James C. Harris
Encyclopedia
James C. Harris is the fictional Deputy Commissioner of Operations of the Baltimore Police Department
on Homicide: Life on the Street
, He was played by Al Freeman Jr.
officers. In the 1960s, he was partnered with Marvin Lee Robinson (later known as Burundi Robinson), and the two had established a reputation as narcotics officers in the West Baltimore Housing projects. In 1972, Robinson and Harris were involved in a narcotics scandal involving missing heroin which Harris had sold back to a West Baltimore drug dealer. On the decision of a coin flip, Robinson resigned taking the full blame for the missing heroin as Harris remained in the department. Harris eventually rose to become the department's deputy commissioner of operations until his scandal was made apparent to Homicide Shift Lieutenant Al Giardello
via Robinson. Giardello's discovery of Harris' involvement led to a federal investigation which forced Harris' resignation.
who had joined the force in 1968. As a veteran officer, Harris was able to mediate a situation with Giardello's White partner Mickey Shea, a racist Irish officer who had forced a young Giardello to ride in the back of the patrol car. Shea had also called Giardello a "Nigger
" in the hopes of provoking him to assault a veteran officer and be subject to an early dismissal from the force. Giardello had found Harris to be an early ally on the force in resolving the situation between the two.
Over the next 30 years, Harris was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and Giardello had eventually became a Lieutenant, commanding one shift of the homicide unit in the department's criminal investigations division. Harris had an extreme dislike for Gee's renegade behaviour in terms of valuing the department's objectives and chain of command. Gee had a tendency to alert the media early of departmental problems and was in command of Frank Pembleton
, whose Harris-requested investigation of a congressman
yielded several problems. Pembleton's investigation of Congressman Jeremy Wade for a false claim of kidnapping led to Pembleton offering Wade a deal to avoid further action (it was clearly implied that Wade made up the claim to cover up being gay and in the closet). When the deal was exposed to the media by Wade's enemies, Harris denied giving Pembleton permission to offer it; Pembleton was so angry that he resigned. The detective later swallowed his pride, allowed the trial against Wade to collapse on its own, returned to the force and made it clear Harris was dead to him. Wade later lost a re-election bid, and as Wade was an ally of the department who was no longer present, Harris sought retaliation against Giardello for the entire affair. Harris responded by promoting the incompetent, bigoted, and less tenured Roger Gaffney
to an open captain's position of the Homicide Unit that Gee had rightfully earned. He explained that Gaffney's promotion to captain was a message to Gee for causing Congressman Wade to lose the election. Gaffney was chosen specifically because he was a "fat Irish ass" very much like Gee's training officer Mickey Shea. Harris also made it clear to Gee, who had come to him seeking help over the witch hunt against Det. Mike Kellerman, that no help was forthcoming in that regard (Kellerman was later cleared by the State's Attorney of any wrongdoing).
Although their professional relationship had deteriorated completely, Gee eventually got the last word on his nemesis. In the Season 5 episode "Narcissus," during a standoff between the department's Quick Response Team and the local African Revival Movement, Gee met with Robinson (now the Movement's leader) and learned the truth about Harris' past illegal acts. Robinson used this information to blackmail Harris into stalling the detectives' investigation of a murder in which he was involved. After Robinson and 15 other members committed suicide, Gee reported Harris to the mayor of Baltimore, leading to his eventual dismissal from the force.
Baltimore Police Department
The Baltimore Police Department provides police services to the city of Baltimore, Maryland and was officially established by the Maryland Legislature on March 16, 1853...
on Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street
Homicide: Life on the Street is an American police procedural television series chronicling the work of a fictional version of the Baltimore Homicide Unit. It ran for seven seasons on NBC from 1993 to 1999, and was succeeded by a TV movie, which also acted as the de-facto series finale...
, He was played by Al Freeman Jr.
