Expert: Dick Rogers - 8/7/2008

Question
Hey Dick. I'm writing a pilot for an TV show about a homicide detective. I'm
looking to support a scenario that may or may not be realistic and would
appreciate your feedback. Basically, the hero, when we meet him, is part of a
homicide division (city yet to be determined), but he's a low-level member of
the team, one who receives a lot of grunt work and paperwork from the
senior detectives. In the story, this low-level detective shows incredible
initiative and solves a high profile crime that would have otherwise slipped
past the division. As a reward, he's promoted by a very forward-thinking
lieutenant put in charge of the homicide division. Within that admittedly far-
fetched framework, I'd like to be as authentic as possible. Would would the
title or rank of such a low-level homicide team member be? Similarly, what
level would he be promoted to? I sincerely appreciate your feedback. Thank
you.

Answer
Daniel, first off, nothing happens quickly in a homicide unit.  Your scenario of a new detective wowing his lieutenant and getting promoted to head up the unit is unrealistic.  When someone is assigned to homicide he/she has already amassed years of good, hard detective work...they would not be regarded as grunts...rather, they would be assigned a partner and they would perform equally.  If someone shows incredible initiative and brings some new, innovative ideas into the unit, he/she would be regarded with some respect, but that would be as far as it goes.  There are no prima donnas in this work...only people doing something really well (in most cases) and they take pride in solving cases.  Rather than your protagonist progressing leaps and bounds past the other detectives, you could portray him coming up with some neat, new ideas and the older heads taking note of "...the noiseless tenor of his ways."  Good luck.