Cedric Daniels is an officer in the Baltimore Police Department. He was a narcotics shift lieutenant in the first season. His squad included detectives Kima Greggs, Thomas Herc Hauk and Ellis Carver. He was assigned to command the Barksdale detail - a temporary unit formed with the aim of bringing charges against Avon Barksdale - and brought all three detectives with him. They were joined by homicide detective Jimmy McNulty and Michael Santangelo. Daniels was chosen for the detail by Ervin Burrell because he had evidence that Daniels was involved in corrupt activity when he was working in the Eastern District. Burrell was pressured into the investigation by a judge who had seen Barksdale organization suspects influence witnesses in his court. Burrell told Daniels that the detail was primarily an effort to appease the judge. Burrell reinforced this message by meeting Daniels request for extra manpower with a selection of the departments worst detectives. These included the erratic Roland Prez Pryzbylewski (who only remained in the job because his father-in-law was an influential officer) and elderly detectives Augustus Polk, Patrick Mahone and Lester Freamon. However, Freamon's calm and methodical approach made him one of the best detectives in the detail.Daniels' loyalty to his detectives was proven when Herc, Carver and Prez were involved in a brutal assault on a minor. Daniels was disgusted with their actions but helped coach them in a story for the IID investigation regardless. Daniels protection of Prez won him influence with his father-in-law, Major Stanislaus Valchek. Under the mentorship of Daniels and Freamon, and restricted from street duty for his actions, Prez grew into a valuable member of the team.Daniels initially stuck to Burrell's mandate of a simple buy-bust investigation but over time his detectives convinced him to pursue more complex investigative methods like wiretaps and electronic surveillance. His dedication to the case drew the ire of Burrell, particularly when links to political corruption began to be exposed. Daniels refused to back down when Burrell threatened to expose his past, correctly guessing that Burrell was bluffing. Burrell was eventually succesful in ending the investigation and had Daniels reassigned to a desk job in evidence control.Daniels' marriage to Marla was put under strain by his failure to advance in the department. Eventually they separated.Daniels was rescued from his dead end position by Major Valchek who requested Daniels to head a second investigative unit based on a personal grudge. Daniels used his desirability to bargain with Burrell - and secured a promise of a promtion and a permanent Major Crimes Unit. He continued to work with many of the same detectives on the Sobotka detail and included many of them in the new Major Crimes Unit.Daniels' promotion to Major was held up by his wife's political ambitions - she was running against an incumbent loyal to the Mayor and he refused to grant Daniels' promotion as it would afford Marla political capital to use against his candidate. A shift in the Mayor's loyalty cleared the way for Daniels to become Major and he assumed command of the Western District.As a district commander Daniels impressed Mayoral candidate Tommy Carcetti. He was promoted to Colonel and commander of the Criminal Investigations Division soon after Carcetti became Mayor. Burrell fears that Daniels is being groomed to replace him as commissioner. Show less «