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Twin Peaks
Original Series
Harry Truman
Sheriff Harry S. Truman
Played by: Michael Ontkean
The upstanding Sheriff of Twin Peaks at the time of the original series.
- Agent Scully: Though at first he seems to be set up for this, Sheriff Truman deeply respects Agent Cooper. However, when evidence seems to point at Ben Horne Truman expresses exasperation with Cooper's eccentricity, in this case Cooper was right.
- Drowning My Sorrows: He does this after Josie "dies". Although he gets better in the next episode.
- Fair Cop: Michael Ontkean was a very handsome man during the original series' run.
- Fatal Flaw: His usual reasonableness tends to go out the window when Josie's involved and his devotion to her frequently sends him in the wrong direction.
- Generation Xerox: The Secret History of Twin Peaks reveals that Harry's father, Frederick, also served as Twin Peak's sheriff and was a member of the Bookhouse Boys. It is actually slightly played with, as originally, Harry's older brother, Frank, took over as sheriff after their father, while Harry took up a job as deputy under him. After getting married, Frank would eventually transfer to a law enforcement job in western Washington where his wife's family resided, while Harry took up the mantle of sheriff to continue the family tradition.
- Heroic BSoD: As mentioned under Drowning My Sorrows, he has one after Josie supposedly "dies".
- Jurisdiction Friction: None, with Sheriff Truman going so far as to describe Agent Cooper as "The finest lawman I've ever known". There is a little formal stiffness initially, but that's settled by the second day and has more to do with meeting someone new.
- The Lancer: Gets put into this role in place of Jurisdiction Friction.
- Meaningful Name: There seems to be significance to the fact that he's named after the president who dropped the atomic bombs on Japan.
- Mr. Fanservice: One of the most handsome men in the cast along with Agent Cooper and Hawk.
- Named After Somebody Famous: His name being Harry S. Truman is the result of his father being a very patriotic World War II veteran. Harry's older brother, Frank, is similarly named after Franklin D. Roosevelt.
- In Washington state, Harry Truman is also famous for being the name of an old man who raised a lot of cats in a cabin near Mount St. Helens, and was presumed to have been killed (along with all the cats) when he refused to evacuate before the volcano erupted.
- Put on a Bus: In Season 3, due to illness (really Michael Ontkean declining to return). A conversation Frank has with him on the phone implies that he has terminal cancer.
- Reasonable Authority Figure: Makes it a point to help out Cooper wherever he can. Makes sure to give everyone a fair hearing.
- The Sheriff: As per his rank.
- The Watson: Lampshaded by Harry himself in the first episode after the pilot when he mentions feeling "a bit like Dr. Watson." He's as competent as any other lawman, but is out of his depth with the Palmer case (and subsequent happenings) and knows it.
Andy Brennan
Deputy Andy Brennan
Played by: Harry Goaz
The naïve and pleasant deputy of Twin Peaks Sheriff's Office. He is romantically involved with Lucy.
- Butt-Monkey: When he steps on a plank and it bonks him on the head, you begin to wonder if the universe really has it in for him....
- Clueless Deputy: Bless his heart, he really tries. But he's still The Ditz.
- Cowardly Lion: Gets a lot of praise for acting quick and shooting Jacques Renault when the latter grabs Fred's gun and attempts to pull the trigger on Harry. That extra target practice sure paid off.
- The Ditz: Most of his time is spent doing pratfalls.
- Doting Parent: He and Lucy are this to Wally.
- Dumbass Has a Point: He's the one that figures out the map to the Black Lodge, though it takes him a while to figure out how to explain it to the others.
- Good Is Dumb: Andy's a good-hearted person, even if he isn't the brightest bulb on the tree.
- Gossipy Hens: A Rare Male Example. Hawk notes in The Secret History of Twin Peaks, that Andy knows a lot more about the people in town than he lets on and doesn't need much prodding to tell a story or two about them. When he questions Andy about how he knows so much, Andy sheepishly replies that people seems compelled to come to him with their secrets, though he doesn't fully understand why.
- Happily Married: Twenty five years after the original series, Andy is married to Lucy having raised their son Wally.
- The Heart: For the Twin Peaks Police Department.
- Hidden Depths: The composite sketch he does of BOB according to Sarah Palmer's description demonstrates that he is actually a pretty competent artist.
- Inelegant Blubbering: In a variation on the Vomiting Cop trope, Andy starts weeping inconsolably whenever he is confronted by gruesome sights.