Biography
Harris first joined the department in 1956 and by 1968 was one of the department's most tenured African AmericanAfrican American
African Americans are citizens or residents of the United States who have at least partial ancestry from any of the native populations of Sub-Saharan Africa and are the direct descendants of enslaved Africans within the boundaries of the present United States...
officers. In the 1960s, he was partnered with Marvin Lee Robinson (later known as Burundi Robinson), and the two had established a reputation as narcotics officers in the West Baltimore Housing projects. In 1972, Robinson and Harris were involved in a narcotics scandal involving missing heroin which Harris had sold back to a West Baltimore drug dealer. On the decision of a coin flip, Robinson resigned taking the full blame for the missing heroin as Harris remained in the department. Harris eventually rose to become the department's deputy commissioner of operations until his scandal was made apparent to Homicide Shift Lieutenant Al Giardello
Al Giardello
Alphonse Michael Giardello, Sr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Yaphet Kotto...
via Robinson. Giardello's discovery of Harris' involvement led to a federal investigation which forced Harris' resignation.
Relationship With Lieutenant Giardello
Harris was an early mentor to officer Al GiardelloAl Giardello
Alphonse Michael Giardello, Sr. is a fictional character from the television drama Homicide: Life on the Street. The character was played by Yaphet Kotto...
who had joined the force in 1968. As a veteran officer, Harris was able to mediate a situation with Giardello's White partner Mickey Shea, a racist Irish officer who had forced a young Giardello to ride in the back of the patrol car. Shea had also called Giardello a "Nigger
Nigger
Nigger is a noun in the English language, most notable for its usage in a pejorative context to refer to black people , and also as an informal slang term, among other contexts. It is a common ethnic slur...
" in the hopes of provoking him to assault a veteran officer and be subject to an early dismissal from the force. Giardello had found Harris to be an early ally on the force in resolving the situation between the two.
Over the next 30 years, Harris was promoted to Deputy Commissioner and Giardello had eventually became a Lieutenant, commanding one shift of the homicide unit in the department's criminal investigations division. Harris had an extreme dislike for Gee's renegade behaviour in terms of valuing the department's objectives and chain of command. Gee had a tendency to alert the media early of departmental problems and was in command of Frank Pembleton
Frank Pembleton
Francis Xavier "Frank" Pembleton is a fictional homicide detective on the television drama series Homicide: Life on the Street portrayed by Emmy Award winning actor Andre Braugher. He is a primary character of the show through the first six seasons...
, whose Harris-requested investigation of a congressman
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
yielded several problems. Pembleton's investigation of Congressman Jeremy Wade for a false claim of kidnapping led to Pembleton offering Wade a deal to avoid further action (it was clearly implied that Wade made up the claim to cover up being gay and in the closet). When the deal was exposed to the media by Wade's enemies, Harris denied giving Pembleton permission to offer it; Pembleton was so angry that he resigned. The detective later swallowed his pride, allowed the trial against Wade to collapse on its own, returned to the force and made it clear Harris was dead to him. Wade later lost a re-election bid, and as Wade was an ally of the department who was no longer present, Harris sought retaliation against Giardello for the entire affair. Harris responded by promoting the incompetent, bigoted, and less tenured Roger Gaffney
Roger Gaffney
Roger Gaffney is a fictional police officer of the Baltimore Police Department on Homicide: Life on the Street. He was played by Walt MacPherson....
to an open captain's position of the Homicide Unit that Gee had rightfully earned. He explained that Gaffney's promotion to captain was a message to Gee for causing Congressman Wade to lose the election. Gaffney was chosen specifically because he was a "fat Irish ass" very much like Gee's training officer Mickey Shea. Harris also made it clear to Gee, who had come to him seeking help over the witch hunt against Det. Mike Kellerman, that no help was forthcoming in that regard (Kellerman was later cleared by the State's Attorney of any wrongdoing).
Although their professional relationship had deteriorated completely, Gee eventually got the last word on his nemesis. In the Season 5 episode "Narcissus," during a standoff between the department's Quick Response Team and the local African Revival Movement, Gee met with Robinson (now the Movement's leader) and learned the truth about Harris' past illegal acts. Robinson used this information to blackmail Harris into stalling the detectives' investigation of a murder in which he was involved. After Robinson and 15 other members committed suicide, Gee reported Harris to the mayor of Baltimore, leading to his eventual dismissal from the force.