718, TobinMoatt, J0nnyH, Minderbinder, Malik Shabazz, Timotab, L.A.Nutti, Saber girl08, TravelingCat,
NapHit, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, WikHead, MystBot, Addbot, Chamal N, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Downloadmeh, Grapesoda22, F,
Omgilikebob, Mhiji, JohnGormleyJG, Rayna Jaymes and Anonymous: 46
The Wire (season 1) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%201)?oldid=643082687 Contributors: Tpbradbury,
Oneiros, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Dodiad, UDScott, Abu-Dun, Jeremy Butler, SmackBot, Ohconfucius, Fuzzy510, TheFarix, Opark 77,
Cancun771, TonyTheTiger, TAnthony, InspectorTiger, L.A.Nutti, Helenalex, JhsBot, Belariad, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Muro Bot,
Sarilox, Hunter Kahn, Addbot, Labatarde, Lynch1445, AnomieBOT, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Laaaaaaaaawl, Leftsideend, Grapesoda22,
RjwilmsiBot, Jalmenus, John Cline, Rocketrod1960, Gus Haynes, Anto33, StewieBaby05, Iamd3nis, Hugh520, Acpurdy and Anonymous: 25
The Wire (season 2) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%202)?oldid=638147013 Contributors: Edward, Geeklizzard, Oneiros, SS451, Kbir1, Redfarmer, Dodiad, Sdornan, Tommyt, Wisekwai, Lord Jim, SmackBot, The monkeyhate, Coyau, Folding Chair,
Ohconfucius, TheFarix, CWY2190, Tjc519, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, ABCxyz, L.A.Nutti, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Meisterkoch,
Muro Bot, Sarilox, Addbot, Lynch1445, Yobot, Lukeowens, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, Grapesoda22, Jalmenus, StewieBaby05, Iamd3nis,
Acpurdy and Anonymous: 25
The Wire (season 3) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%203)?oldid=643076069 Contributors: Grant65, Oneiros,
AxelFendersson, Dystopos, Geschichte, Redfarmer, Astanhope, Freepablo, Lord Jim, SmackBot, Hydrogen Iodide, Alan smithee, JesseRafe, Ohconfucius, SubSeven, TheFarix, Johnhamlin, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, WWB, Samuel Webster, East718, Katharineamy, Secleinteer,
L.A.Nutti, Dick Shane, Matthewedwards, CutOTies, Drunkenpeter99, Alexbot, Sarilox, Bus2Beezlebub, Wolfer68, LucyLocket481, Lemmey,
210
CHAPTER 12. TEXT AND IMAGE SOURCES, CONTRIBUTORS, AND LICENSES
Addbot, JBsupreme, LemmeyBOT, Tassedethe, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, RalphytheBohemian, Lackett, Xeworlebi, Mitchellrc, Grapesoda22, GTGeek88, Wikipelli, Jargoness, Pyro721, Anto33, StewieBaby05, Seal Boxer, Acpurdy and Anonymous: 29
The Wire (season 4) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%204)?oldid=638147063 Contributors: Palfrey, Chowbok, David Schaich, Redfarmer, Crosbiesmith, Woohookitty, Joebeone, Lord Jim, Jeisenberg, SmackBot, Chris the speller, ArtVandelay13,
Ohconfucius, UKER, TheFarix, Courcelles, Xep, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, L.A.Nutti, BauerJack4413, Anna Lincoln, GirasoleDE, Matthewedwards, Drunkenpeter99, Sarilox, WikHead, Tool2Die4, Addbot, Tassedethe, Lynch1445, Luckas-bot, Chrisxero, AnomieBOT, SchrutedIt08,
Drovethrughosts, Bigweeboy, Xeworlebi, Grapesoda22, RjwilmsiBot, H3llBot, Pyro721, Mark Arsten, StewieBaby05, Storewideclare, Acpurdy
and Anonymous: 40
The Wire (season 5) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Wire%20(season%205)?oldid=642242384 Contributors: Ed g2s, AaronSw,
Andrew Levine, Mailer diablo, Redfarmer, Woohookitty, Daniel Case, Dodiad, Jweiss11, Jbc2k052, JeStickney, Tinoynk, Sundevilesq,
Stephenb, Jogers, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Daysleeper47, Alan smithee, Woodyteegra, Jdpeck2147, Lucid Smog, Ohconfucius, Esrever, Ser
Amantio di Nicolao, Bigkhrisdogg, SubSeven, TheFarix, Iridescent, SoCalAlum, Opark 77, TonyTheTiger, ABCxyz, WWB, Pejorative.majeure,
MegX, Hookahmasta, Danigro89, L.A.Nutti, WOSlinker, Extremelyemotional, GirasoleDE, Matthewedwards, Fratrep, ImageRemovalBot,
Drunkenpeter99, ClueBot, Jeday1, 718 Bot, Beamjockey, Tokelazor, Sarilox, DumZiBoT, Jposey3, LucyLocket481, Addbot, Namond br,
Lightbot, BlackMarlin, DemocraticLuntz, SchrutedIt08, Drovethrughosts, The Ink Daddy!, LucienBOT, M2545, Grapesoda22, RjwilmsiBot,
ZroBot, NathanielTheBold, H3llBot, Pyro721, Cornell92, CherryX, StewieBaby05, Jonjon889933, Acpurdy, Mo39752 and Anonymous: 61
List of The Wire characters Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List%20of%20The%20Wire%20characters?oldid=641963006 Contributors:
SeanO, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, DocWatson42, Mboverload, MarkSweep, Jokestress, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Mike Rosoft, Twinxor, Ahkond,
Arthur Holland, Dodiad, Burgher, Stilgar135, JeStickney, Sundevilesq, Dkkicks, Wisekwai, Epolk, Awiseman, Thiseye, Rmky87, Patmaher,
Pegship, Teiladnam, Gorilla Jones, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Lhajbox, Kintetsubualo, Nscheey, Chris the speller, Ryecatcher773, Conradege, Davecampbell, Marcus Brute, Maliklockett, John, Andrewjnyc, Secretaria, DruP55, SEF23a, CmdrObot, Rawling, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Jack O'Lantern, Opark 77, Flash191, Commasense, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Nick Number, Captain Crawdad, KrakatoaKatie, ABCxyz,
Canadian-Bacon, Jimmarci, Scribbler357, GurchBot, East718, Magioladitis, Canjth, Buckshot06, Wabernat, Jaypea99, Minderbinder, Wikipda,
P4k, Mr0grady, Secleinteer, Blaine236, Quaggy, Biggie500, ReformedEditor, Hersfold, Luisg604, SupaVillian, GirasoleDE, CutOTies, DragonBot, Hunter Kahn, Addbot, Lynch1445, Yobot, Drovethrughosts, FrescoBot, Snap Wilson, Jazzlvraz, WildBot, -MatM-, Dexbot, Ranze,
Epicgenius, DiscantX and Anonymous: 134
Police of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Police%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=633767718 Contributors: AaronSw, Meelar,
ShakataGaNai, Digamma, C1k3, Pablo X, Causa sui, Drbreznjev, Dodiad, Plrk, Liface, Mandarax, BD2412, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Antoin, Bachrach44, Dogcow, EEMIV, Mrblondnyc, Bristle-krs, SmackBot, Illuminattile, Daysleeper47, Chris the speller, Alan smithee,
Djln, Goldenboy, Jsabrown, Rrburke, Conradege, LanternLight, Esrever, Succubus MacAstaroth, Twas Now, GiantSnowman, ShelfSkewed,
Cydebot, Peripitus, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, JustAGal, East718, Wormcast, Edward321, GringoDeMaio, Akirchner, Mvphillips22,
Sparksp, BierHerr, Je G., Buttonwillow mckittrick, Chrishepner, Yaksar, Jimthing, CutOTies, Fratrep, JohnnyMrNinja, Meisterkoch, Mild
Bill Hiccup, Anapazapa, PMDrive1061, DumZiBoT, Wolfer68, Kwanyin8, Mr. IP, Hunter Kahn, KevinGTempleton, Tide rolls, Lynch1445,
Dodgerblue777, LilHelpa, Courierofdeath, Stuckand, Full-date unlinking bot, Skakkle, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Smartiger, GoingBatty, Thrilway, Thewikiuser1986, H3llBot, Inka 888, VictorGuardian250505, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, Snotbot, Vibhijain, Jpw5x4, Anentiresleeve,
Arcandam, Khazar2, Ranze, RockStarRei, Theeny and Anonymous: 114
Jimmy McNulty Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmy%20McNulty?oldid=637914696 Contributors: Paul A, Norwikian, Tpbradbury,
AaronSw, Altenmann, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Saucemaster, Am088, DragonySixtyseven, Qjuad, An Siarach, Arthur Holland, Theoban, Nsaa, Magister Mathematicae, Cuchullain, Rjwilmsi, The wub, JeStickney, CJLL Wright, Jersey Devil, RussBot, Mrblondnyc,
SmackBot, Chris the speller, Djln, Lilengine, Can't sleep, clown will eat me, Jwillbur, Rrburke, Conradege, DMacks, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark
77, BetacommandBot, Epbr123, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Luna Santin, Swpb, Joe Bradshaw, Jessicapierce, JaGa, Alexz1, GKR, BierHerr, Geeky
Randy, L.A.Nutti, Dickens10, Monsieur david, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Bob1202, Macg118, Bilsonius, SimonKSK, Anticipation of a
New Lovers Arrival, The, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Oldy nsw, South Bay, Drovethrughosts, Kingoftheinterweb, Jabrona, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro,
Riverside09, -MatM-, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, Dexbot, Mogism, I am present here, Bananaear1, Kinfoll1993 and Anonymous: 118
Kima Greggs Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kima%20Greggs?oldid=641605987 Contributors: Norwikian, AaronSw, Ellsworth, Firsfron, Rjwilmsi, Docether, Jersey Devil, Tommyt, Gaius Cornelius, Rmky87, Zythe, Mrblondnyc, Illuminattile, Daysleeper47, Sdalmonte, Djln,
Conradege, Black mariah, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, Fmanjoo, Skomorokh, Magioladitis, Appraiser,
Lmallory, AlexiusHoratius, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, Yobot, Fortitude mountain, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts,
Jabrona, Riverside09, -MatM- and Anonymous: 44
Bunk Moreland Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bunk%20Moreland?oldid=624936587 Contributors: Paul A, AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
David Gerard, Rich Farmbrough, Magister Mathematicae, Nlsanand, The wub, Sceptre, Mrblondnyc, Bdve, SmackBot, Djln, John Reaves,
Conradege, Sansbras, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, BetacommandBot, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, SimonBillenness, Jessicapierce,
Tomgreeny, Saukenprince, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Brenont, CutOTies, TimidObserver, Naerii, Zero no Kamen, Yobot, Citation
bot, RalphytheBohemian, Fcmartins, Crotchety Old Man, Fortdj33, Gbmontgo and Anonymous: 47
Lester Freamon Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lester%20Freamon?oldid=635703033 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David
Gerard, Halda, Bkonrad, Chowbok, Arthur Holland, Galaxiaad, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, Grafen, Rmky87, Chris the speller, Djln, Slakr, Kcchia80,
SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, QuiteUnusual, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, Mr0grady, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Ark2120, Iohannes Animosus, Arkind, Lightbot, Yobot, Devastatindesmond, RjwilmsiBot, Gus Haynes,
Dexbot, Mogism, Ias28 and Anonymous: 47
Herc Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herc?oldid=645078840 Contributors: Paul A, Norwikian, AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Gamaliel, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Tommyt, Pigman, Gaius Cornelius, Closedmouth, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, M
c, Daysleeper47, Chris the speller, Djln, Elagatis, Gameboy4192, Conradege, Macphisto12, Autonova, Phoenixrod, Porterhse, SoCalAlum,
Cydebot, Treybien, Hebrides, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Geracudd, Tjg16c, MichaelMaggs, Kitty Davis, Magioladitis, Fitnr, SimonBillenness,
BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Karaboom, CutOTies, Fratrep, Kafka Liz, Uarent, Steepbn, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Drovethrughosts,
Jabrona, FrescoBot, Acbistro, Gus Haynes, Yu & You and Anonymous: 54
12.1. TEXT
211
Roland Pryzbylewski Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Roland%20Pryzbylewski?oldid=633747039 Contributors: John K, Norwikian,

