Christian Garland

**Deputy Mayor** **Christian Garland** is the deputy mayor. He was previously the deputy chief of the Special Victims Unit, replacing William Dodds.

## History

Garland first made an impression on the detectives when he went undercover to track down a serial rapist targeting black men at gay bars. Garland witnessed the protests from both pro-life and pro-choice activists after Evangeline Miller decided to get an abortion after being raped by her stepfather. He helped grant custody for Evangeline to abort her unborn baby. Garland assisted the SVU with a case involving a young woman who was sexually assaulted and drugged. He referred to a cult leader named Julius Adler as a false prophet and showed anger towards him.

After arresting a statutory rapist named Steve Getz and his attorney Peter Abrams for blackmailing, Garland was threatened by Getz and Abrams. Garland didn't take it to offence and showed no sign of backing down and firmly told Getz and Abrams that they will be charged. Garland assisted the SVU in a case involving an FBI agent with the ICE who was arrested on rape charges.

When his reverend, Delman Chase, was arrested on statutory rape and embezzlement charges, Garland was extremely upset when Delman shared his anger towards him to the press. When Delman was imprisoned, Garland visited him and Delman acted psychotic which upset Garland.

Garland first met Rafael Barba, when he was defending a man who shot his daughter's rapist. He told Barba that he was pleased to meet him. After a judge, Charles Gallagher, was accused of rape, Garland was threatened by him about going forward with investigating rape allegations against him, as well as corruption charges. Garland assisted Benson and Lieutenant Carolyn Barek from the Bronx SVU in a case involving a serial rapist named the Good Girl Rapist. After the rapist turned out to be Sergeant Ari Moldovan, Garland couldn't let Barek keep her job as the commanding officer of the Bronx SVU but gave her a job with the Homicide Squad.

When Kathy Stabler was injured in a car bombing, Garland warned Benson not to allow Elliot to get involved in the case or interrogate any suspects due to his history with IAB. Her later becomes annoyed with Benson after she allowed Elliot to interrogate a suspect in Kathy's murder and told her not to let it happen again. When Kathy died, Garland informed Benson that they will not be investigating the case anymore. (SVU: "Return of the Prodigal Son")

### Resignation

Garland later reveals that he is leaving of his own volition. When he went to 1PP to argue against the Gold decision, Chief McGrath hung him out to dry. The higher-ups don't see him as a team player but couldn't fire him. However, Garland chose to resign as the Deputy Chief of all Special Victims Units. Until the new Deputy Chief arrives, McGrath fills in the role of Deputy Chief.

### Return

In September 2001, Garland investigated the disappearance of Aretha Green alongside Duty Captain Carl Mannox. Mannox was then called away due to 911 occurring and Garland was never able to find her body. After Aretha's deceased body was discovered, Garland reached out to Benson and asked to meet with her. Garland and Benson reunited at a diner where he asked Benson to catch her murderer. Garland then reunited with the detectives at the precinct and Benson stated that Garland was going to become deputy mayor. Garland assisted Benson and the squad throughout the investigation and partnered up with Rollins to question witnesses and suspects. In the end, it was revealed that Aretha's grandfather murdered her by accident.

### On OC

After Benson and Stabler witnessed the shooting of their confidential informant, Garland appeared at Benson and Stabler's interview with IAB. Later, after the beating of Bell's nephew committed by two police officers, Garland appears at the meeting with Bell, the Brooklyn bureau president and the chief Williams about the lawsuit that Bell's wife is planning on filing against the NYPD. (OC: "An Inferior Product")

## Appearances

* Law & Order: Special Victims Unit
	+ Season 21: "Down Low In Hell's Kitchen" • "The Burden Of Our Choices" • "We Dream Of Machine Elves" • "Must Be Held Accountable" • "I Deserve Some Loving Too" • "Garland's Baptism By Fire"
	+ Season 22: "Guardians and Gladiators" • "Sightless in a Savage Land" • "The Long Arm Of The Witness" • "Hunt, Trap, Rape and Release" • "Return Of The Prodigal Son" • "Our Words Will Not Be Heard" • "In The Year We All Fell Down" • "What Can Happen In The Dark" • "Wolves In Sheep's Clothing"
	+ Season 23: "And The Empire Strikes Back" • "Never Turn Your Back On Them" • "Tangled Strands Of Justice"
* Law & Order: Organized Crime
	+ Season 1: "An Inferior Product"