History Main / ByTheBookCop

* ''VideoGame/TheEndTimesVermintide'': TheWitchHunter Victor Saltzpyre is introduced transporting a dangerous [[PlayingWithFire pyromancer]] accused of murder to town so she could be guaranteed a fair trial, a vastly more judicious attitude than [[BurnTheWitch some of his colleagues]]. In ''VideoGame/VermintideII'', he reminisces about acquitting an alleged witch and punishing the corrupt nobleman who had [[AbominationAccusationAttack falsely accused her]].

* John Carson Sr. of ''Webcomic/BloodandSmoke'' is this compared to the other officers of Newshade City.

* ''Literature/WhoCensoredRogerRabbit?'': Toon police Captain "Clever" Cleaver, working on the Rabbit murder case doesn't want any loose cannons (e.g. Eddie Valiant) wrestling the long arm of the law away from him. In the not-quite-sequel ''Who Plugged Roger Rabbit?'', Sargeant "Bulldog" Bascomb takes a similar role, but somewhat more similar to DaChief. (though Cleaver is still mentioned as the one who habitually hounds Eddie).

* Kuroko Shirai from ''LightNovel/ACertainMagicalIndex'' franchise.

** Kim Kitsuragi, the PlayerCharacter's partner, is this, at least by the standards of the setting. He cares about more about rules and procedure than most police officers, and will often try to encourage the player to stay on the straight and narrow, and will frown upon them acting like a CowboyCop or a DirtyCop, but he's ultimately not above bending the rules if he sees it as necessary, though he never does so lightly. It is worth pointing out that Kim's by-the-bookness is an image he intentionally cultivates - he trash-talks you at board games by proclaiming that when he wins, he always does it by-the-book, and in one especially harrowing scene your character will note that professionalism is used by him as a way of soothing himself when in despair.
** The player, however, can also themselves choose to embrace the trope, by ignoring the wackier dialogue choices and actions, and trying to adhere to regulations. This causes the game to designate the Player Character as a "Boring Cop", and notes that this kind of behavior can not come naturally for someone with his colorful past and current looks. The game will also note that the Boring Cop persona is just another one of your unhealthy coping mechanisms and does nothing to actually help you behave like a normal human being - internalizing the Boring Cop identity will make the game congratulate you on now being [[MaskOfSanity both mad and boring]].

* Prowl, as shown in ''ComicBook/TheTransformersLastStandOfTheWreckers'' and ''ComicBook/TheTransformersMoreThanMeetsTheEye'', knows the Autobot Code inside and out, and privately holds a grudge against every maverick troop out there, ''especially'' the Wreckers. Naturally, he isn't popular, having driven away anyone who could possibly have a reason to like him, much less tolerate him, and has long become incredibly bitter and angry at everyone. Of course, that's [[ManipulativeBastard the]] [[NeverMyFault least]] [[BlackmailIsSuchAnUglyWord of]] [[{{Jerkass}} his]] [[{{Hypocrite}} problems]].

** Kim Kitsuragi, the PlayerCharacter's partner, from is this, at least by the standards of the setting. He cares about more about rules and procedure than most police officers, and will often try to encourage the player to stay on the straight and narrow, and will frown upon them acting like a CowboyCop or a DirtyCop, but he's ultimately not above bending the rules if he sees it as necessary, though he never does so lightly. It is worth pointing out that Kim's by-the-bookness is an image he intentionally cultivates - he trash-talks you at board games by proclaiming that when he wins, he always does it by-the-book, and in one especially harrowing scene your character will note that professionalism is used by him as a way of soothing himself when in despair.

* Jim Gordon starts this way on ''Series/{{Gotham}}''. However, it doesn't take him long to realize that to survive this insane town, breaking the rules is a much better way to find justice.

* ''Series/Yellowjackets'' Detective Kevyn Tan's attempt to reconnect with old friend Natalie ends abruptly shortly after when he realizes his service weapon is missing a bullet. Because he has to account for every bullet, he questions her about it. He sees right through the flimsy excuse Natalie gives him since she can't tell him that [[spoiler:she went on an unsuccessful caper with Taissa and Shauna to catch the blackmailer]] and calls her bluff.

* Inspector David Tosci in ''Film/{{Zodiac}}'' is very by the book both in life and in the film. The film shows all the steps he goes through while pursuing a key suspect in a pretty fair aversion of HollywoodLaw, and even in the end, he knows there's no smoking gun to prove the killer's identity.

* ''{{Series/Beforeigners}}'': Lars and Alfhildr both do their best. Lars in particular is a stickler for protocol and the series only kicks off because Lars insists on actually investigating a drowned woman's body instead of just calling it an accidental drowning and taking an early lunch. That said, Lars' drug addiction and Alfhildr being a time-displaced Viking shieldmaiden with a tendency to relapse into old habits means that protocol sometimes falls by the wayside.

