Cedric Daniels

Lore & Background

Daniels begins the series as lieutenant of the Baltimore Police Department's Narcotics Unit, shift commander for detectives Kima Greggs, Ellis Carver, and Thomas "Herc" Hauk, reporting to Major Raymond Foerster. In Season 1, he is given command of the Barksdale detail. He initially follows Deputy Commissioner Ervin Burrell's advice for a fast, straightforward investigation but later risks his career several times to protect the case. He bypasses the chain of command to persuade Burrell to delay murder warrants for D'Angelo Barksdale when Major William Rawls wants to issue them on flimsy evidence. At the end of Season 1, he is passed over for promotion to major in favor of Lieutenant Walter Cantrell. In Season 2, as punishment for defying Burrell, Daniels is reassigned to evidence control. He contemplates quitting to become a lawyer but reconsiders when Major Stan Valchek insists he be given command of a special detail to investigate stevedore union leader Frank Sobotka. Daniels forces Burrell to agree he become commander of a permanent unit if the investigation is successful. In Season 3, Burrell follows through and lets Daniels form a permanent Major Case Unit consisting of McNulty, Greggs, Freamon, Prez, Sydnor, and Caroline Massey. Daniels separates from his wife Marla, partly because of her dissatisfaction with his career path, which he blames on her own political climbing. He starts a relationship with State's Attorney Rhonda Pearlman but is skeptical about making it public while Marla runs for Baltimore City Council, claiming it will look bad for her political career to have him leave her for a white woman.

Reader's Guide

Cedric Daniels is defined by his dedication to decent police work and quality arrests, in contrast to superiors and peers displaying corruption and unreliability. He is an above-average investigator who gains a reputation as a reliable commander. His key relationships include his difficult dynamic with the insubordinate McNulty, his mentorship of detectives like Prez and Sydnor who become valuable assets under his supervision, and his adversarial relationship with Burrell, who tries to shut down his detail and threatens to reveal the source of Daniels' liquid assets. Daniels' defining moments include: defending Prez to his superiors after Prez injures a young boy during an unsanctioned raid; bypassing the chain of command to delay murder warrants based on flimsy evidence; calling Burrell's bluff when threatened with exposure; forcing Burrell to promise him command of a permanent unit in exchange for taking the Sobotka detail; and eventually rising to police commissioner but resigning after refusing a political request to manipulate crime statistics, starting a new career as a criminal defense lawyer.

Did You Know?

• Daniels was investigated by the FBI for corruption prior to the start of the series, with McNulty's FBI contact reporting Daniels had $200,000 more in liquid assets than his salary warrants.
• Daniels called Burrell's bluff when Burrell threatened to reveal the source of Daniels' liquid assets, pointing out it would bring bad press to the BPD.