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Main Characters
Det. Elliot Stabler
Appearances: Law & Order: Special Victims Unit | Law & Order | Law & Order: Trial by Jury | Law & Order: Organized Crime
Played By: Christopher Meloni
A former senior detective in Manhattan's 16th Precinct, also known as the Special Victims Unit, which investigates sex crimes. Ten years later, after the murder of his wife, Kathy, he comes out of retirement and joins the Organized Crime Control Bureau to dismantle every single crime family in the city while also seeking justice for his late wife.
- For tropes relating to his service in SVU, click here.
- Badass Biker: Rescues a trafficking victim by chasing her captor on a bike. You can take Elliot out of SVU, but you can't take SVU out of Elliot.
- Bald of Evil: He sports one as part of his "Eddie Wagner" cover. He keeps it even after the operation is over.
- Beard of Evil: He has a beard as part of his "Eddie Wagner" cover. He shaves it off once he dismantles the Kosta family.
- Big "NO!": He says this as he fails to stop Angela from driving off a cliff.
- Category Traitor: Stabler doesn't have the best reputation among the rank and file police anymore, namely because they consider him a rat for turning in the Brotherhood.
- Character Development: While his temper is still very much there, he doesn't fly off the handle unless the situation has completely lost control. Even when he does lose his temper, it is far-more restrained, helped by the changing political climate surrounding police brutality.
- Crusading Widower: He comes out of retirement following the death of his wife.
- Manly Facial Hair: Prior-service Marine-turned-NYPD detective. Even after he reveals himself as a cop to Reggie, he still keeps the beard (as he was still under cover).
- Papa Wolf: Not only to his own kids, but also to the younger members of his team, such as Jet. Especially Jet.(after Jet risks her life to get critical evidence) "Good job. Never do that again."
- Took a Level in Kindness: Downplayed. Losing Kathy left him solemn and morose, but it also made him more caring about his remaining family and the people close to him, as well as more open about his feelings. He still has a temper and could go off the handle if pushed far enough, but such incidents are much rarer now, helped by the changing political climate, making his actions (which borderline on blatant police brutality) while part of SVU no longer acceptable, forcing him to keep his temper in control even when people push him.
- During Season 4, he has a chat with his younger brother Joe Jr while cooking outside. He first grills Joe Jr about why he got discharged from the armed forces. After explaining what happened, he then tells him that the men of the Stabler family had a bad habit of shutting out people when things go wrong, but Elliot is encouraging him to break that habit.
- Waistcoat of Style: He sports one while at OCCB, something he never wore while he was in SVU. Sometimes it's as part of a three-piece suit, others it's with five-pockets as part of a casual outfit.
Sgt. Ayanna Bell
Appearances: Law & Order: Organized Crime
Played By: Danielle Moné Truitt
Stabler's new partner and commanding officer of the Organized Crime Control Bureau. While she puts up a front of a rules stickler, she knows when to bend the rules if needed.
- Black Boss Lady: Black and the leader of Organized Crime Control Bureau.
- By-the-Book Cop: Subverted. While she isn't crooked or lazy, she also knows when to bend the rules where she can for the benefit of Stabler's family.
- Lipstick Lesbian: A very taciturn lady with long hair and mostly feminine attire (more chapstick, as it's subtle) who also happens to be happily married to another woman (who's slightly more femme) and is expecting a child with her.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: In spades. The first season shows that while she legally doesn't condone Stabler taking a phone from a crime scene (as such, she speaks in hypothetical "what if" legalese), she does know that if he hypothetically did do such a thing, it was to help get the guy who killed his wife, and that Jet already has it to hack. Stabler appreciates this.
- Supporting Leader: Downplayed. She's the head of the OCCB, but she functions as more of the Deuteragonist of the show.
- Twofer Token Minority: Or a threefer in her case; as she points out, since she's black, gay, and a woman. She notes to Stabler that due to his Cowboy Cop tendencies making him a pariah and her own minority statuses in the straight white male hierarchies of the NYPD, the two of them are alike in how they've had to, at different points, avoid stepping out of line.
- Young and in Charge: In a sense, given that she's younger than Stabler but outranks him, both in Organized Crime and in the police hierarchy. She herself lampshades this to her partner and to Stabler.
Det. Jet Slootmaekers
Appearances: Law & Order: Organized Crime
Played By: Ainsley Seiger
A former independent hacker who works with Stabler in the beginning of the series, later recruited to the Organized Crime Control Bureau on Stabler's request.
