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Lieutenant Michael "Mike" Tao is assigned to the LAPD's Major Crimes Division during The Closer and Major Crimes.

Tao is the Priority Homicide Division's and later Major Crimes Division's forensic specialist and often leads the processing of the crime scenes.

Character Information[]

At some point in his career, he worked at the LAPD's Scientific Investigation Division and has been described by Taylor as a "technical genius". He is apparently also the MCD's unofficial liaison with the SID. After his time in the Scientific Investigation Division, he has held detective assignments in the Robbery-Homicide Division (“Hindsight, Part 1”) and in the Vice Division (“Family Law”).

In “Before and After”, Tao gives some advice to Det. Sykes when she asked him why Lt. Provenza doesn't like her. Tao told Amy that Provenza doesn't like anybody but advised her to care foremost about the victim and not about what anyone thinks of her.

In “The Ecstasy and the Agony”, Tao became frustrated with himself after he was unable to remember something he thought was important from the crime scene. He eventually remembered that he saw that the victim had opened the peep hole on his front door and therefore wouldn't have opened the door except if it was someone he trusted. This realization helped MCD to discover a new suspect as their victim would have never opened the door for their original suspect.

In “Out of Bounds”, during an investigation, Tao notes that his son, Kevin, is new behind the wheel and if you put him on the road, add a little rain "which makes every LA driver crazy", there is a good chance of road rage. He later jokingly asked Det. Sanchez why he went alone to the crime lab to analyze some paint chips with the Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectrophotometer as he (Tao) being interested in forensics would have liked to have seen the process.

Tao, 2004

Tao in a flashback to 2004

In “Dismissed with Prejudice”, the Major Crimes Division re-investigates a case which Tao had worked on in 2004 when he was still a Detective. The conviction was overturned when the victim's (and suspect's) daughter recanted her statement about seeing her father stabbing her mother, and new blood evidence placed another person at the scene of the crime, just like the original suspect had said but which Tao did not believe.

Tao apologized to both the daughter and the father for his actions during the original investigation and promised them that he would get to the bottom of the case. The daughter, Lydia, accused Tao of manipulating her to testify against her father. Tao refuted this, telling her he only wanted to help her remember but maybe didn't dig deep enough into what she was saying because he had not wanted to traumatize her. Tao asked Lydia to watch the tape of his initial interview with her and see if he still acted in bad faith in her opinion.

Back at the PAB, Tao gave the MCD squad a walkthrough of the events that happened in 2004 but concluded that Will Reichman's defense attorney was right: he hadn't given any credence to Reichman's intruder theory and always thought he had done it "from the get-go." Lt. Provenza noted after this that it was probably because "he's guilty as hell", which Capt. Raydor noted to be a very bad statement to make at this time, as Reichman's civil attorney is suing the LAPD for millions of dollars in damages. Reichman is also suing Tao, the LAPD, and the City of Los Angeles for wrongful imprisonment.

When the LAPD started to investigate their new suspect with the FBI, they find out that he is missing, and has been since 2004. The FBI suspects that he is somewhere in Costa Rica, living off of $1.8 million dollars he embezzled. The suspect's wife (whom he left behind in Colorado) tells the LAPD that because his husband was a cheater, they should look for a woman who disappeared at the same time as they are most likely together. They then realize that their original victim fits that description and looked further, finding out that their original victim and this new suspect were lovers. Based on this new information, they re-examine the orginal case and surmise that their new suspect is also dead, killed by Reichman the same night he killed his wife.

When confronted with the new evidence, Reichman takes a deal of life in prison and a gleeful Tao once again arrests him for murder. Tao speculates to Lydia that the deal was to prevent her from having to testify against him, again, and also his way of saying he was sorry. When Lydia faces her father for the last time, he tells her his only regret is that he didn't murder her too, leaving Lydia visibly and understandably distraught, hugging Tao as Lt. Flynn escorts Reichman out of the squad room.

Tao-Smirk-MC108

Tao with a slight smirk after getting his man, again

Will Reichman, you're under arrest, again, for extremely premeditated homicide. Or, as we like to call it around here, murder in the first degree.