AaronSw, Mirv, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Ellsworth, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Jhfrontz, Alansohn, BD2412, Rjwilmsi,
JeStickney, Mrblondnyc, Katieh5584, SmackBot, Djln, Conradege, ArtVandelay13, Succubus MacAstaroth, Twas Now, Octane, Cydebot,
Treybien, Opark 77, Arcayne, Etaon, ThatGuamGuy, Captain Crawdad, DirtyRottenBarry, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, Dick
Shane, CutOTies, Yarsan, ClueBot, Solar-Wind, Spark240, Namond br, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Drovethrughosts, Jabrona, Fa296, Gus
Haynes, Yu & You, I am present here, Grandtheftauto1988, Thehack771 and Anonymous: 55
Ellis Carver Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ellis%20Carver?oldid=633788435 Contributors: Paul A, John K, AaronSw, Lowellian, David
Gerard, Ahkond, Arthur Holland, Kbir1, Bkwillwm, Cbustapeck, Avram, Pigman, Mike Selinker, Boris Barowski, Chris the speller, Djln,
Elagatis, Esrever, Succubus MacAstaroth, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Opark 77, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, Brusegadi, STBot, DD2K, Wikipda, BierHerr,
Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, NHRHS2010, Fratrep, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, The Apokalips, Materialscientist, FrescoBot, John of Reading and
Anonymous: 50
Leander Sydnor Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Leander%20Sydnor?oldid=640447028 Contributors: AaronSw, Xanzzibar, Erebus555,
Bdve, Djln, Colonies Chris, Conradege, Succubus MacAstaroth, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, McCullarMichael, STBot, BierHerr, Geeky
Randy, L.A.Nutti, Szesetszedziesitsze, CutOTies, Fratrep, Yobot, Subject name here, LilHelpa, Gus Haynes and Anonymous: 18
Beadie Russell Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beadie%20Russell?oldid=641647132 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Arthur Holland, Rmky87, Sandstein, Aoa8212, Daysleeper47, Djln, Kendrick7, Iridescent, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy,
STBot, Feedback, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Emadrak, Lynch1445, Yobot, GoingBatty, AvicBot, Helpful Pixie Bot, Elaqueate and
Anonymous: 22
Cedric Daniels Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cedric%20Daniels?oldid=604019920 Contributors: Idp, AaronSw, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Rjwilmsi, Astronaut, JeStickney, Yhelothur, Misza13, EEMIV, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Bwithh, Chris the speller, Bluebot, Djln,
Sct72, Muboshgu, Pepperjack, Conradege, Swfong, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Tellyaddict, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, GurchBot, Carlosgara, Magioladitis, SimonBillenness, ChazBeckett, GODZOFTHUNDER, Mvphillips22, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, Yarsan,
EoGuy, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Acbistro, SNDLLN, Khazar2, Thesassypenguin, I am present here and Anonymous: 57
William Rawls Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William%20Rawls?oldid=636470621 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, Everyking, Oneiros, Ellsworth, Rich Farmbrough, Ahkond, Kvaks, Geschichte, Rjwilmsi, JeStickney, EEMIV, Patmaher, Mrblondnyc, Djln, Ted87,
Conradege, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Marek69, Tjg16c, JustAGal, Xenomorph1984, East718, ChazBeckett, Secleinteer,
Signalhead, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Addbot, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Traleni, Fortitude mountain, Full-date
unlinking bot, Inka 888, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, MelbourneStar, Abgilmore91 and Anonymous: 46
Ervin Burrell Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ervin%20Burrell?oldid=597383689 Contributors: GreatWhiteNortherner, Qjuad, Plrk,
Rjwilmsi, Thiseye, Conradege, ChrisCork, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Tjg16c, Nick Number, Captain Crawdad, ABCxyz, East718,
ChazBeckett, Rbrewer42, Whitneyo, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, Yobot, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts, Scoutstr295
and Anonymous: 24
Stanislaus Valchek Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stan_Valchek?oldid=639836420 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, Arthur
Holland, Galaxiaad, Tabletop, Rjwilmsi, Sandstein, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Boris Barowski, Daysleeper47, Ted87, Conradege, SubSeven, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, WWB, RobinReborn, Manderiko, DD2K, Feedback, Mr0grady, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
GirasoleDE, WereSpielChequers, CutOTies, Solar-Wind, LesIsMore9o9, Mr. IP, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Jschnur and Anonymous: 33
Jay Landsman (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jay%20Landsman%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=642454841 Contributors: Paul
A, AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, MarkSweep, Rich Farmbrough, Liface, Jweiss11, Captain Disdain, Jajasoon, Eubot, Sandstein,
Teiladnam, Eric.d.dixon, Djln, Ted87, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Stoshmaster, Yonatan, GringoDeMaio, Feedback, Mincebert, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, TheOldJacobite, Hunter Kahn, Yobot, LilHelpa, Prezbo, Lesliehurd, Akawow, Khazar2 and
Anonymous: 50
Law enforcement characters of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Law%20enforcement%20characters%20of%20The%
20Wire?oldid=639962399 Contributors: AaronSw, Marcasireland, Rich Farmbrough, Bobo192, Bellhalla, Dodiad, Liface, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11,
Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Daysleeper47, Chris the speller, Elagatis, Conradege, Mattcameron, Cydebot, Peripitus, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy,
Nick Number, Paulski.mcb, Simpsonary, CutOTies, Fratrep, JohnnyMrNinja, Anapazapa, NuclearWarfare, Sacowlick, LucyLocket481, Vegas949, Dodgerblue777, -MatM-, Snotbot, Akawow, BattyBot, Dexbot, Ranze and Anonymous: 29
Rhonda Pearlman Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rhonda%20Pearlman?oldid=570896382 Contributors: AaronSw, Galaxiaad, Alvis,
Bjones, BD2412, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, Sandstein, Eatcacti, Conradege, Chris 42, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Paulski.mcb, Feedback, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Fratrep, AuburnPiIot, SamuelM555, LucyLocket481, Download, Yobot, Gus Haynes, Mogism and Anonymous: 33
