The stereotypical police detective in fiction / media

[squarecut1]

Be it popular fiction books, TV or movie.

The guy is an alcoholic, divorced, with a dysfunctional personal / family life. Not much connection with the kids. You get the picture. You've seen it / read it too many times.

I am sure to witness human depravity at such close quarters and with such regular frequency does mess you up, but I wonder how true this stereotype is?

Regardless, it is lazy and unimaginative writing. Using the same old model every time, instead of trying to come up with something different.

Do you guys know any in real life?

 

[eldorado99]

 

[squarecut1]

Indeed.

Micheal Connelly - check
Ian Rankin - check

You can go on and on about the various authors and TV shows.

I have been watching The Wire recently, and there again, the same old thing. It gets real boring.

 

[purbeast0]

^^ the definition of an overrated show.

but yeah, both of them in that show came to my mind when i read this thread. i'm trying to think of one that goes against the stereotype, but i simply can't think of one off the top of my head. i keep thinking of that show, the wire, the shield.

watched point break and robocop (the old one and new one) recently and they don't really fit this mold.

i guess that movie end of watch doesn't have this cliche'd cop. they were both family men.

EDIT:

also, raylan givens in Justified. although, if the stories were about good old boring family men, the shows would probably be pretty damn boring.

 

[Red Storm]

Why are there so many books/shows/movies about conflict? Why can't someone make a movie that just shows a peaceful, happy park for two hours?

Because that's boring. We like fictional stories because they involve things that you don't see/hear/experience in your day-to-day life.

On a more serious note, I want to say it's because when your job involves dealing with crimes and characters that are horrifying in real life, it probably has some kind of effect on how you see the world, the things you think about, etc.

 

[MiniDoom]

 

[squarecut1]

I wonder if there are any stats on real life police detectives? A sample survey perhaps?

Going by the books and media, it would seem there is not a police detective on earth with a half decent family life.

 

[02ranger]

Why are there so many books/shows/movies about conflict? Why can't someone make a movie that just shows a peaceful, happy park for two hours?

Because that's boring. We like fictional stories because they involve things that you don't see/hear/experience in your day-to-day life.

On a more serious note, I want to say it's because when your job involves dealing with crimes and characters that are horrifying in real life, it probably has some kind of effect on how you see the world, the things you think about, etc.

Its funny but, I would read a book with zero fights or action scenes in it. I've been reading the Dresden Files series lately and, while they're really good books, there are several fast paced action sequences in each book. I was thinking the other day I'd like to read a book that is almost totally focused on the investigation of a crime, the facts and questioning people part of it, and when they figure out who's at fault, they go with the cops and take the person peacefully. Walk in the bad guy's office with several cops, tell the guy he's under arrest, and he doesn't struggle or start shooting because he knows there's no point. I mean, in reality most arrests wouldn't be violent and action-packed like in books and movies, so I'd kinda like to see that once in a while in books. Obviously not every story is strong enough to hold up without action scenes, but some would be nice.

 

[IronWing]

The movies tend to star older men. The movies also have a love interest so we can see partial nudity at some point. The movie makers have to explain why the older man is available to pursue the love interest. Divorced, widowed (wife killed by current antagonist a bonus), or so broken by job that never married work as plot devices.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I know several cops IRL, and they're all family men with kids and (so far) intact marriages. I know don't any detectives, however. Maybe it's the long hours.

It does get tiring seeing the same mold used in every cop show.

 

[allisolm]

James Patterson - Michael Bennett series
John Sandford - Lucas Davenport series
Tess Gerritsen - Rizzoli & Isles books
Craig Johnson - Walt Longmire books
Jeffrey Deaver - Lincoln Rhyme

 

[Fanatical Meat]

Frank Dreban Police Squad!

Television show that preceded the Naked Gun films. Watch them now.

 

[KeithTalent]

Sherlock Holmes.

KT

 

[twinrider1]

 

[IronWing]

Your inability to link properly is saved by the descriptive file name.

 

[twinrider1]

lol, the grabbing of his junk really added to the NYC detective persona, but linking it kept *** the thing, so I had to go with angry gun-toting Sipowicz. Either way, he personifies the television detective for decades.

 

[squarecut1]

Sherlock Holmes.

KT

So much more interesting than your cookie cutter character. Good example.

But he isn't a police detective though

 

[Printer Bandit]

Sherlock is just some dude with aspergers. So educational.

 

[FallenHero]

I know several cops IRL, and they're all family men with kids and (so far) intact marriages. I know don't any detectives, however. Maybe it's the long hours.

It does get tiring seeing the same mold used in every cop show.

Thats boring to cop shows.

Of All of the detectives (and cops) I know, all but one work their normal hours 90% of the time. When a case needs extra attention, it gets it but for the most part family comes first among everyone at the PD I work at. The one detective that doesn't fit that mold stays late and comes in early and does a bunch of extra stuff because he is super passionate about it. But he also barely touches booze and has a wife and 3 kids at home.

Now, Chicago PD Detectives, specifically their homicide unit. From what I understand, no one really comes outta that unit the same. All have their messed up quarks, but it isn't always booze and it does not always ruin lives.