The Major Crimes Division is an elite investigative unit of the Los Angeles Police Department. Originally called the Priority Homicide Division, the MCD or "Major Crimes" as it is generally called, investigates high priority crimes, including multiple homicides, cases involving high-profile victims or suspects, and "critical missing" cases, which are missing person cases involving kids under 14 years old and/or suffering from mental illness or disability. MCD is under the direct command of the Director of Operations.
Major Crimes Division was headed by Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson for seven years. Following Chief Johnson's retirement from the LAPD, Captain Sharon Raydor assumed command of the division.
The Major Crimes Division is currently located in the LAPD's headquarters, the Police Administration Building (PAB), located in downtown Los Angeles, next to the Los Angeles City Hall.
The Priority Homicide Division (and later Major Crimes Division) was originally located in Parker Center which was the LAPD's headquarters until October 2009.
For Major Crimes, Season 5, the MCD received a miniature version of the RACR system used by the LAPD to their office. MCD can be seen using this new room extensively when going through large quantities of video material or when they are watching live-feed from surveillance operations conducted by the division and/or by the Special Investigation Section (SIS).
Personnel
Command
- Captain Sharon Raydor (2012- )
- Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson (2005-2012)
- Captain Russell Taylor (?-2005)
Investigative Personnel
- Lieutenant Louie Provenza (2005- )
- Lieutenant Andy Flynn (2005- )
- Lieutenant Michael Tao (2005- )
- Detective Julio Sanchez (2005- )
- Detective Amy Sykes (2012- )
- Detective Wes Nolan (2016- )
- Civilian Surveillance Coordinator Buzz Watson (2005- )
- Sergeant David Gabriel (2005-2012)
- Detective Irene Daniels (2005-2009)
- Detective Robby Oderno (2015, only temporarily during Det. Sanchez' suspension.)
Support Personnel
Los Angeles Police Department
- Assistant Chief William Pope (JK Simmons): The LAPD's Director of Operations during The Closer and Deputy Chief Johnson's immediate supervisor. Later in the series, he becomes Interim Chief of Police and is subsequently appointed Chief of Police.
- Assistant Chief Russell Taylor (Robert Gossett): The LAPD's Director of Operations during Major Crimes until Season 5 episode "White Lies, Part 1". He was Captain Raydor's first immediate supervisor when she assumed command of the MCD. The former commanding officer of the Robbery-Homicide Division and later press liaison for the Major Crimes Division, Taylor long felt passed over and unappreciated.
- Deputy Chief Fritz Howard (Jon Tenney): Deputy Chief Howard is the commanding officer of the Special Operations Bureau during Major Crimes (Season 3 onward). During The Closer and the first two seasons of Major Crimes, he was a Special Agent for the F.B.I. and the liaison officer to the LAPD. He is currently the Acting Assistant Chief of Operations until a replacement for Chief Taylor can be found.
- Lieutenant Chuck Cooper (Malcolm-Jamal Warner): Lieutenant Cooper is the commanding officer of the Special Investigation Section (SIS) of the LAPD. He and his unit has helped the MCD multiple times with surveillance and and arrests.
Los Angeles County Department of the Coroner
- Dr. Fernando Morales: Los Angeles County Deputy Medical Examiner (2007- )
- Kendall: Los Angeles County Coroner's Investigator (2008- )
- Dr. Crippen: Los Angeles County Deputy Medical Examiner (2005-2007)
- Terrence Hynes: Los Angeles County Coroner's Office Forensics Technician (2006-2008) / Deputy Medical Examiner Intern (2009)
Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office
- Deputy District Attorney Andrea Hobbs
- Deputy District Attorney Emma Rios
- Deputy District Attorney Martin Garnett
- Deputy District Attorney Claire Baldwin
- Deputy District Attorney Ozzy Michaels
- Deputy District Attorney Janet Powell
Major Crimes Division in the Real World
The commanding officer of Major Crimes Division is Captain Steve Sambar.
In the real LAPD, the Major Crimes Division is under the command of the Counter-Terrorism and Special Operations Bureau and their job differs from the work depicted in the series. In real life, the primary objective of the division is the prevention of terrorist attacks or possible riots that can cause major damage to property and the loss of life in Los Angeles as well as preventing individuals or groups from harassing or harming others on the basis of race, religion, national origin, or sexual orientation.
Real life MCD is comprised of Criminal Conspiracy Section, Criminal Investigations Section, Intelligence Investigations Section, Surveillance Section, and Liaison Section.
In the Major Crimes Universe, it is presumed that the fictional Counter-Terrorism Division and the fictional Criminal Intelligence Division are handling different parts of the real Major Crimes Division's investigative responsibilities.
In the real LAPD, high-profile investigations are conducted by the different sections within the Robbery-Homicide Division.