Tonie Churlish

**Officer Tonie Churlish** was a plainclothes officer with the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, reporting to Captain Olivia Benson. She was formerly an officer with the Bronx Special Victims Unit.

## History

### On SVU

Whilst working for The Bronx Special Victims Unit, Churlish and Bruno were assigned to work with Benson and Tutuola who had been asked to take over their unit and assist them in closing open cases. Churlish teamed up with Benson and Tutuola to track down a serial rapist targeting deaf women. After Duarte discovered rape trees in an abandoned forest, Churlish was assigned by Avital and Wise to assist Tutuola in hiring new detectives for their unit. Churlish also was assigned to assist the team in their case against Oscar Papa for several rapes and Benson's attempted murder.

Churlish and Velasco were assigned to interrogate Sacrilege after he was arrested for rape. In order for a confession, Velasco offered Sacrilege drugs to which Churlish was suspicious of. Churlish then left the cell to avoid getting into trouble while Velasco talked with Sacrilege. Later, before Churlish and Velasco went to meet Sacrilege for the second time, Churlish confronted Velasco about the drugs but Velasco told Churlish that he never gave Sacrilege the drugs in the end. While meeting with Sacrilege, Sacrilege desperately asks Velasco for more drugs. Velasco then orders Churlish to leave the cell while he talks with Sacrilege. Churlish then secretly recorded Velasco's meeting with Sacrilege. Later, Churlish entered Benson's office and gave her the recording of Velasco. (SVU: "Blood Out")

After Benson opened up an investigation into Velasco's murder confession, Churlish assisted Tutuola in interrogating Velasco. During the interrogation, Churlish becomes hostile towards Velasco due to his actions. Velasco then confesses that his friend committed the murder to save him when he was younger. After the investigation into Velasco was closed, Tutuola told Benson that he was impressed with Churlish's work and Benson told Tutuola to tell Churlish to see her in the morning. Due to impressive work during interrogation, Churlish transferred to Manhattan Special Victims Unit under Tutuola's request. Churlish replaced Rollins but was immediately disapproved by Muncy. Muncy expressed hostility towards Churlish for illegally recording Velasco. Churlish then mentioned Muncy's blind loyalty to Velasco which irritated and angered Muncy.

Whilst investigating Teddy Muncy for assisting a bartender in drugging and raping women, Churlish communicated with Teddy and told him to give Arlo Gregory her photo so that they could close the case. Whilst Benson and the team were surveilling Teddy, Teddy showed Arlo the photo of Churlish which shocked and annoyed Benson. Benson then confronted Churlish who wanted to go undercover. Churlish claimed that all she wanted to do was impress Benson but Benson told Churlish that she was impressed as she survived in the Bronx for a year. Churlish then went through with the undercover assignment where she ended up getting poisoned and kidnapped under Arlo's orders. Muncy and Velasco then arrested Arlo in the meantime. Churlish was then taken to Teddy's room where Teddy realised that she wasn't pretending. Teddy then helped Churlish before Benson and the team entered. Churlish was then taken to hospital. When Churlish returned, Benson confronted her about her actions but Muncy seemed kind towards Churlish.

While Churlish is putting up photos of suspects on the board, Jet tells Churlish that she is going to mess with the Shadowërk servers. Churlish then asks Jet if she could help in anyway. Later, while Fin and Bruno talk to Kate about the rape, Churlish clues McGrath about their investigation along with Benson and Jet. Churlish, Benson and Jet claim that their surveillance is not conclusive enough to get a warrant to arrest anybody but McGrath manages to push them. Later, while Benson and Stabler are talking, Churlish tells Benson and Stabler that they have something they might want to see. Churlish brings Benson and Stabler into the room where McGrath is yelling at Jet after the Shadowërk servers got shut down. Benson and Stabler then shut down McGrath. Later, after Fin and Bruno arrest Randy for rape, Churlish and Muncy congratulate Jet on her promotion. Jet tells Churlish and Muncy that she doesn't know how she feels about it. When Jet leaves, Muncy tells Churlish that McGrath offered her a promotion and Churlish encourages Muncy to do whatever she wants. (SVU: "All Pain Is One Malady")

### On OC

After Kyle gets arrested, Churlish, Jet and Carisi inform McGrath about their updates. Churlish tells McGrath that the site is more popular than ever and Carisi adds that Kyle is going for the insanity defense. McGrath tells them that he wants Kyle arraigned in his hospital bed. Later, after Kyle agrees to cooperate, Churlish and the squad watch as Kyle takes down the site. (OC: "With Many Names")

## Appearances

* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
	+ Season 24: "Jumped In" • "Soldier Up" • "Blood Out" • "King Of The Moon" • "The Presence Of Absence" • "Lime Chaser" • "Bubble Wrap" • "Bend The Law" • "Debatable" • "Bad Things" • "All Pain Is One Malady"
* Law & Order: Organized Crime
	+ Season 3: "With Many Names"