Maurice Levy (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maurice%20Levy%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=614581108 Contributors:
AaronSw, Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Camipco, Rich Farmbrough, Arthur Holland, Hodgers, Jweiss11, Sandstein, Aoa8212, Eatcacti,
Conradege, Bobfrombrockley, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Danny lost, WWB, Sgw1009, Rocks25, Feedback, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, Sintaku, Fratrep, AuburnPiIot, SamuelM555, Iknowyourider, Solar-Wind, UtoQ, Bonitammmm, Yobot, Prylon, Prezbo, Celuici,
FrescoBot, Elockid, Jonesey95, Machetemirage, Redsox95100, MidnightRequestLine and Anonymous: 35
Street-level characters of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Street-level%20characters%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=
641678102 Contributors: Edward, Radiojon, AaronSw, Ich, Bkonrad, Discospinster, Rich Farmbrough, Arthur Holland, TerraFrost, Bellhalla, Nlsanand, Rjwilmsi, Angusmclellan, Jajasoon, Volunteer Marek, Sylvain1972, EEMIV, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Bdve, Gilliam,
Daysleeper47, Alan smithee, Ted87, JesseRafe, Esrever, Mugsywwiii, Rnb, Sansbras, Cydebot, Opark 77, WWB, Dispenser, Secleinteer,
Yaksar, CutOTies, Anapazapa, Kfeniello, Iohannes Animosus, Bridies, AuntFlo, Ceilingtracer, Hunting dog, Lynch1445, Yobot, Mdw0,
AnomieBOT, Fortitude mountain, S h i v a (Visnu), Drovethrughosts, Senipanigav, DavyTbone, RjwilmsiBot, Josve05a, Zelbava, -MatM-,
VictorGuardian250505, Gus Haynes, Bolivianewtonjohn, Snotbot, Adaniller, BG19bot, Frze, ChrisGualtieri, Ranze, Grandtheftauto1988 and
Anonymous: 86
212
Omar Little Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Omar%20Little?oldid=642468613 Contributors: Edward, Lquilter, John K, Stefan Khn,
Norwikian, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Phil5329, Castaa, Kelp, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Ahkond, Horkana, Deicas, Bobo192, Alansohn, Dsuriano, Bellhalla, Robert K S, Dodiad, Bbatsell, Thebogusman, Brendanconway, Mandarax, Nlsanand, Rjwilmsi, JubalHarshaw, JeStickney, Imnotminkus, Guanxi, Tommyt, NawlinWiki, Rmky87, Mikeblas, EEMIV, Cerejota, Sarefo, Mister Six, Revcbl, Fram, Mrblondnyc, Bdve, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Hux, Gilliam, Chris the speller, Dschroder, Ted87, John Reaves, Seduisant, Davecampbell, Nakon,
Nishkid64, Chris 42, Succubus MacAstaroth, Es330td, Keith-264, JForget, CmdrObot, Jayunderscorezero, Xanderer, Nighend, SoCalAlum,
Cydebot, Treybien, Ian-John, Opark 77, JamesAM, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, RobotG, Majorly, Luna Santin, ABCxyz, Golgofrinchian, East718,
VoABot II, Wabernat, Mike Searson, DerHexer, Edward321, FisherQueen, GODZOFTHUNDER, JanetRenard, Antarctica moon, Secleinteer, RJASE1, BierHerr, Coolug, L.A.Nutti, Miles Blues, Galdemway, Hawknyc, Valkyryn, Tp23154, Prometevsberg, Cor87, MadFerOasis6,
CutOTies, Fratrep, Iknowyourider, Pinkadelica, ClueBot, Halo2playa91, Auntof6, Mehals, Tnxman307, Thingg, Travisjeery, Sacowlick,
AgnosticPreachersKid, AuntFlo, Uarent, Dec8ur, Kbdankbot, Afellowonnitejest, Addbot, Nobody25, Amyracecar007, Tassedethe, Lightbot,
Donthedon8675, Thread Stealer, Yobot, Mdw0, AnomieBOT, LaLaBand, Boris Badinov44, Drovethrughosts, The Ink Daddy!, Half biscuit,
Prezbo, I dream of horses, DReifGalaxyM31, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Orioles982, Satteld, Dewritech, Racerx11, Tommy2010, ZroBot, Inka
888, CavendishCubed, Soe7, Emayohtee, Gus Haynes, Petrb, ClueBot NG, LeemanBros, Kamaaluddin, Helpful Pixie Bot, BG19bot, Dexbot,
Chris.bellmer.rip, Mmacage622, I am One of Many, Grandtheftauto1988, Petebachant, Wgillespie and Anonymous: 296
Bubbles (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bubbles%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=635861368 Contributors: AaronSw, Postdlf,
Caknuck, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Qjuad, Arthur Holland, Holdek, Polar, Rjwilmsi, JeStickney, EEMIV, Mrblondnyc,
SmackBot, McGeddon, The monkeyhate, Ted87, Davecampbell, Drinibot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ABCxyz, GurchBot, Uncle Dick,
Dehbach, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Knight7se7en, Yaksar, CutOTies, Lecreuset87, Gonzonoir, Ohfabulicious, BlonddudeGoneDark, Yobot, EnDowns, Rkhwaja, Machetemirage, NeilK, TheSoundAndTheFury, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, LeemanBros, Bernie44, Widr, Lilysky88, Mogism,
Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 72
Dennis Cutty Wise Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dennis%20%22Cutty%22%20Wise?oldid=641664561 Contributors: Edward, Finlay McWalter, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Bailey, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Cacophony, Floyd-out, Grifter84, Tommyt, Antoin,
Gram123, Mister Six, Toodiesel, Gregmce, Alan smithee, Ted87, Muboshgu, Pepperjack, Conradege, ArtVandelay13, Succubus MacAstaroth,
CmdrObot, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Coumarin, Mentisto, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, Jaypea99, Bonadea, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Dick Shane, CutOTies, ClueBot, Wolfer68, Good Olfactory, Yobot, AnomieBOT, Fortitude mountain, Sophus Bie, E0steven,
Rogarabit2, Bef6262, SNAAAAKE!!, Nsteel, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 39
Stringer Bell Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stringer%20Bell?oldid=640679155 Contributors: Edward, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar,
David Gerard, Phil5329, Ich, Ukexpat, Ninebelow, BD2412, JeStickney, Jersey Devil, Rmky87, Rhain, Mister Six, Bdve, SmackBot, Ted87,
Muboshgu, Conradege, Esrever, ChrisCork, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, Jakerake, Tjg16c, Nadaismo, ABCxyz, WWB, Carlosgara, Magioladitis, Wax Tablet, Strikehold, Augchen, LittleOldMe old, Cometstyles, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, Mjbmitch,
JD554, BunnyColvin, CutOTies, Superbeecat, SBDave, Lecreuset87, Rividian, Dubmill, Hunter Kahn, Yobot, Washburnmav, Rjanag, Fortitude mountain, AdjustShift, LilHelpa, Drovethrughosts, Perfectmile8, Jabrona, Scoutstr295, Djrhoads1258, Turian, Machetemirage, Sophy26,
Tess178, Gob Lofa, JayBeeEye, Tommi.1988, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 84
Avon Barksdale Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Avon%20Barksdale?oldid=642576687 Contributors: Edward, Lquilter, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, AlistairMcMillan, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Maqsarian, Causa sui, Firsfron, Sin-man, Josh Parris, JeStickney,