- Infodump: After Andy is transported into the White Lodge while investigating Major Briggs' notes with the other Twin Peaks officers, the Fireman seems to fill in Andy on several important bits of plot.
- The Klutz: He manages to be by far the clumsiest person in Twin Peaks.
- Lovable Coward: Fortunately, he shakes off the cowardice when saving Harry from getting shot.
- Older and Wiser: By The Return he seems to handle himself as a police officer much better, displaying confidence and asserting his control in certain situations. The aftermath of his brief visit to the the White Lodge also exhibits this trope.
- One Head Taller: Than his love interest Lucy.
- Simpleton Voice: He talks a bit like a toddler as an adult with very slow pronunciation and simple concepts. Despite this, he's fully capable of doing his job.
- Strawman Emotional: Is prone to breaking down crying at crime scenes, such as when Laura Palmer's body is discovered and Andy is tasked with taking photos.
- Who's Your Daddy?: Is he the father of Lucy Moran's child? We don't find out, but Lucy decides that, since Brennan would make a better father than Dick Tremayne, she will marry him.
Tommy "Hawk" Hill
Deputy Tommy "Hawk" Hill
Played by: Michael Horse
The Native American Deputy for the Twin Peak's Sheriff's office and right hand man of Sheriff Truman.
- Badass Native: The only native American on the force and also one of the best fighters.
- Big Damn Heroes: In "The Orchid's Curse" Hawk follows Cooper and Truman when they raid One Eyed Jacks. The two almost escape until a thug holds them up at gunpoint, whereupon Hawk reveals himself and lands a knife in the man's back.
- The Big Guy: With his physicality in addition to his stoic and confident personality, he's the most imposing cop in Twin Peaks.
- Fair Cop: He's an attractive man and ages gracefully over the course of the Time Skip.
- The Ghost: His veterinarian girlfriend.
- Magical Native American: Of course, in Twin Peaks, his beliefs are downright mundane. The Secret History of Twin Peaks has him expressing his annoyance with being associated with this trope on more than one occasion.
- Number Two: Most of the series has him as back up to Sheriff Truman.
- Odd Friendship: Twenty five years after the original series, Hawk seems to have established a pleasant friendship with the Log Lady.
- Politically Incorrect Hero: Hawk was transphobic to Denise Bryson during their first meeting, refusing to shake her hand and referring to her as a "him" after she left the room.
- Rank Up: Twenty five years later, Hawk is Deputy Chief to the Twin Peaks Police Department.
- Scarily Competent Tracker: Both Truman and Cooper often ask him to track down suspects and other people of interest, and he usually delivers pretty quickly. It says something about a person if he is unable to find them.
Lucy Moran
Lucy Moran
Played by: Kimmy Robertson
The secretary for the Twin Peak's Sheriff Office. She is romantically involved with Andy and Dick Tremayne.
- Big Damn Heroes: In Episode 17, she manages to save Sheriff Truman and kills the Doppleganger Cooper when they discover it isn't the actual Cooper.
- The Cutie: Nearly everything about her. Particularly her mousy voice, her pout, and general air of vulnerability.
- Doting Parent: She and Andy are this to her son Wally Brando in The Return. The two of them practically squee in delight when they learn that Wally has stopped by to visit the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department.
- The Ditz: She's a bit flighty, but her squeaky voice really magnifies it.
- Happily Married: Season 3 opens twenty five years later with Lucy married to Andy as Lucy Brennan.
- Hidden Depths: People tend to underestimate Lucy as somewhat oblivious and dimwitted, but she is really much observant and percipient than she appears, being able to recite whole conversations (as she often writes down whatever happens in front of her) and notice small details that other characters manage to miss entirely. It's also surprisingly difficult to pull a fast one on her; if she can't follow your explanation, she will keep picking away at it. Unabashedly, persistently, and with No Indoor Voice.
- Innocent Bigot: (dramatically stated to Hawk) "You're an INDIAN."
- No Object Permanence: Demonstrates this in The Return. She struggles with the concept of mobile phones and Sheriff Truman making it to the office while supposedly being in the mountains. In another scene, she obsesses over what happens to the thermostat when she's not around.
- Sassy Secretary: Usually not very sassy (except when she has to deal with Andy's cluelessness or Dick's antics; then she really turns up the sass), but all the other stereotypical secretary traits (nasal, watches soap operas).
- The Smurfette Principle: The only girl on the force, and is generally quite a sweetheart.
