Will Pope (2024)

William Henry "Will" Pope is the Chief of Police of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) during Major Crimes.

During The Closer, Pope held the rank of Assistant Chief and was the Director, Office of Operations (also known as Assistant Chief of Operations). As the Assistant Chief of Operations, he was responsible for managing and coordinating all matters related to field law enforcement, special operations, and detective operations throughout the city.

In Season 7, Pope is appointed as the Interim Chief of Police after Chief Delk suddenly died of a brain aneurysm, although he still served concurrently as the Assistant Chief of Operations for budget reasons. He was confirmed as the new Chief of Police for the beginning of Major Crimes.

Character Information[]

The Closer[]

Pope is responsible for bringing in Brenda Leigh Johnson to head the LAPD's Priority Murder Squad (later renamed as the Priority Homicide Division and even later the Major Crimes Division). He claims he wanted her for the job as the squad was not providing prosecutors with cases they could win in court (“The Closer (Pilot)”). He is again her boss, having previously been so in Washington, D.C., where they first met and became involved in an affair while Pope was married and working as the Deputy Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia (MPDC) and Brenda was the US Department of State liaison officer to the MPDC. Pope convinced Brenda to her to leave her job at the State Department and she subsequently joined the MPDC. (“Help Wanted”)

In “The Big Bang”, the LAPD headquarters moved from the Parker Center to the new Police Administration Building which Pope notes to be "at the cutting edge of every technology in the world." Brenda disagreed with Pope, stating that whoever designed it had no understanding of police work. When Brenda began modifying the building, for instance changing their visitors conference room to a interrogation room, Pope is less than pleased and told Brenda to adapt to the building, not adapt the building to her. Pope's "wise words" were somewhat hypocritical as Brenda noted that Pope had removed a wall separating his conference room and his office. Pope tells Brenda there is going to be a big announcement and because of that, Brenda and Major Crimes should act like the building is perfect in every way. At the end of the episode, Chief Edward Thompson announces his retirement from the department and the Major Crimes squad believes that Pope is going to be the new Chief of Police, which is likely the reason he is so fond of the new building.

Starting in “Help Wanted”, Captain Sharon Raydor started interviewing Pope's direct subordinates, including Brenda, as a background check for the job as Chief of Police. During this time, Pope asks Brenda to investigate the disappearance of a nanny as a personal favor for the Mayor, which Pope notes is a huge opportunity, although Brenda notes that it is a huge opportunity only for Pope. Unbeknownst to Pope, Capt. Raydor interviewed Brenda because the Mayor and the Police Commission wanted a strong female candidate in the search for the new Chief, and as Brenda is the highest ranking female in the LAPD, she is given the opportunity to run for Chief. In “Jump the Gun”, Pope is devastated to learn his name is not on the shortlist for the new Chief but Brenda's name is, even though he has waited his entire working career for the position.

In “Executive Order”, Deputy Chief Thomas Delk is appointed as the Chief of Police and Pope is to be demoted to Captain and assigned to the Valley Bureau's Traffic Division, leaving him considering whether to leave the force. However, Delk dies suddenly from a brain aneurysm and Pope is named as Interim Chief, much to the surprise of many within the LAPD, and even himself, having only been told the fact on the car ride over to the burial (“Repeat Offender”).

Pope did not know that Delk had initially offered Pope's position to Brenda. She declined, showing her support for Pope's fight to stay in his position.

Pope appointed Brenda Leigh Johnson as the Acting Assistant Chief of Operations when he was officially appointed as the Chief, and when she retired from the LAPD, he promoted Russell Taylor to Assistant Chief and appointed him to the position.

Major Crimes[]

During Major Crimes, he is officially the Chief of Police and transferred Captain Sharon Raydor to head the Major Crimes Division with a promise of a promotion to Commander, if she took the job. However, this was a lie as Taylor told her that the job was the promotion due to a budget freeze and she should be happy with it. (“Before and After”) When Lt. Provenza wanted to transfer out of the Major Crimes Division, Pope and Asst. Chief Taylor ordered him to stay in MCD or else he would be forced to retire.(“Reloaded”)

In “Cheaters Never Prosper”​​, it is mentioned that the MCD is assigned the investigation of a man murdered in a nightclub because the club owner is a good friend of Pope and called him, rather than 9-1-1.