Ian Pitchford, EEMIV, Aoa8212, Bdve, Ted87, Muboshgu, Conradege, Iridescent, Zackp, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, JonnyTanna, Tjg16c, DanDud88, Captain Crawdad, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, McCullarMichael, Tripalis, Cocytus, Trusilver, Secleinteer, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Guldenat, Valkyryn, Tumadoireacht, Biscuittin, Mr.RandomKnowledge, Mjbmitch, CutOTies,
Faradayplank, Escape Orbit, Mild Bill Hiccup, Lecreuset87, WlReik, Dance With The Devil, Andyshades82, Good Olfactory, Hunter Kahn,
Wfberan, Dawgdahunter, Lightbot, Bonitammmm, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Ajh16, Joetheduded, AnomieBOT, Locobot, 3NE, Jabrona, Carpenter aka, Djrhoads1258, 15thWardWestBank, RjwilmsiBot, DASHBot, Tagtool, NathanielTheBold, Ryan.germany, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG,
Absconded Northerner, The Determinator, SNDLLN, Khazar2, Dexbot, Mogism, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 96
Marlo Staneld Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marlo%20Stanfield?oldid=643128691 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Phil5329, Halda, Oneiros, Discospinster, Arthur Holland, C1k3, 96T, Tabletop, Yamamoto Ichiro, JeStickney, EEMIV, Eleemosynary, Bdve, SmackBot, Scott Donaldson, Boris Barowski, M c, Kintetsubualo, UnkleFester, Alan smithee, Ted87,
Conradege, Fuzzy510, Joseph Solis in Australia, Leopheard, Jayunderscorezero, MaxEnt, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy,
Tjg16c, ABCxyz, Darrenhusted, Swpb, Froid, Snorz, Slmcdee, Fhtagn, Saukenprince, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Huevos Mcgringo, FrankRizzo2006, CutOTies, Jpj681, Fratrep, ArmsAloftinAberdeen, LesIsMore9o9, Lot49a, Wfberan, Dawgdahunter, Download,
Lynch1445, Yobot, The Apokalips, LeCreuset05, AnomieBOT, Royote, Itsthejonnyboy, Drovethrughosts, Liebs2010, Wikipelli, Kamitch, ClueBot NG, Anentiresleeve, Causeandedit, CoolestGeekEver, MidnightRequestLine, JustusAnkka, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 102
Proposition Joe Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proposition%20Joe?oldid=637609864 Contributors: Edward, Qjuad, Bellhalla, Dodiad,
JeStickney, Yhelothur, Wavelength, Tommyt, Kintetsubualo, Daysleeper47, Ted87, Conradege, ArtVandelay13, Marcus Brute, Fuzzy510,
Keithh, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, WWB, MelForbes, Wabernat, Anildash, MultipleTom, LoganRage,
BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Sean D Martin, JetLover, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Iknowyourider, ClueBot, Auntof6, Pimlico73, LesIsMore9o9,
Ouze, Hunter Kahn, BrianDaubach10, SpellingBot, Lynch1445, Htews, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, JakobvS, TheBearPaw, Bernie44, Daniel Davino,
AMU10, Grandtheftauto1988, Brown skin99ski and Anonymous: 64
Spiros Vondas Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spiros%20Vondas?oldid=595850127 Contributors: AaronSw, Xanzzibar, MarkSweep,
Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Woohookitty, JeStickney, Rmky87, DeadEyeArrow, Jeisenberg, SmackBot, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless
Larry, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Steven Walling, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Director, CutOTies, SolarWind, Lecreuset87, WlReik, Periptero, Yobot, Baku&tblisi, BG19bot, Rjcripe, Grandtheftauto1988, Tlauri, Elaqueate and Anonymous: 32
The Greek Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The%20Greek?oldid=592085566 Contributors: Ciphergoth, AaronSw, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, DocWatson42, Jossi, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, Alvis, Dodiad, Cuchullain, JeStickney, Jersey Devil, Nick, Rmky87, Closedmouth,
Aoa8212, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, The monkeyhate, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless Larry, Marcus Brute, Cydebot, Marqueed, Treybien,
12.1. TEXT
213
Fuzzibloke, Opark 77, Lid, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Propaniac, Nickpheas, Steven Walling, Secleinteer, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Fratrep, ImageRemovalBot, Xavexgoem, Solar-Wind, 718 Bot, Lecreuset87, Uarent, Andyshades82, Periptero, Sulmues, Lynch1445, Yobot, Bunnyhop11,
Eric-Wester, Fortitude mountain, Bsjdkdkl, Dewritech, Begnome, SNDLLN, Grandtheftauto1988, Hicalibre009 and Anonymous: 56
Chris Partlow Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chris%20Partlow?oldid=624247863 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar,
Debivort, Tommyt, Grafen, Mrblondnyc, Conradege, Robosh, WordsAmp, Cydebot, Treybien, Ddg4005, Opark 77, JustAGal, Geeky Randy,
Droll Sobriquet, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, CutOTies, Fratrep, Iknowyourider, Rurik16, Alekz.k, Ohfabulicious, Andyshades82, Good Olfactory,
Mr. IP, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Acbistro, John of Reading, Gus Haynes, Dr Scorp, Grandtheftauto1988, Soxboy222 and Anonymous: 51
Felicia Snoop Pearson Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snoop_(The_Wire)?oldid=635107576 Contributors: William Avery, SatyrTN,
Xanzzibar, Jhfrontz, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Sherool, Tommyt, Grafen, Mrblondnyc, Ted87, Esrever, IronGargoyle, SubSeven,
H3G3M0N, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Turkeyphant, JustAGal, Desoda, TAnthony, Geniac, GringoDeMaio, CommonsDelinker, Lowerarchy, GrahamHardy, Geeky Randy, Pkulak, CutOTies, ImageRemovalBot, ClueBot, Trivialist, Excirial, Dvdfever, WlReik, AuntFlo,
Xp54321, Namond br, Vishnava, Tassedethe, Treyonna712, HCRockstar, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, The Apokalips, S h i v a (Visnu), Orlando235,
Drovethrughosts, PigFlu Oink, Sheemstar, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Jimmythecreep86, Unreal7, ClueBot NG, Absconded Northerner, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 63
Wee-Bey Brice Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wee-Bey%20Brice?oldid=625433781 Contributors: Palfrey, AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, Phil5329, Ellsworth, Arthur Holland, TerraFrost, Gary, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, Nicander, Ytcracker, Rmky87, Closedmouth, SmackBot, Ted87, Conradege, Copysan, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, SkonesMickLoud, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Captain Crawdad, Mdriver1981,