- Action Girl: She's a sworn detective of the NYPD and fully capable of kicking ass if she needs to. She's also a good shot with a pistol, and takes down an armed suspect more than once in season 2.
- Aloof Dark-Haired Girl: She's a beautiful brunette with very pale skin and a rather toned-down, demure personality, mostly showing little emotion.
- Brainy Brunette: She's a hacker with brown hair.
- Brutal Honesty: Jet generally says exactly what's on her mind, even if it can come off as rude. A lot of the time no rudeness is intended however, she's just really honest. This may be a trait of her (implied) autism.
- Dark and Troubled Past: She married when she was 20, which put her at odds with her parents, especially since they didn't pay for the wedding. While she's no longer married, her parents and her don't talk.
- Deadpan Snarker: She's definitely more than willing to give some lip to Bell and Stabler.
- Emotionless Girl: Jet's default is very low-key, with little expression and no visible emotion most of the time. She does care however, it just doesn't show that much - Stabler is taken aback somewhat when Jet abruptly hugs him in concern when a hit is put out on him, saying how she "feels funny", which appears to be her way of saying she's worried. Then there's the Seamus thing....
- Fair Cop: She's a very good-looking young woman who is now a police detective. In Season 3 she really dolls herself up while going undercover, wearing beautiful dresses including ones with navel deep necklines.
- Hackette: A female whiz with a computer.
- In Love with the Mark: At a certain point she goes undercover to get closer to The New Westies, by seducing Seamus O'Mara. At first she claims that she has no feelings for him and that her judgement isn't compromised. Then he ends up getting killed for working with the police and Jet is utterly devastated.
- Married Too Young: This is why the undercover couple facade with Whelan struck a nerve. She married when she was 20, which made her relationship with her parents incredibly strained. The marriage fell apart soon after, but her parents still don't talk to her.
- O.O.C. Is Serious Business: Jet abruptly hugging Stabler takes him aback, while it also makes her feel funny, as she's generally not at all one to show her emotions much less display physical affection. It shows just how concerned she's grown over a hit being put out against him, and breaks her usual emotional reserve.
- Perky Goth: Well, more like perky punk, but she's fond of checkered pants, Doc Marten-style boots, and leather jackets. Season 2 sees her dressing style resemble Wednesday Adams's wardrobe more closely (a probable actor allusion since her actress portrayed that character on stage before).
- Rank Up: Not quite since she remains a detective, but she gets promoted from third grade to second grade detective.
- Raven Hair, Ivory Skin: Jet is very pretty, with dark brown hair and pale skin.
Richard Wheatley
Appearances: Law & Order: Organized Crime
Played By: Dylan McDermott
A businessman and financer of the online pharmaceutical company called Contropos. He became the Organized Crime Control Bureau's person of interest as his company believed to be a front for an illegal narcotics ring.
- Arch-Enemy: To Stabler.
- Big Bad: Of the first season. Once the Kosta arc is complete, Dylan McDermott returns to the opening credits and Wheatley and Stabler butt heads once again in season 2.
- Bus Crash: See Never Found the Body
- The Don: A crossover with Corrupt Corporate Executive. He's head of his own legit company who wants to own the underworld pharma industry and will use his father's Mafia family to do it.
- Never Found the Body: He was in the car with Angela when she drove into the Hudson. Bell tells Elliot that the divers found her body, but not his. Elliot thinks he somehow escaped, but given the cold weather, it doesn't speak highly of his chances.
- Offing the Offspring: After he takes control of the City's power grid, one of his demands is to release his incarcerated son. When they're reunited, he shoots him point blank in front of everyone.
- Race Fetish: His wife is Black, as was his ex-wife, and dialogue implies that he's mostly or only attracted to Black women.
- Sore Loser: His reaction to Stabler cutting the power at his Virginia-based server farm is priceless. Not only does he slam his laptop shut, he wipes everything off his desk in a rage in front of his daughter.
Angela Wheatley
Appearances: Law & Order: Organized Crime
Played By: Tamara Taylor
Richard Wheatley's ex-wife. She tends to flip allegiances despite her divorce with Wheatley, helping him out with his more unsavory plans.
- Black and Nerdy: Her introductory scene sees her talking a lot of math jargon in a university lecture hall, mentioning the Riemann Sum among other terms.
- A Lighter Shade of Black: While she's no saint, whenever she's in the same room as her sociopathic ex-husband it's easy to tell she's the Lesser of Two Evils.
- Driven to Suicide: As she and Richard drive to the Teterboro airport in New Jersey with cops behind them, Elliot reveals that Richard killed their son, leading her to drive off the bridge.