''{{Series/Beforeigners}}'': Lars and Alfhildr both do their best. Lars in particular is a stickler for protocol and the series only kicks off because Lars insists on actually investigating a drowned woman's body instead of just calling it an accidental drowning and taking an early lunch. That said, Lars' drug addiction and Alfhildr being a time-displaced Viking shieldmaiden with a tendency to relapse into old habits means that protocol sometimes falls by the wayside.

** Skinner is no stranger to cowboyish attitude but he is also perfectly aware how dangerous is the environment he is moving in.

* Commissioner James Gordon from Franchise/{{Batman}}, if it was not for his frequently calling upon the services of an unofficial masked vigilante to help police his city. ''ComicBook/BatmanYearOne'', ''ComicBook/TheLongHalloween'' and ''ComicBook/DarkVictory'' track his growing relationship with Batman and rising position in the Gotham City Police Department, and they all reiterate his commitment to Law & Order and refusal to compromise his integrity and the rules, even to convict criminals he knows are guilty. He slips once when ComicBook/TheJoker was on death row for a crime he might not have committed [[spoiler:and didn't]]. He suggested to Batman that they let Joker fry despite the possibility that he's innocent of this particular crime. Batman tells Gordon that he's going to [[IllPretendIDidntHearThat pretend he didn't say that]], and the matter is dropped.

* Inspector Ginko from ''ComicBook/{{Diabolik}}'' plays with this: most of the times he's this trope, but only because otherwise the criminals will be able to loophole their way out of prison, and, when the book has failed, shows his true temper as a CowboyCop.

* In ''Comicbook/BlackMagick'', Detective Rowan Black balks at the mere ''suggestion'' that she remove evidence from police possession in order to track down the people who tried to ruder her. However, [[DeconstructedTrope she goes through with it anyway because the police will not be able to use magic to learn from it.]]

** [[Series/LawAndOrderUK Matt Devlin]] once arrested a ''friend'' of his after the guy snorted cocaine [[WhatAnIdiot right in front of him]]. This foreshadows his actions in a later episode where he insists on investigating another detective's murky account of a shooting, despite the fact that the man is a very good friend of his partner Ronnie.

** The player, however, can also themselves choose to embrace the trope, by ignoring the wackier dialogue choices and actions, and trying to adhere to regulations. This causes the game to designate the Player Character as a "Boring Cop", and notes that this kind of behavior can not come naturally for someone with his colourful past and current looks. The game will also note that the Boring Cop persona is just another one of your unhealthy coping mechanisms and does nothing to actually help you behave like a normal human being - internalising the Boring Cop identity will make the game congratulate you on now being both mad ''and'' boring.

* Eliot Ness in ''Film/TheUntouchables'', at first. But he's quickly taught the folly of this when faced with the likes of Capone. He then goes full CowboyCop, raids places without a warrant, and, in one case, outright murders a guy whom he just arrested.

Can sometimes overlap with ReasonableAuthorityFigure if they acknowledge that occasional breaches of procedure can be acceptable, or even necessary, depending on the circumstances. But it can just as easily crossover into LawfulStupid if they adamantly insist on adhering to protocol no matter what (including towards [[CopKiller CopKillers]]).

Can sometimes overlap with ReasonableAuthorityFigure if they acknowledge that occasional breaches of procedure can be acceptable, or even necessary, depending on the circumstances. But it can just as easily crossover into LawfulStupid if they adamantly insist on adhering to protocol no matter what (including towards CopKillers).

Can sometimes overlap with ReasonableAuthorityFigure if they acknowledge that occasional breaches of procedure can be acceptable, or even necessary, depending on the circumstances. But it can just as easily crossover into LawfulStupid if they adamantly insist on adhering to protocol no matter what (including towards CopKilers).

Can sometimes overlap with ReasonableAuthorityFigure if they acknowledge that occasional breaches of procedure can be acceptable, or even necessary, depending on the circumstances. But it can just as easily crossover into LawfulStupid if they adamantly insist on adhering to protocol no matter what.

* A detective tried to come off as one of these during an encounter with ComicBook/ThePunisher. Averted, as Frank has been around the block numerous times and knows the score.

** Vimes himself also fits this trope, most obviously at the end of ''Literature/{{Night Watch|Discworld}}''. While he's far more cynical than Carrot, that same cynicism is basically what makes him TheFettered. He's willing to bend the rules somewhat and tolerates bribes on the level of beer and donuts, but has cast-iron principles he will not break.