ABCxyz, Darklilac, Pixelface, Jimmarci, Fhtagn, Cometstyles, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Yaksar, CutOTies, ClueBot, EoGuy,
Spark240, Good Olfactory, BrianDaubach10, KevinGTempleton, A malivia, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Meishern, PigFlu Oink, Gus Haynes,
Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 82
Bodie Broadus Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodie%20Broadus?oldid=640901128 Contributors: William Avery, Palfrey, Andrew
Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Ellsworth, Qjuad, Ahkond, Galaxiaad, Dismas, RHaworth, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Jersey Devil,
Mister Six, UltimatePyro, Ted87, Chris 42, Fuzzy510, Jasontrek, Gm-ishi Ashi Gurum, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, BishopOcelot, Commasense, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Coumarin, Captain Crawdad, AntiVandalBot, Thebaron8181, ABCxyz, Yaoming7511, Magioladitis, Appraiser, McCullarMichael, Dre07, Cmsjustin, Emeraude, Sandomingors, Xiua1.1, Mr0grady, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
CutOTies, Cp424, ClueBot, Scottyb76, Raheem West, Hunter Kahn, UnkoDisaster, A malivia, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, The Apokalips, DrilBot,
John of Reading, Peash, Mepeter, Frietjes, Hrvyklly, MidnightRequestLine, Grandtheftauto1988, Atuckii, Palojimo23 and Anonymous: 133
Poot Carr Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Poot_(The_Wire)?oldid=637744754 Contributors: Chinju, Academic Challenger, Andrew
Levine, Xanzzibar, Mike Rosoft, Ahkond, 96T, Velella, Firsfron, Realsupergirl, NawlinWiki, Wknight94, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Ted87,
Muboshgu, Eggman64, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Fuzzibloke, Opark 77, Tjg16c, DanDud88, ABCxyz, Monkeyangst, Shu99, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Denisarona, Zodiacsage, Excirial, Wolfer68, Hunter Kahn, CanadianLinuxUser, A malivia, Yobot, The Apokalips,
Eugene-elgato, Acbistro, ClueBot NG, 01cosmo, Grandtheftauto1988, Deselby12 and Anonymous: 47
D'Angelo Barksdale Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/D'Angelo%20Barksdale?oldid=643248003 Contributors: Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Rjwilmsi, JeStickney, SaschaTeske, EEMIV, Ted87, ArtVandelay13, Joseph Solis in Australia, Vanished user
k9iuw4roilaldkj, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, Magioladitis, KylieTastic, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
DoorsAjar, CutOTies, Nusumareta, ImageRemovalBot, Puchiko, Lockwood Like, XLinkBot, Good Olfactory, Hunter Kahn, A malivia, EQuizative, RjwilmsiBot, ClueBot NG, Bernie44, Celticsfan177, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 50
Cheese Wagsta Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cheese%20Wagstaff?oldid=643556495 Contributors: AaronSw, Xanzzibar, Ahkond,
Arthur Holland, C1k3, Jweiss11, Tommyt, Sandstein, Closedmouth, Ted87, LoonyPandora, Powelldinho, Porterhse, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark
77, JustAGal, J.delanoy, Feedback, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Iknowyourider, Creamy3, Versus22, Derricktsmith, WikiGuy86,
Yobot, AnomieBOT, Itain'tsobad, Machetemirage, ClueBot NG, SNAAAAKE!!, Mimi663, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 42
Wallace (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wallace%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=637745042 Contributors: Edward, Xanzzibar,
Rich Farmbrough, JeremyA, Tommyt, RussBot, Mrblondnyc, Ted87, Cydebot, Treybien, Geracudd, Geeky Randy, Racro 16, Hunter Kahn,
Yobot, Arsvita734, 2012ZaHaas, Inka 888, -MatM-, M.fergus89, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 32
Characters from the docks of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Characters%20from%20the%20docks%20of%20The%
20Wire?oldid=633199075 Contributors: John K, Meelar, Robert K S, Mike Selinker, Mrblondnyc, Swfong, Cydebot, Opark 77, Alaibot, ThatGuamGuy, Nick Number, Pennywisepeter, J.delanoy, Belovedfreak, Secleinteer, Malc82, Meisterkoch, Tide rolls, PigFlu Oink, John of Reading,
-MatM-, VictorGuardian250505, Ranze, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 24
Frank Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frank%20Sobotka?oldid=635673854 Contributors: Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Ich,
Valve, Geschichte, Gary, Thebogusman, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Tommyt, SaschaTeske, Bobak, Rmky87, Conradege, Davecampbell, Cordless
Larry, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, Jackmass, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, Solar-Wind, Jprw, Lynch1445, Yobot, LilHelpa,
Drovethrughosts, Keri, Mogism, Grandtheftauto1988, Bkrimmel17 and Anonymous: 34
Nick Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nick%20Sobotka?oldid=580005721 Contributors: Andrew Levine, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Rmky87, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Conradege, Cordless Larry, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, Kerotan, BierHerr,
L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, CutOTies, Solar-Wind, Brendankm, Lynch1445, Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Josephus37, Prezbo, ClueBot NG, RGloucester, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 31
Ziggy Sobotka Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ziggy%20Sobotka?oldid=635472661 Contributors: Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, Michael
Devore, MarkSweep, Prashanthns, JeStickney, Bgwhite, Rmky87, Mister Six, DRahier, Conradege, Cordless Larry, Senseitaco, Mreleganza,
Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Lid, Tjg16c, DanDud88, Anildash, Emeraude, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, Conormtl, CutOTies, ClueBot, Solar-Wind,
Good Olfactory, Barsoomian, Yobot, Citation bot, Fouroftwo, Grandtheftauto1988, Hicalibre009 and Anonymous: 29
Sergei Malatov Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sergei%20Malatov?oldid=611188844 Contributors: Ciphergoth, Xanzzibar, Arthur Holland, Faboba, Rjwilmsi, Erielhonan, Sandstein, SmackBot, Twp, Jayunderscorezero, Cydebot, Treybien, Feedback, WlReik, Good Olfactory,
Drpickem, Yobot, Illegitimate Barrister, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 15
214
Politicians of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Politicians%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=634890478 Contributors: AaronSw,