- Wild Card: It's hard to tell whose side she's on half the time. One minute she seems to be helping Stabler, next it's revealed she ordered the death of Kathy. One minute she's stating she hates her ex-husband's guts and he attempts to have a hit put out on her, next she's feigning her injuries and helping him rebuild his empire. By the end, she's all set to flee the country with him up until Elliot tells her Richard killed Junior, upon which she tries to kill him in a Murder-Suicide.
Carmen 'Nova' Reily
Detective Carmen 'Nova' Reily
Played By: Nona Parker Johnson
First appearing as a member of the Marcy Killers, it was later revealed that she is really a UC working under Brewster.
- Died in Your Arms Tonight: Her girlfriend is shot and killed in front of her by rival gang members, dying as Nova holds her.
- Gayngster: She's introduced as an openly lesbian member of the Marcy Killers, a prominent African-American criminal syndicate though it's later revealed Nova's an undercover cop, so she just pretends to be one.
- Put on a Bus: The last scene of the season 2 finale has her and her brother on a bus after Preston Webb is found dead, it all but said that Nova was the one who killed him, and that she turned her badge and gun in afterwards to focus on looking after her brother.
- Promoted to Opening Titles: In mid-Season 2, after the Wheatley arc ends.
- Twofer Token Minority: She's a Black lesbian. While she's initially introduced as a gayngster, which would make it a threefer, she's actually an undercover cop tasked with infiltrating the Marcy Killers.
Jamie Whelan
Detective 3rd Grade Jamie Whelan
Played By: Brent Antonello
One of the newest detectives to join the OCCB, he is eager to prove himself to his more-experienced coworkers. Despite his brash nature, he is more sensitive to other people's concerns and is shown to be more reliable than not.
- Character Death: He gets shot in the neck and dies in the season 3 finale. He wanted to be taken off life support after telling both his father and Reyes that he couldn't live in his current condition but it is not clear (yet) if Reyes or his father granted his wish.
- Embarrassing Tattoo: He mentions in "Last Christmas" that he had a SpongeBob tattoo on his right arm, which he apparently lost due to being shot earlier in the episode. When Jet questions him, he only says that it's a long story.
- Hot-Blooded: He's eager to act upon his first impulse and has a short fuse more times than not, much like Stabler. Bell pairs him specifically with Stabler because Jamie reminds her of the him.
- Jerk with a Heart of Gold: Downplayed. He's somewhat insensitive and easy to provoke, but he has a good heart at the end of the day.
- New Meat: He's the newest member of the OCCB along with Bobby. Unlike the latter, it's implied that he has much less experience than his coworkers.
- Younger Than They Look: He can pass for somebody in their late-20s to early-30s, but he states in episode 6 of season 3 that he is a member of Generation Znote .
Bobby Reyes
Detective 3rd Grade Bobby Rayes
Played By: Rick Gonzalez
One of the newest transfers to the OCCB, he specialized in undercover assignments, having worked in Anti-Crime and Narcotics before transferring. He tends to be reckless with his undercover work, which makes Bell and Stabler uneasy about sending him in.
- Dark and Troubled Past: He was in a foster home with Vaughn Davis, one of the Big Bads of season 3. Their foster father was emotionally, physically, and sexually abusive, which is the reason why Vaughn is the way that he is.
- Experienced Protagonist: He's worked undercover assignments for Anti-Crime for four years and Narcotics for three before joining the OCCB.
- Happily Married: By all accounts, his marriage with his wife is a very loving one, even if he does playfully complain about her shopping habits.
- Subverted by Season 4; he admits in Episode 6 that he and his wife have divorced following a long rough patch. It's implied that his difficulty coping with Jamie's death—which also led to his affair with Jet—played a major role in the relationship's breakdown.
- Master of Disguise: His speciality is undercover assignments, having worked in them for at least 7 years before joining the unit.
- Second Episode Introduction: In season 3, he first appears after the "Gimme Shelter" trilogy crossover.
- Sharp-Dressed Man: He goes undercover as an international dealer who graduated from the London School of Economics. During the dinner scene, he's seen wearing a blue pinstripe double-breasted suit and cap-toe oxfords.
Other NYPD Personnel
Freddie Washburn
Detective 1st Grade Freddie Washburn
Played By: Ben Chase
A detective working in the Organized Crime Bureau.
Diego Morales
Detective 2nd Grade Diego Morales
Played By: Michael Rivera
A detective working in the Organized Crime Bureau.
