Billis

**Billis** is a freelancing sergeant of the Los Angeles Police Department who is caught up in the city's corruption.

Billis is a recurring character in ‘I Am the Night’ and is portrayed by Yul Vazquez.

## Official Description

"*A freelancing LAPD sergeant and problem-solver for the brass whose fear has turned to hate. He finds himself caught in the vise of corruption and the interests he has to protect.*"

## Character Overview

Sergeant Billis is a violent and corrupt police officer from the Los Angeles Police Department. Despite having a sense of honour and respect for his badge, he is more interested in closing cases than in finding the real culprits. This is also due to the strong pressures he undergoes from the higher ranks. The head of the department, in fact, is in league with the mafia families and the wealthy people of the area who behave like the real owners of the City of Angels.

## Biography

Sergeant Billis surprises reporter Jay Singletary in the morgue to photograph Janice Brewster's mutilated corpse. After escorting him out, Billis arrests Singletary, hits him in the face with the butt of the gun, and slams him into a patrol with a black young man, with his face stained with blood as well.

Billis and his men break into Singletary's apartment where they find photos of mutilated women. In the interrogation room, Billis mocks Singletary of thinking of himself as the new Ed Murrow before threatening him. The reporter is not frightened until Billis tries to stick a pencil in his eye. Detective Ohls interrupts the interrogation. Outside the room, discuss their respective conduct, with Ohls taking the defence of the reporter, who saved his life when they were both marines in Korea.

With the help of chief editor Peter Sullivan, Billis ambushes Singletary in a diner during riots, and arrests him.

In the police station cells, Billis and Cuddy, another policeman beat Singletary. The reporter says he knows who killed Janice Brewster. Billis doesn't believe him, saying that their main suspect Brody Stiles has already been cleared. Jay accuses Dr. George Hodel. Billis advises him to shut his mouth if he wants to get out of the cell. Jay, however, accuses Billis of corruption and of being in the pay of Hodel. Billis attacks him and the reporter advises him to investigate.

Billis visits Dr. Hodel at his house and informs him that he arrested the reporter. Then, he's dismissed by Dr. Hodel, whose main concerns now are the riots.

Billis and Cuddy interrogate Singletary. They developed Jay's photos but there is nothing they can use as evidence. Billis, therefore, reveals that Hodel has not only the protection of the Commissioner but also of DeSimone, the Licata family. Basically, everyone. Jay proposes an agreement. If they sneak him out, he will take advantage of the riots and kill Hodel. By placing Cuddy's knife in his home, they can then falsify evidence and frame Hodel for Browster's murder — a crime that he committed, anyway. Billis accepts and gives Jay the handcuff keys. It will be up to him to free himself during the transfer to prison.

## Notes

* Sergeant Billis makes several references to the Los Angeles crime family.

## Episode Appearance

 I Am the Night

* Ep. 3: "Dark Flower"
* Ep. 6: "Queen’s Gambit, Accepted"

## References

1. ↑  *Official Overview for Yul Vazquez's Billis — TNT Pressroom*
2. ↑ Sam Sheridan (writer); Patty Jenkins (director); (January 28, 2019); "Pilot". Episode 1. *I Am the Night*. TNT.
3. ↑ Sam Sheridan (writer); Patty Jenkins (director); (February 11, 2019); "Dark Flower". Episode 3. *I Am the Night*. TNT.
4. ↑ Sam Sheridan (writer); Carl Franklin (director); (February 25, 2019); "Aloha". Episode 5. *I Am the Night*. TNT.
5. ↑ Sam Sheridan (writer); Carl Franklin (director); (March 4, 2019); "Queen’s Gambit, Accepted". Episode 6. *I Am the Night*. TNT.