Andrew Levine, ShakataGaNai, JeStickney, Intgr, Grifter84, Welsh, Thesloth, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Gregmce, Alan smithee, Conradege,
Cydebot, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, JustAGal, WWB, East718, Magioladitis, SHJohnson, GirasoleDE, Flyer22, CutOTies, Fratrep, Ark2120,
DoKnowButchie, Anapazapa, On Thermonuclear War, CohesionBot, Creamy3, Wolfer68, Lynch1445, Dodgerblue777, DemocraticLuntz,
Smartiger, Ninestraycats, Werieth, H3llBot, -MatM-, Gus Haynes, Snotbot, Ranze, Nsteel, Ficoman86, Mbethi90 and Anonymous: 35
Tommy Carcetti Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy%20Carcetti?oldid=620576930 Contributors: AaronSw, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, Ylee, 96T, Rjwilmsi, The wub, Volunteer Marek, MGodwin, Jkfp2004, Mrblondnyc, M c, Chris the speller, Goosedoggy,
Alan smithee, Muboshgu, Conradege, Davecampbell, Iridescent, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Edwardx, Tjg16c, Tangurena,
Bhairava2, Zevets, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, GirasoleDE, Politics rule, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, Escape Orbit, Steepbn,
Yobot, Dodgerblue777, Jim1138, Jerzeykydd, RjwilmsiBot, Acbistro, Adaniller, Sensorsweep and Anonymous: 49
Clarence Royce Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clarence%20Royce?oldid=587522983 Contributors: Edward, Andrew Levine, Phil5329,
Arthur Holland, Giraedata, Rjwilmsi, The wub, Bgwhite, Grafen, Sandstein, Scrabbler, SmackBot, Alan smithee, Conradege, Davecampbell, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Tjg16c, ABCxyz, Avicennasis, Feedback, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, GirasoleDE,
Marylandstater, Yobot, Mikist4 and Anonymous: 16
Clay Davis Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Clay%20Davis?oldid=643576756 Contributors: Jredmond, Andrew Levine, Jackol, SoWhy,
Kjetil r, Kuralyov, Arthur Holland, 96T, Bobo192, Kbir1, SlimVirgin, Rjwilmsi, Pigman, Reyk, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Ted87, Conradege,
Es330td, JForget, Penbat, Oseirus, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, DonFB, FrancoGG, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, Samwisep86, ABCxyz, WWB,
SupaDane, J-stan, East718, VoABot II, Nyttend, J.delanoy, Mrhsj, VTNC, DadaNeem, Scewing, Nigej, BierHerr, Coolug, Hirolovesswords,
Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Oshwah, LeaveSleaves, CutOTies, Fratrep, Macy, ArmsAloftinAberdeen, The Thing That Should Not Be, Ndenison, Excirial, Rividian, Kbdankbot, Non-dropframe, Yobot, Tohd8BohaithuGh1, THEN WHO WAS PHONE?, Materialscientist, Roux-HG,
Spongefrog, Grinofwales, FrescoBot, Kkman24, MarcelB612, Jdbaldwin, DARTH SIDIOUS 2, Ruodub, Gus Haynes, ClueBot NG, Karin
Anker, Carbon6.022 and Anonymous: 74
Norman Wilson (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Norman%20Wilson%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=630802693 Contributors:
Big iron, AaronSw, Bailey, Chowbok, Sandstein, Mrblondnyc, Kcumming, Nscheey, Chris the speller, Conradege, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark
77, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, Feedback, Mr0grady, GrahamHardy, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, GirasoleDE, ClueBot, XLinkBot, Yobot,
GoingBatty and Anonymous: 23
School system of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/School%20system%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=622777809 Contributors:
Lquilter, AaronSw, Geschichte, Alansohn, Ringbang, RHaworth, Cinephile, JeStickney, Antoin, Mrblondnyc, E.boyer7, Twas Now, Cydebot, Opark 77, JustAGal, Magioladitis, Floria L, Jonathan Hall, Yaksar, Momo13, CutOTies, Mild Bill Hiccup, Raheem West, Namond br,
Tassedethe, Lynch1445, Yobot, FrescoBot, PigFlu Oink, E-Quizative, -MatM-, I am present here, EerieIratxoak and Anonymous: 29
Howard Bunny Colvin Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howard%20%22Bunny%22%20Colvin?oldid=615036811 Contributors: Andrew Levine, David Gerard, Ellsworth, Horkana, Slof, Alvis, JeStickney, SmackBot, Gregmce, Betacommand, Chris the speller, Static Universe, Ted87, Conradege, Peteforsyth, CmdrObot, SoCalAlum, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, ABCxyz, WWB, Michig, SimonBillenness, LurkingInChicago, Akirchner, BierHerr, L.A.Nutti, BunnyColvin, CutOTies, HexaChord, SimonKSK, Lightbot, Yobot, DrilBot,
Acbistro, Mcc1789, ClueBot NG, Mawor and Anonymous: 34
Michael Lee (The Wire) Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michael%20Lee%20(The%20Wire)?oldid=640608036 Contributors: Conti,
AaronSw, Andrew Levine, Xanzzibar, David Gerard, Halda, JeStickney, Dkkicks, Sieckanddestroy, Grafen, Jeisenberg, UltimatePyro, SmackBot, Kintetsubualo, Ted87, Baa, Esrever, Mwarf, Doczilla, Cydebot, Treybien, Gogo Dodo, Opark 77, ThatGuamGuy, Tjg16c, JustAGal,
Mochalox, ABCxyz, Geniac, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, ReformedEditor, L.A.Nutti, Valkyryn, Huevos Mcgringo, Hucksterling, CutOTies, Joydrop, Fratrep, ClueBot, WlReik, Ohfabulicious, Rividian, CanadianLinuxUser, Zakeia, Tweetybird77859, Yobot, AnomieBOT, MarloStalineld, Lythalicious, TedBaker88, Mikist4, Bernie44, SNAAAAKE!!, Xnunezr, Grandtheftauto1988, Atuckii, Soxboy222 and Anonymous:
99
Duquan Dukie Weems Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duquan%20%22Dukie%22%20Weems?oldid=633357286 Contributors: Edward, AaronSw, Ahkond, Rjwilmsi, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Ragesoss, Mrblondnyc, Cydebot, Marqueed, Treybien, Opark 77, Tjg16c, JustAGal,
Mochalox, ABCxyz, Propaniac, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Knight7se7en, CutOTies, Auntof6, Uarent, Ohfabulicious, Thread Stealer,
Jarble, Yobot, AnomieBOT, DrilBot, Keegscee, NBA Fan44, SNAAAAKE!!, Xnunezr, I am present here, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous:
33
Namond Brice Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Namond%20Brice?oldid=587540730 Contributors: Andrew Levine, David Gerard,
Kwamikagami, Raverdrew, Arthena, CyberSkull, Dodiad, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Volunteer Marek, Grifter84, Lord Jim, Chase me ladies,
I'm the Cavalry, SmackBot, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, John254, James086, Java13690, Mochalox, ABCxyz, WWB, Deective, Hullaballoo
Wolfowitz, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Buttonwillow mckittrick, CutOTies, JibbsMusic, The Red, Binary TSO, Yobot, AnomieBOT,
DSisyphBot, E-Quizative, RjwilmsiBot, Arsvita734, H3llBot, ChuispastonBot, Mark Arsten, SNAAAAKE!!, Xnunezr, Grandtheftauto1988 and
Anonymous: 32
Randy Wagsta Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Randy%20Wagstaff?oldid=635664725 Contributors: Edward, Andrew Levine,
Xanzzibar, Wasabe3543, Dodiad, Jweiss11, JeStickney, Sandstein, Zzuuzz, Chris the speller, Conradege, ChrisCork, Porterhse, Cydebot,
Treybien, Opark 77, ABCxyz, MultipleTom, Jaypea99, Connor Behan, MartinBot, Feedback, Mincebert, BierHerr, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti,
CutOTies, Harry, Rssutherland, Ohfabulicious, LCWeber147, Namond br, Derricktsmith, Yobot, AnomieBOT, E-Quizative, RjwilmsiBot,
ClueBot NG, Loves1011, SNAAAAKE!!, Grandtheftauto1988 and Anonymous: 42
Journalists of The Wire Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Journalists%20of%20The%20Wire?oldid=633784799 Contributors: John K,
AaronSw, Digamma, Arthur Holland, Jhfrontz, Tabletop, Liface, Jweiss11, Antoin, Lord Jim, Mrblondnyc, SmackBot, Hux, Gregmce, Succubus
MacAstaroth, Twas Now, CmdrObot, Cydebot, Peripitus, Opark 77, JustAGal, Hammersoft, L.A.Nutti, CutOTies, JohnnyMrNinja, ClueBot,
Blanchardb, DumZiBoT, Biscuit108, AdPaWiki, Lynch1445, Yobot, Full-date unlinking bot, Dewritech, Snotbot, Ranze and Anonymous: 22
Augustus Haynes Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Augustus%20Haynes?oldid=613225588 Contributors: AaronSw, Padraic, Mrblondnyc,
Daysleeper47, Kvng, Cydebot, Marqueed, Treybien, Opark 77, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, GirasoleDE, Fratrep, Michael.Urban, Yobot, DASHBot, Khazar2 and Anonymous: 15
12.2. IMAGES
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Scott Templeton Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scott%20Templeton?oldid=640460814 Contributors: AaronSw, Sjorford, YUL89YYZ,