- Took a Level in Badass: After existing as a helpful but not remotely action-oriented character for the entirety of the original series and most of "The Return", it ends up being Lucy who finally takes out Doppelcooper for good with a revolver in Episode 17, saving Frank's life in the process (and likely the lives of everyone else in the station).
- Womanchild: That voice. That pout.
The Return
Frank Truman
Sheriff Franklin "Frank" Truman
Played by: Robert Forster
Sheriff Harry S. Truman's older brother and ex-ex-Sheriff of Twin Peaks. Reinstated as co-Sheriff with Harry during the Time Skip.
- Canon Immigrant: Frank was first mentioned and given a backstory in The Secret History of Twin Peaks.
- Henpecked Husband: A very patient and understanding version. His wife Doris lays into him every time she shows up at his office, but it's heavily implied to be the result of emotional stress from their son's suicide. Frank reacts calmly to her outbursts because he knows what she's going through.
- Innocent Bigot: According to The Secret History of Twin Peaks, he gave Hawk his nickname, which Hawk admits to finding condescending. While the nickname stuck, Hawk largely considers the incident a case of Values Dissonance that Franklin grew out of.
- Mandatory Unretirement: For whatever the reason, he chose to return to the Twin Peaks Police Department.
- Outliving One's Offspring: Apparently his son committed suicide as a result of PTSD.
- Remember the New Guy?: Never mentioned in the original series, but he appears as the new Sheriff while Harry is sick.
- Secret History of Twin Peaks mentions that Frank was Sheriff of Twin Peaks before marrying his wife and becoming law enforcement in Western Washington until Harry became sick.
- Retired Badass: He served as a Green Beret during the Vietnam War.
- Suspiciously Similar Substitute: Fills the same role in the department as Harry Truman did, and even dresses the same. The character was created because Michael Ontkean declined to come out of retirement to play Harry Truman. Amusingly, Forster was actually David Lynch's first choice for the role of Harry Truman back in the day, and Ontkean was casted because Forster turn it down due to a prior commitment to a different television pilot.
- Unfazed Everyman
Chad Broxford
Chad Broxford
Played by: John Pirruccello
A noticeably impolite and also somewhat morally crooked employee of the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department. Something of a jerkwad to, well, everyone.
- Deadpan Snarker: At first, but crosses the line into more severe territory down the road.
- Dirty Cop: Is hopelessly corrupt and willing to accept bribes.
- The Friend Nobody Likes: Well, coworker. But really, there are some good reasons no one likes him unless he accepts a bribe from them.
- Hate Sink: His comments about the death of a disabled veteran are less than endearing.
- Jerkass: Makes fun of a suicidal PTSD victim, and is a Dirty Cop to boot.
- Jerk with a Heart of Jerk: There's one episode where he comes across as reasonably polite to Lucy and everyone else in the conference room. In his next appearance, he takes a bribe from Richard.
- Manchild: Has apparently been working at the Twin Peaks Sheriff's Department for a while, but with his whiny attitude that resembles a Mouthy Kid it's real a wonder he hasn't been canned yet.
- Meaningful Name: In internet slang, "Chad" has become a synonym for a guy who acts like a jerk. He sure is that.
- Never My Fault: Whines repeatedly when reminded of his rudeness by his senior colleagues.
- Not-So-Harmless Villain: Downplayed. Outside of being an ass, Chad's just a pathetic, ineffectual weenie who's far too lazy to do his job and largely comes off as a far less threatening Richard Horne. That said he's more adept at being a Dirty Cop and shows a lot more skill at skirting the law than enforcing it. He even kept a jail key in a hollow part of his shoe on the chance he would be arrested.
- Surprisingly Realistic Outcome: He is nowhere smart enough to keep his corruption a secret, and eventually ends up being arrested by his colleagues who turned out to have been keeping tabs on his illegal activities all along. The Final Dossier reveals that he has ultimately ended up in federal custody, awaiting trial on a variety of charges, in large part for his prominent role in an international drug-running operation.
- Weasel Coworker: Always shown mouthing off instead of doing actual work, except when he goes into Dirty Cop mode off the record.
Maggie Brown
Maggie Brown
Played by: Jodee Thelen
The dispatcher for Twin Peaks's police department having gained employment at some point during the time skip.
- Cool Old Lady: Maggie's largely treated as a professional and friendly coworker. Sometimes she's played against Chad to highlight how much of an ass he is.