In “Intersection”​​, Pope is holding interviews for all of the potential candidates to Assistant Chief of Operations. Reportedly, he wants to know from the candidates what they think is the biggest problem confronting the future of the LAPD, but it was actually rumored to be a trick question. What Pope really wants to know is what the candidates' biggest problem is with the way the department is currently organized and what would they do differently than Russell Taylor as the Assistant Chief of Operations.

In “Shockwave, Part 1”​​, he sent Acting Assistant Chief Fritz Howard to a leadership conference in Charlotte, NC and assigned Deputy Chief Winnie Davis, a contender for the Assistant Chief position, to coordinate between divisions. In “Shockwave, Part 2”​​, after the cemetery bombing, Pope recalls Fritz to L.A. and sends Davis to take his place in North Carolina. Pope ultimately promotes Leo Mason to the rank of Assistant Chief after the arrest of Cristian Ortiz. In turn, Mason gives Raydor the promotion to Commander which Pope and Taylor had denied her when she took over Major Crimes.

Pope is approved for his second and final term as the Chief during the break between Season 5 and Season 6 of Major Crimes. As the Chief of Police can only serve two 5-year terms, Pope would have to retire from the LAPD by August 2022, at the latest.

Personality[]

Authoritative but flexible, and genial but sometimes sardonic, Pope commands authority and generally earns respect from the departmental detectives. His primary goals, to close cases and convict criminals, sometimes sees him straining under pressure from his superiors to follow the rules, make budget cuts and create greater synergy between the divisions of the LAPD.

Unlike Brenda, Pope tends to give in to pressure to keep an active role in law enforcement politics to keep the department running smoothly. Such a mindset was also characteristic of Russell Taylor in earlier seasons.

Relationships[]

Brenda Leigh Johnson[]

Pope had an extramarital affair with Brenda when they worked together in Washington, D.C. After he ended it, he went on to divorce his first wife (whose name was never revealed) to marry Estelle. Despite this history, Pope asks Brenda to attend his deposition to gain custody of his kids as a character witness. (“The Other Woman”) Estelle Pope, although equally unfaithful to the marriage, hates Brenda and cites her in her divorce motion citing infidelity on her husband's part.

When Brenda first transfers to Los Angeles, Pope defends her against the other detectives' complaints, and can be fiercely protective of her.

Pope's relationship with Fritz Howard is somewhat awkward and strained as Fritz knows about Brenda and Pope's previous affair. Fritz calls Will "the pope".

Brenda later learns that Pope was having an affair with Marguerite "Maggie" Scott, a financial crime investigator from the Department of Homeland Security, who had been auditing the LAPD. He asks Brenda to keep him informed of her case after Scott is found murdered. (“Lover's Leap”)

Estelle Pope[]

Pope divorced his first wife to marry Estelle. She divorces him during Season 2.

Pope gains custody of his children after asking Brenda to appear at his deposition. Estelle, furious at Brenda for her testimony at the deposition, forces her way up to the Squad Room and yells at Brenda, in front of everyone, that "she better not find out that she is sleeping with Pope again". Everyone present in the squad room, including Commander Taylor, thus learns of Brenda's former affair with Pope and began to ask themselves the inevitable question, "was she transferred here and given such a high rank due to her relationship with Pope?" (“No Good Deed”). Commander Taylor later makes a statement to the entire squad about Estelle, discrediting her accusations against Brenda and saving Pope and Brenda from added embarrassment.

Career information[]

When in uniform, Pope wears wears six service stripes on his uniform. Each stripe represents five years of service in the LAPD, meaning he has served with the LAPD for 30 to 34 years. (“The Last Word”)​​

Medals and service awards worn by Chief Pope[]

The medals and service awards as seen worn by Provenza in “Repeat Offender”:

Ribbon	Award name and description
	2000 Democratic National Convention Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 2000 Democratic National Convention.
	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. Goof: Colors were the wrong way round, white on the left and red on the right.
	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.
	1984 Summer Olympics Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1984 Summer Olympics from July 28 to August 12, 1984.
	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.
	1987 Papal Visit Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the September 1987 pastoral visit of Pope John Paul II.
	1994 Earthquake Ribbon Given to any LAPD officer who saw service during the 1994 Northridge earthquake from January 17 to January 18, 1994.
	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.