— Lt. Tao

During “Risk Assessment”​​​ he explains to Rusty Beck that he originally wanted to be a doctor, to please his parents, but found that doctors spent too much time protecting themselves. He instead joined the LAPD who protect each other and others.

In “Open Line”​​​, Tao is forced to fatally shoot a suspect and it clearly affects him greatly.

In the 5-part story arc "Hindsight" of Season 4, Tao came in contact with his old partner Mark Hickman, a disgraced former detective who committed perjury on the witness stand and lost them the murder case of an LAPD police officer. He had protected his partner during an IA investigation which was handled by Captain Raydor when she was still in FID, by not telling her about Hickman's extramarital relationship with a murdered LA County DDA, but had no problem "throwing him [the partner] under the bus" when he lied on the stand.

When Hickman later gained access to the MCD murder room with a visitors badge he was supposed to have returned, Tao got very angry at him, something that is quite rare. Although Hickman was most likely drunk and acting aggressively, Capt. Raydor determined it was not a use-of-force situation and told the detectives to calm down. Tao disobeyed that order, something he had never done before, and attacked Hickman to remove his visitors badge. He later apologized to Raydor in her office and promised he would not cause any further problems.

In “By Any Means, Part 4”​​​, Tao is forced to kill Phillip Stroh's accomplice Dylan Baxter in self defense. As a result, Tao is forced to wait in a house with a possible bomb until FID arrives to clear him for the shooting. After checking Baxter's computer, Tao comes to believe that it's a dead man's switch leading to information being sent to the LAPD and FBI rather than a bomb. Tao is proved right when the countdown ends and Baxter's dossier is sent to both parties. Tao is cleared by the FID and joins the majority of the LAPD at the airport to await the arrival of Stroh.

Officer-involved shootings[]

Career information[]

Badge-LAPD-MCU-Lieutenant Mike Tao

Tao's badge

  • Tao's badge number is 2641.
  • When in uniform, Tao wears six service stripes on his uniform. Each stripe represents five years of service in the LAPD, meaning he has served for 30–34 years. (“By Any Means, Part 1”) Taking into consideration that Tao served during the 1984 Summer Olympics, he had at least served for 33 years at the time of the episode.
    • When Tao was seen in uniform in “Repeat Offender”, he was wearing four stripes (20–24 years of service). This of course does not match his latest count of stripes and awards, as he could not have served during the 1984 Summer Olympics if he had joined between 1987–1991.
  • While Tao's exact rank (Lieutenant I or II) is never stated, it's presumed that he is a Lieutenant II.
    • NOTE: While this would mean that Tao is the same rank as Lt. Provenza and Lt. Flynn, they both outrank Tao by seniority in rank. Additionally, Lieutenant I's are usually assigned as a watch commander at a geographical area while Tao, an experienced detective, was promoted to Lieutenant while assigned to the Robbery-Homicide Division and, a short while later, transferred to the Major Crimes Division (then known as the Priority Murder Squad).

Medals and service awards worn by Lt. Tao[]

The medals and service awards as seen worn by Tao in “By Any Means, Part 1”:

Mike Tao, Ribbon rack
Ribbon Award name and description
LAPD-Police-Meritorious-Service-Medal 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.

LAPD-Police-Meritorious-Unit-Citation Police Meritorious Unit Citation

The Police Meritorious Unit Citation may be awarded to an organizational unit of the department for bravery or outstanding service by its members functioning as a team, but to a lesser degree than required for the Police Commission Unit Citation.

LAPD-Police-Commission-Distinguished-Service-Medal Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal

The Police Commission Distinguished Service Medal is awarded to officers who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service to the LAPD or by performing in a stressful emergency situation with good judgement and bravery.

LAPD-Detective-Service-Ribbon Detective Service Ribbon

5 years of service in investigative units as a detective and/or lieutenant.

  • Goof (see below)
LAPD-1984-Summer-Olympics-Ribbon 1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon

Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1984 Summer Olympics from July 28 to August 12, 1984.

LAPD-1987-Papal-Visit-Ribbon 1987 Papal Visit Ribbon

Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the September 1987 pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II.

LAPD-1992-Civil-Emergency-Response-Ribbon 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.

