Main characters
Overview
| Actor | Character | Position | Seasons | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | |||
| Shemar Moore | Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson | Sergeant II | Main | ||||||
| Stephanie Sigman | Jessica Cortez | Captain | Main | ||||||
| Alex Russell | James "Jim" Street | Officer III | Main | Guest | |||||
| Lina Esco | Christina "Chris" Alonso | Officer III | Main | ||||||
| Kenny Johnson | Dominique Luca | Officer III+1 | Main | Guest | |||||
| Peter Onorati | Jeffrey Mumford | Sergeant II | Main | Recurring | Guest | ||||
| Jay Harrington | David "Deacon" Kay | Sergeant II | Main | ||||||
| David Lim | Victor Tan | Officer III | Main | ||||||
| Patrick St. Esprit | Robert Hicks | Commander | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Amy Farrington | Piper Lynch | Lt. Detective | Main | Recurring | |||||
| Rochelle Aytes | Nichelle Carmichael | N/A | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Anna Enger Ritch | Zoe Powell | Officer III | Recurring | Main | |||||
Hondo Harrelson
| Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | Shemar Moore Donald Dash (teenager) |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Daniel Harrelson, Jr. |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Family | Daniel Harrelson, Sr. (father) Charice Harrelson (mother) Winnie Harrelson (older sister) Briana Harrelson (half-sister) |
| Significant other | Jessica Cortez (ex-girlfriend) Nia Wells (ex-girlfriend) Genise (ex-girlfriend) Nichelle (girlfriend) Elle Trask (ex-girlfriend) |
| Children | Darryl Henderson (adoptive son) Vivienne (daughter) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Years of service | 1998/1999–present |
| Rank |  Sergeant II |
| Awards | LAPD Expert Marksmanship Badge |
Sergeant II Daniel "Hondo" Harrelson Jr. is a native of South Los Angeles. Hondo was born to Daniel Harrelson Sr., and Charice Harrelson; he also has a sister, Winnie. When Hondo was a kid, his father left the family after falling in love with another woman and moved to Oakland, California, where he eventually had another daughter, Briana. Hondo and his dad remained in touch, and Hondo lived with him during the summer in his teenage years. [1]
As a kid, Hondo and two of his best friends, Leroy and Darryl, were part of a gang, but after Darryl's death, Hondo went to Crenshaw High School [2] and eventually joined the force. [3]
After high school, Hondo enlisted in the United States Marine Corps; he served four years (1994 to 1998) with the 1st Battalion, 9th Marines out of Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton and deployed to Somalia. [4] After his enlistment ended, Hondo joined the Los Angeles Police Department. [5]
Hondo began his Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) career as a patrol officer with the 77th Street Area. [6] He served as a patrol officer for six years before becoming a member of S.W.A.T. By 2016, he was serving as a Senior Lead Officer on Sergeant Buck Spivey's S.W.A.T. Team. [7] Hondo maintains a good relationship with those in the neighborhood, leading to residents often giving him information on cases.
In 2017, Hondo was unexpectedly promoted to Team Leader after Buck was fired for accidentally shooting an unarmed black teenager during a shootout in a blatant attempt to ease the tensions between the community and the LAPD. [8]
Four months before the series, Hondo began a surreptitious romantic relationship with Captain Jessica Cortez, which, while frowned upon, was not expressly forbidden by LAPD policy; however, after his promotion to Team Leader (which put him directly under her command), the two struggle to keep their relationship secret. Hondo ultimately ends the relationship after they are caught by Commissioner Michael Plank to protect her career. [9] He later starts a relationship with Nia Wells, a Los Angeles County Deputy District Attorney and recent divorcée. [10] The relationship ends due to his anger after an encounter with a racist Arizona Department of Public Safety officer and the inability to prosecute the man who drugged and attempted to rape his sister. [11] [12]
In the third season episode "Track", when Hondo pursues of an armed robbery suspect that leads to a vehicle collision, he meets a woman named Nichelle when he aids a man in an accident. Afterward, Hondo starts dating Nichelle until they break up at the end of the season, when Hondo realizes they are on two different paths in life. They remain friends during the fourth season, and towards the end of the season, they restart their relationship after realizing how happy they make each other. In Season 5, Hondo learns that Nichelle is pregnant with their first child. In the sixth season, at the end of the episode "Whoa Black Betty", 20 Squad reveals to Hondo and Nichelle that they're having a girl. In "Invisible", after failing to secure a good foster family for Darryl Henderson, the teenage son of his friend Leroy, Hondo applies to become Darryl's official foster father. [13]
Hondo becomes disillusioned with the LAPD after they fail to terminate a group of racist police officers despite Deacon having a recording proving their guilt. Disgusted with the LAPD's lack of action, Hondo speaks to the Los Angeles Times about the group, risking his career. Although the racist officers are finally terminated, Hondo is demoted as team leader for going to the press. Hondo then leaves Los Angeles to relocate to a Mexican village to reevaluate his life and career. He helps a family being targeted by an Irish international criminal named Arthur Novak and his son AJ. The two had kidnapped a young girl named Delfina, who is rescued by Hondo and a local cop named Charro. Delfina is brought home to her family, and Hondo returns to Los Angeles to rejoin S.W.A.T. and 20 Squad. With Hondo back on S.W.A.T. and 20 Squad reinstated, new member Rodrigo Sanchez is selected to lead 20 Squad until Luca tells Hondo that the police commissioner hired Sanchez to get Hondo to quit. This plot failed when Luca and Deacon pushed Sanchez into taking a private security job. Hondo was reinstated as leader after Sanchez departed.