- The Mole: He starts working for Wheatley after being bribed with $2 million.
- Suicide by Cop: After being outed as The Mole for Wheatley, he points his gun at Bell to force her to shoot him.
Gina Cappelletti
Detective 3rd Grade Gina Cappelletti
Played By: Charlotte Sullivan
An undercover cop spying on Wheatley.
Bill Brewster
Lt Bill Brewster
Played By: Guillermo Díaz
A Sergeant of the Narcotics Unit, working with Bell as part of a joint task force. Bell used to work under him when she was in the Narcotics Unit. Brewster becomes her boss again when he gets promoted up to Lieutenant.
Antagonists
Albi Briscu
Played By: Vinnie Jones
A high level gangster in the Kosta Organization- Closet Gay: He is revealed to be gay in the 3rd episode of the 2nd season. Since homosexuality is an Albanian taboo, Kosta would probably have him killed if this ever got out, hence the "closet".
- Depraved Homosexual: He's a violent mob enforcer who will just as soon murder anyone he even thinks is going to out him as gay rather than allow them to use that as leverage over him.
- Gayngster: He's a violent gangster and it turns out is also gay.
- Happily Married: Albi and Flutura aren't romantically or sexually attracted to each other, both having affairs behind each other's back, but later episodes show that they do care about each other. When the NYPD starts arresting the Kosta Organization members, Albi initially tries to escape with Flutura, only leaving her behind when she lets him know she was already captured and encourages him to run away without her. Later, when he's surrounded by the police and threatening to kill his lover, she's the one who calms him down and convinces him to turn himself in.
- The Paranoiac: He kills anyone he even thinks is going to either out him as gay or use the fact as leverage against him since it would likely mean his own death if Kosta found out.
Flutura Briscu
Played By: Lolita Davidovich
Albi's wife.- Absence Makes the Heart Go Yonder: She cheats on Albi because he never spends time with her, not realizing he's a Closet Gay.
- Happily Married: Albi and Flutura aren't romantically or sexually attracted to each other, both having affairs behind each other's back, but later episodes show that they do care about each other. Flutura tells Stabler that Albi was the one who saved her from being sold as a sex slave by proposing to marry her. Later, when the NYPD arrests her and makes a deal with her to help them capture Albi, she manages to let him know that she was captured and encourages him to run away without her.
Reggie Bogdani
Played by: Dash Mihok
Albi's nephew and muscle man. He is partnered up with Stabler. Jon Kosta
Played by Michael Raymond-James
The main leader of the Kosta Organization. Preston Webb
Played by Mykelti Williamson
The main leader of the Marcy Killers.- Big Bad Duumvirate: The Marcy Killers and the Brotherhood serve as this for the latter half of season 2, and the two groups have an understanding of sorts.
- Even Evil Has Loved Ones: His wife, daughter, son-in-law and grandson are these.
- Even Evil Has Standards: The Marcy Killers are against human trafficking.
Chopper
Played by Rob Demery
One of Webb's vice-presidents.- Right Behind Me: Inverted, position-wise. Chopper and another member of the Marcy Killers are trash-talking and discussing their plan to betray Webb while loading products into a car. They close the trunk and Mr. Webb appears with an expression of disappointment.
- The Starscream: Plans to betray Webb, who intercepts this betrayal and kills him.
Leon Kilbride
Played by Ron Cephas Jones
A US Representative who's the mentor of Preston Webb and corrupt in his own right.- Corrupt Politician: He's the mentor of a gang leader, completely aware of his dealings, and embezzles money through delaying construction purposefully when starting a project.
Frank Donnelly
Played by Denis Leary
A detective and the leader of the Brotherhood.- Big Bad Duumvirate: The Marcy Killers and the Brotherhood are the other antagonists for season 2, and they have an understanding of sorts.
- Dirty Cop: The Brotherhood is a crew of dirty cops, and Stabler is undercover to infiltrate them.
- May–December Romance: Has a much younger wife and their son is born in "Change the Game"
Vaughn Davis
Played by Christopher Cassarino
An NYPD Academy washout, who robs gang members of their money and drugs.- Impersonating an Officer: He leads a crew of robbers who impersonate an NYPD Emergency Service Unit, by wearing full body armor and wielding long rifles. How did he get it? He was once a police cadet at the academy.
- Rape Is a Special Kind of Evil: On top of stealing the gang members' money and drugs, he takes their sisters and sexually assault them. One of the crew members calls him out on it.
- She Knows Too Much: The crew member who calls him out uses his real name instead of "King", his codename. He kills the sister.