Ylee, Woohookitty, Jweiss11, Kewp, Sandstein, Mrblondnyc, Chris the speller, DMacks, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Feedback, Secleinteer,
Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Achester99, CutOTies, Fratrep, Nusumareta, DumZiBoT, TFOWR, Yobot, Fraggle81, FrescoBot, Khazar2 and
Anonymous: 18
Alma Gutierrez Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alma%20Gutierrez?oldid=565951868 Contributors: AaronSw, Sciurin, Jweiss11,
Sandstein, Mrblondnyc, Cydebot, Treybien, Opark 77, Feedback, Geeky Randy, L.A.Nutti, Fratrep, Yobot, DASHBot and Anonymous: 6
And All the Pieces Matter Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/And%20All%20the%20Pieces%20Matter?oldid=593365943 Contributors:
Neilc, D6, Tabletop, Koavf, Mick gold, Miblo, Soul phire, Headbomb, JustAGal, Zidane tribal, GrahamHardy, Coolug, CutOTies, Cdl obelix,
Habiloid, Cjstensrud, FrescoBot, Velcro Christmas Tree, Starcheerspeaksnewslostwars, Gus Haynes, Yu & You, CactusBot, Jkroberts114, EddieHugh and Anonymous: 7
12.2 Images
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?
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minimally).
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Tkgd2007
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The Wire

