Thomas "Tommy" Delk is the Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during The Closer, being appointed to the position at the end of “Executive Order” of Season 6.
Delk's tenure as Chief of Police was cut short at the end of Season 7 premiere, “Unknown Trouble”, after suffering a fatal brain aneurysm.
Before his appointment as Chief, Delk held held the rank of Deputy Chief and was the Commanding Officer of the Counter-Terrorism Bureau.
Character Information[]
In “Executive Order”, Deputy Chief Delk first appears in helping to find Kevin Mason, the man who murdered two paramedics and two years ago attempted to bomb an IRS building. He initially appears on the FBI's side by arranging the transfer of all the evidence until he tells Deputy Chief Johnson that he didn't reveal Kevin's true motive for the murders to the FBI and suggested investigating that on their own. They later find out that Kevin intends to bomb the funeral and this eventually leads to Brenda shooting Mason. Because of this, Tommy is called into the Mayor's office and is appointed as the Chief of Police.
In “High Crimes”, he assigns the Major Crimes Division a series of medical marijuana robberies he suspects will eventually turn deadly. He also takes time to offer Brenda Assistant Chief Pope's job as Director of the Office of Operations and leaves her to it. His suspicions eventually prove correct as another robbery is committed and this time, it has a body count. Delk arrives on the scene and apologizes for not responding sooner, Brenda comforts him by saying it's not his fault and they eventually find the robbers. They confess to the robberies but not to the murder and they eventually find out the murder was committed by the victim's business partner.
In “Unknown Trouble”, Assistant Chief Pope reveals to Deputy Chief Johnson that he received an advanced copy of the LAPD's new organizational chart prepared by Delk. Delk is planning on restructuring the department. Brenda is ecstatic that she gets to keep Major Crimes but much to Pope's dismay, he would be demoted to Captain in charge of Valley Traffic Division. Russell Taylor, in turn, would be promoted to Assistant Chief and would become Brenda's boss as the Director of the Office of Special Operations, a new office Delk was planning on creating which would have supervised the department's specialized field operations, including the Major Crimes Division, Detective Bureau, Special Operations Bureau, and the Counter-Terrorism Bureau.
When Pope and Johnson were discussing these changes, Delk arrives with Captain Sharon Raydor of the Force Investigation Division and they reveal to them that Turrell Baylor's mother has filed a civil lawsuit against the city and the LAPD, along with Chief Pope, Chief Johnson, and every member of Major Crimes for the wrongful death of her son. As a consequence, Delk authorizes an audit of the Major Crimes Division, which doesn't sit well with Brenda who states that an audit comes extremely close to questioning her professional conduct. Delk notes that the lawsuit comes extremely close to questioning the conduct of the entire LAPD. As a last attempt to stop the audit, Brenda asks if she should just quit from the LAPD, to which Delk notes that if she does that, he will "tie the lawsuit around her neck" and would report to the City Attorney that Baylor's death was a direct consequence of Brenda's actions.
At the end of the episode, he congratulated the Major Crimes Division for a job well done after solving yet another high-profile murder. He then planned on announcing his organizational changes to the detectives but before he got that far, he suddenly collapses and the detectives rush to his aid. In “Repeat Offender”, it is revealed that Delk has died from a brain aneurysm and much to the surprise of many, Mayor Quintero appoints Will Pope as the Interim Chief of the LAPD, therefore halting all proposed organizational changes.
Career Information[]
Delk's official LAPD photograph
When in uniform, Chief Delk wears five white stripes on his left arm, indicating that he has given 25–29 years of service to the LAPD.
Medals and service awards worn by Chief Delk[]
The medals and service awards as seen worn by Chief Delk in “Repeat Offender”:
| Ribbon | Award name and description |
|---|---|
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Police Medal
The Police Medal is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for individual acts of heroism in the line of duty, though not above and beyond the call of duty, as is required for the Medal of Valor.
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1992 Civil Emergency Response Ribbon (originally known as 1992 Civil Disturbance Ribbon)
Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1992 Los Angeles riots from April 29 to May 4, 1992. |
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Lifesaving Medal
The Lifesaving Medal is an award for bravery, usually awarded to officers for taking action in order to rescue or attempt the rescue of either a fellow officer or any person from imminent danger. |
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Police Meritorious Service Medal
The Police Meritorious Service Medal is awarded to employees who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service in a duty of great responsibility or of critical importance to law enforcement, but to a lesser degree than required for the Police Distinguished Service Medal. |
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1987 Papal Visit Ribbon
Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the September 1987 pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II. |
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2000 Democratic National Convention Ribbon
Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 2000 Democratic National Convention. |
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Human Relations Medal
The Human Relations Medal is awarded to officers who have in their day‑to‑day activities shown great compassion and have gone above and beyond the call of duty in their response to fellow human beings. |
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1994 Earthquake Ribbon
Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1994 Northridge earthquake from January 17 to January 18, 1994. |