Russell Flannagan

**Russell Flannagan** is the Chief of Police for the San Francisco Police Department and has been working the job for 25 years.

## Biography

### Forming the Chinatown Squad

Chief Flannagan and Buckley inform Sergeant O'Hara that the mayor would like to form a Chinatown Squad, which Bill will lead, despite the high risk task. From here is a straight climb up the letter without kissing a single arse. Flannagan has also taken the liberty of picking three out of the four other officers that will be joining the taskforce. It's up to Bill to decide who will be the final member.

### Arresting Ah Sahm

The chief is waiting for Bill and Lee outside of the Banshee, where they are investigating a double homicide. He suspects that there were at least two Chinese attackers. However, Lee examines the bodies and determines that it was more likely a single attacker, more specifically an expert swordsman. Not long after, Ah Sahm is apprehended with a hatchet and they accuse him of being the killer.

Chief Flannagan gets a visit from Buckley regarding Ah Sahm's release. They have a very angry constituency demanding justice. From times to time, their courts can fail to deliver true justice. And when that happens, it's up to them to pick up the slack. With violence in Chinatown on the rise, Buckley explains that the mayor would like to send a message. And they do this by applying pressure to the tongs and commissioning several raids. Afterward, the mayor and Buckley get a photo for the newspaper with the Chinatown squad and Chief Flannagan, as they cut off the queues of the Chinese men they've arrested.

### Hunting for the swordsman

Bill requests that Chief Flannagan take him out of Chinatown, as he didn't become a cop to clean up blood or be a pawn in someone's political game. However, the chief denies his request. Later, Flannagan, Bill, and Lee Bill, report to the shore after a call about a body being fished in from the sea. They've identified him as Victor Timmons, real estate tycoon. He was reported missing with his business associate Lance McCormick two days ago. They were called in as it appears Timmons was killed by a sword, which Lee confirms.

Chief Flannagan, Bill, and Lee have tracked their swordsman to the Teddy Boys' hideout, where their bodies have been discovered. Judging by the crime scene, Lee suspects that this time around, there was more than one person. Chief Flannagan warns Bill that if he and the Chinatown Squad can't find the perpetrator or perpetrators, then he'll find someone who can.

Flannagan and Bill attend Senator Crestwood's address and are outraged by the Senator's accusations when he points the finger at Mayor Blake and the San Francisco police department for failing to protect the city. Chief Flannagan doesn't care who Bill has to shake down to get an arrest, he just needs a swordsman as proof of progress.

Chief Flannagan informs Mayor Blake and Buckley on the attack at Bill's home. They're planning a counterattack to wipe out the Fung Hai, but Bill arrives and reveals that he gave his men the word to stand down after getting word that Fung Hai were expecting retaliation and have set a trap. Instead, they'll wait a couple of days for the Fung Hai to lower their guard and then go in and take them out.

### Finding the swordsman

Chief Flannagan approaches Leary over the firebombing of Mercer Steel, though Leary claims to have had no involvement. Flannagan warns him against any further bombings, but Leary insists that he knows nothing. Leary isn't intimidated and tells Flannagan that his people at City Hall created this mess by starving their own citizens in order to line the pockets of friends and relatives. Now those citizens are fighting back and it's out of Leary's hands. If things worsen, the city will burn.

As planned, the department goes after the Fung Hai, during which many men on both sides are hurt or killed. However, they do find their swordsman. Lee confirms for Flannagan that Zing is their killer after finding his sword and witnessing him in action with it. Along with the sword, Bill claims to have found Timmons' watch in Zing's room as well.

### Mayor Blake's murder

Chief Flannagan gets word of Mayor Blake's murder and immediately informs Buckley, who he takes to the scene of the crime and to see Penny, who they question about Blake's death. Penny reveals that Samuel was drunk and attacked her. He was strangling her and she couldn't breathe. Sophie tried to help, but he threw her into a wall. When Penny is reluctant to reveal that Jacob saved her, Sophie reveals it. Penny explains that he was just defending her, but Buckley simply wants an arrest. As acting mayor, Buckley pulls Chief Flannagan to the side to tell him that he wants every man available searching for Jacob. He wants the chief to put on a show before they go public with the mayor's death. When Flannagn fails to come up with immediate results, Buckley puts a curfew in place as well as roadblocks. He wants the entire force on the streets and doesn't care what it costs.

They eventually find Jacob, the mayor's killer, but he is pulled from the paddy wagon, beaten, and hanged outside of the Banshee by the workingmen, who then takes their anger to Chinatown, where a riot ensues. Chief Flannagan arrives with the cavalry to bring the riot in Chinatown to an end not long after.

During the council meeting, Buckley announces his plans to wage war against the Hop Wei, who he describes as being the most powerful and brutally violent in Chinatown. Chief Flannagan is reluctant to the idea of sending his men to do battle with the tongs in their territory, but Buckley assures him that they'll be fighting on their terms and will be using the justice system to do so.

## Appearances

### Season 1

* The Itchy Onion
* There's No China in the Bible
* The White Mountain
* They Don't Pay Us Enough to Think

### Season 2

* Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard
* The Chinese Connection
* Not How We Do Business
* If You Don't See Blood, You Didn't Come to Play
* Not for a Drink, a F\*ck, or a G\*\*damn Prayer
* If You Wait by the River Long Enough
* All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic
* Enter the Dragon
* Man on the Wall

## Behind the scenes

* Cheif Flannagan was portrayed by David Butler.
	+ David Butler, the actor who portrayed Chief Flannagan, passed away on May 27, 2021, after battling with cancer.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Season 1, episode 4: ***The White Mountain***
2. ↑ Season 1, episode 1: ***The Itchy Onion***
3. ↑ Season 1, episode 2: ***There's No China in the Bible***
4. ↑ Season 1, episode 8: ***They Don't Pay Us Enough to Think***
5. ↑ Season 2, episode 1: ***Learn to Endure, or Hire a Bodyguard***
6. ↑ Season 2, episode 2: ***The Chinese Connection***
7. ↑ Season 2, episode 4: ***If You Don't See Blood, You Didn't Come to Play***
8. ↑ Season 2, episode 5: ***Not for a Drink, a F\*ck, or a G\*\*damn Prayer***
9. ↑ Season 2, episode 8: ***All Enemies, Foreign and Domestic***
10. ↑ Season 2, episode 9: ***Enter the Dragon***
11. ↑ Season 2, episode 10: ***Man on the Wall***
12. ↑ David's Passing - Facebook