- Mission Control: She's the Dispatcher at Twin Peaks and helps to coordinate the force's deployment.
- The Reveal: Her introduction is used to show how much bigger the Twin Peaks police force has gotten since the original series as well as how much the station's been modernized.
The Detectives Fusco
T. Fusco, D. Fusco, and "Smiley" Fusco
Three investigators (all heavily implied to be related in some matter) with the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department assigned to the case of Dougie Jones.
- The Dividual: The Trividual, actually. They are always working as a unit and are never seen apart. They also resemble each other, all being balding, middle-aged, and somewhat chubby guys.
- The Hyena: True to his nickname, Smiley snickers and laughs at the slightest provokation.
Deer Meadow
Cable
Sheriff Cable
Played by: Gary Bullock
The obstructive and rude Sheriff of Deer Meadow. Agents Desmond and Stanley find their investigation into Theresa Banks's death stonewalled by Cable's uncooperative behavior.
- Ambiguously Evil: While yes he's an Obstructive Bureaucrat, the show doesn't clarify if he's an out and out Dirty Cop. When Theresa Banks' ring goes missing, there's an implication that he might have taken it, but with the supernatural nature of the ring and the fact he never admits to anything, leaves it up in the air if he really did try to take it. Even Desmond finding that ring near Cable's trailer is suspect.
- Bald of Evil: His receding hairline is quite another trait that contrast him from Truman, who has still has a full head of hair.
- Dirty Cop: Downplayed. Whether or not he steals jewelry off of dead bodies is up in the air, but the lengths he goes to get in the FBI's way, to the point of challenging their investigator to a fist fight over not wanting to lose possession over Theresa Banks's body, pushes him into this.
- Evil Counterpart: As Deer Meadow is to Twin Peaks, Cable is to Truman. Truman averts Jurisdiction Friction by working well and even befriending Cooper, Cable butts heads with the Feds constantly; Truman is honest, Cable is shifty; Truman is accommodating with good coffee, Cable is uncouth and serves old burnt coffee.
- Jerkass: The most distinguishing trait of his is that he's a dick. He's rude, uncaring, and deliberately impedes the FBI under the egotistical belief that they don't need them.
- Jurisdiction Friction: A classic example. Local cop feels the FBI is muscling in on his investigation and knocks heads with them.
- Paper Tiger: In The Missing Pieces, he eventually challenges Desmond to a fist fight over the custody of Theresa Banks' body. Dispite all of his swagger and posturing, he proves to be quite the pushover as, despite him getting a few cheap punches in, Desmond is still able to effortlessly beat the tar out of him and ultimately wins the fight.Desmond: (grabs the defeated and throughly humilated Cable by the head) This one's coming from J. Edgar! (SMACK)
Cliff Howard
Deputy Cliff Howard
Played by: Rick Aiello
A Deputy in the Deer Meadow Police Department. Like everyone in the department, he's also an asshole.
- Boom, Headshot!: Bobby finishes him off this way after they get into a brief and chaotic gunfight.
- Clueless Deputy: He's a lazy goof-off and spends more time taunting the FBI agents than he does doing his job.
- Dirty Cop: He is involved in Jacques Renault's drug trading business. Seeing how his product was actually baby laxative, makes it somewhat ambiguous; it could mean that he was involved in some sort of sting operation, or was trying to pull off a "beat bag" con.
- Evil Counterpart: What Cable is to Truman, Cliff is to Andy. He's a Clueless Deputy, but lacks the earnest likeability that Andy has. While Andy may be bad at his job, he's trying while Cliff's too lazy to give a damn. Like Andy, he also seems to have a thing with the secretary and the two often play the peanut gallery to Cable's antics.
- Faux Affably Evil: An interesting case, especially on account of Cliff not really being evil, just a dick. Cliff's excitable and happy, much like Andy, but those mannerisms underscore him jeering and mocking other people, much in the vein of a petulant child.
Buckhorn
Dave Macklay
Detective Dave Macklay
Played by: Brent Briscoe
A Detective put in charge of the investigation of Ruth Davenport's death. The case quickly escalates to all manner of strange occurrences that bring the FBI and the Pentagon into his precinct.
- Agent Scully: To contrast Gordon's team, Macklay has no background in the supernatural and is thus completely dumbfounded by all of the happenings in the case.
- Jurisdiction Friction: Averted. While Macklay is quite surprised at the FBI and Military's presence in his case he's nonetheless completely willing to help them out.