LAPD-1994-Earthquake-Ribbon 1994 Earthquake Ribbon

Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1994 Northridge earthquake from January 17 to January 18, 1994.

LAPD-2000-Democratic-National-Convention-Ribbon 2000 Democratic National Convention Ribbon

Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.

Medals and service awards goofs[]

Lt. Tao could be seen wearing the standard Detective Service Ribbon on his uniform. Considering his service years and his previous service in detective assignments, he would most likely have the Gold Star.

Ribbon Award name and description
LAPD-Detective-Service-Ribbon-1 Detective Service Ribbon (with Bronze Oak Leaf cluster)

10 years of service in investigative units as a detective and/or lieutenant.

LAPD-Detective-Service-Ribbon-2 Detective Service Ribbon (with Silver Star)

15 years of service in investigative units as a detective and/or lieutenant.

LAPD-Detective-Service-Ribbon-3 Detective Service Ribbon (with Gold Star)

20 years of service in investigative units as a detective and/or lieutenant.

In “Repeat Offender”, Tao could be seen wearing the following awards which he no longer had in “By Any Means, Part 1”. While this is technically a goof, it should be noted that The Closer was never very accurate in its portrayal of LAPD award ribbons and who they were given to.

Mike Tao in uniform, CL702

Tao in “Repeat Offender

Ribbon Award name and description
LAPD-Human-Relations-Medal 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.

LAPD-Police-Distinguished-Service-Medal Police Distinguished Service Medal

The Police Distinguished Service Medal is the department's highest award for service and may be awarded to employees who distinguish themselves by performing exceptional service in a duty of great responsibility or of critical importance to law enforcement.

Trivia[]

  • Tao is married to a Japanese-American woman, Kathy, and has children, one of them a teenage boy named Kevin.
  • Tao still has friends in the SID and sometimes gives them Kahlua as gifts to expedite their processing of evidence in cases he works.
  • While not as close to Rusty Beck as Sharon Raydor or Buzz Watson, Tao is shown to be fond of the boy. At the beginning, he is also shown to not dislike Rusty as much as Andy Flynn and Buzz did, giving up money to bring Rusty's mother to town but not saying anything bad about him as the other two did. When Rusty faces down Daniel Dunn, Tao stands with him with the rest of the squad and signs on as a witness to Dunn giving up his parental rights to the boy. He is later clearly unsurprised when Rusty admits to being gay, showing how well he knows Rusty and is very proud of him graduating high school. At Rusty's graduation party, Tao pulls Rusty aside and tells him that he hopes that everything the squad has done for him has impacted him well and moments like Rusty graduating are why they help him so much. Tao congratulates Rusty on how far he's come since they met and shakes hands with him. He later aids Rusty in his search for Alice Herrera's identity by giving him advice on hacking her voicemail and is immensely proud of Rusty when he succeeds, telling him proudly "you did it Rusty. You did it."
  • In “Do Not Disturb”​​, Tao is shown to be amused though he tries to hide it when a missing girl's friend flirts with a taken-aback Rusty.
  • He is the only person who knows that Fritz Howard has had a heart attack and wears a pacemaker (having taken him to the hospital after blindly promising not to tell others, including Brenda, what Fritz is about to tell him).
  • Mike has started a second career in Hollywood as a technical advisor for a show called Badge of Justice. He has even won a story credit award for his work on the show. It is indicated that he makes a great deal of money from this job and often references Badge of Justice and things done on the show. On at least one occasion, he used Badge of Justice equipment to help solve a case. (“Hostage to Fortune”)

Gallery[]

Characters — The Closer
Brenda Leigh JohnsonFritz HowardWill PopeLouie ProvenzaAndy FlynnMichael TaoDavid GabrielJulio SanchezIrene DanielsBuzz WatsonRussell TaylorSharon RaydorDr. Fernando Morales
Characters — Major Crimes
Sharon RaydorLouie ProvenzaAndy FlynnMichael TaoJulio SanchezAmy SykesWes NolanCamila PaigeBuzz WatsonRusty BeckRussell TaylorLeo MasonFritz HowardDr. Fernando MoralesAndrea HobbsKendall
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