The Complete Guide

Cast and characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Home media releases . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.1.10 See also . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.1.12 Further reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

1.1.13 External links . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Life and career . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Writing process, characteristics, and motivation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of The Wire episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of awards and nominations received by The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Seasons and episodes

List of The Wire episodes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Wire (season 1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Wire (season 2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Awards and nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Wire (season 3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Awards and nominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Wire (season 4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

The Wire (season 5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

List of The Wire characters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Police of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Major Crimes Unit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Actual BPD Ocers who have appeared . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Critical response and analysis . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.10 Beadie Russell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.10.1 Character storyline . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.11 Cedric Daniels . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.12 William Rawls . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.13 Ervin Burrell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4.13.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 102

Law enforcement characters of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 107

Court house . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 108

Prison sta . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 110

Rhonda Pearlman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 111

Maurice Levy (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 113

Analysis and origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 114

Street-level characters of The Wire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Barksdale organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Omars crew . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

Staneld organization . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

New Day Co-Op . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

West Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 116

East Side . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 117

Omar Little . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 124

Season one . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Season two . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Season three . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 125

Season four . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 126

6.2.10 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Bubbles (The Wire) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 128

Dennis Cutty Wise . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 130

Stringer Bell . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 131

Avon Barksdale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 134

Marlo Staneld . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 138

Character background and plot relations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 139

Real life origins . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 142

Proposition Joe . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 143

Spiros Vondas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 145

6.10 The Greek . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 146

6.10.2 References . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 147

6.12.5 Reception . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 151