As a S.W.A.T. officer, Hondo drives a 2015 Dodge Charger Pursuit and carries a Kimber Custom TLE II in .45 ACP as his duty weapon.
His call sign is 20-David.
Jessica Cortez
| Jessica Cortez | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Last appearance | "Kangaroo" May 16, 2019 |
| Portrayed by | Stephanie Sigman |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Female |
| Title | Captain |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Significant other | Hondo Harrelson (ex-boyfriend) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank |  Captain |
Captain Jessica Cortez is the Commanding Officer of the LAPD Metropolitan Division. She is a respected officer who has plans to improve the relationship between the LAPD and the citizens of Los Angeles, despite some resistance from the rank and file. She is portrayed by Stephanie Sigman. [14]
The daughter of immigrants, Jessica became a naturalized American citizen in her early 20s.
Before the series, Jessica and Hondo were in a romantic relationship; while not expressly forbidden by LAPD policy, Hondo ended it after his promotion to Team Leader, after they were caught by Michael Plank, to protect her career. [9]
She eventually left the LAPD to accept the undercover work for the FBI.
As an LAPD captain, Jessica carried a Glock 19 in 9×19mm as her duty weapon.
Jim Street
| James "Jim" Street | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | Alex Russell |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Officer III |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Family | Karen Street (mother; deceased) Eddie Street (father; deceased) |
| Significant other | Molly Hicks (ex-girlfriend) Chris Alonso (girlfriend) |
| Relatives | Nate Warren (foster brother; deceased) Ralph Street (uncle) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank |  Officer III |
Officer James "Jim" Street was the newest member of S.W.A.T. at the start of the series, having transferred from the Long Beach Police Department. He is portrayed by Alex Russell. [15]
When Street was 12, future S.W.A.T. Team Leader Buck Spivey arrested his mother, Karen, for murdering her abusive husband, Street's father. Afterward, Street lived in a foster home alongside his foster brother, Nate Warren, with whom he reconnects in the show. Early on, Street acts as a hotshot cop and a lone wolf, taking dangerous risks, making Hondo question whether he is fit for S.W.A.T. Street continues to visit his mother in prison. However, his mother takes advantage of him, which leads him into more trouble with Hondo. Ultimately, in the season one finale, Street strains his relationship with the team to deal with another crisis involving his mother, which leads to Hondo kicking him off S.W.A.T.
Eventually, after learning that his mother has started using cocaine, Street cuts ties with his mother and moves out of his own house. Afterward, he apologizes to Hondo, stating he was right all along. Hondo accepts his apology and puts him into S.W.A.T. Academy. After weeks at the academy, despite not being chosen at S.W.A.T., Deacon decides to bring Street back for one day before Hicks and Hondo reveal that Street will rejoin S.W.A.T. on a probationary period for six months. Street eventually reports his estranged mother for parole violation and narcotics influence and has no choice but to send her back to prison.
Street dates Molly Hicks, the daughter of his superior, Robert Hicks, for some time. He and Chris begin a relationship at the end of season five.
His call sign is 26-David.
Chris Alonso
| Christina "Chris" Alonso | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Last appearance | "Farewell" May 22, 2022 |
| Portrayed by | Lina Esco |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Christina Alonso |
| Gender | Female |
| Title | Officer III |
| Occupation | Police officer (Resigned) |
| Family | Unnamed mother (deceased) Unnamed father |
| Significant other | Clark Thompson (ex-boyfriend) Kira (ex-girlfriend) Ty (ex-boyfriend) Jim Street (boyfriend) |
| Relatives | Victoria Josie Kay (god daughter) Sarzo (uncle) Tomas (cousin) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank | Officer III |
Officer III Christina "Chris" Alonso is the sole female officer in S.W.A.T. Before joining S.W.A.T., she was a dog handler with the Canine Platoon. She is portrayed by Lina Esco. [16]
In "Homecoming", Chris reveals to Street that she is bisexual [3] and later mentions that her large, extended family initially struggled to understand her bisexuality but now embraces it (with one of her younger relatives teasing her about dating both boys and girls).
In "Crews", Chris is asked by Officer Erika Rogers, a S.W.A.T. candidate, to help her prepare for joining the teams. Although she declines to help directly – believing that the only woman in S.W.A.T. helping the only current female S.W.A.T. candidate could ultimately hurt both of them – she does arrange for Street to help her on the course and Luca (who is a member of the S.W.A.T. selection board) to ensure Officer Rogers gets a fair shake from the members. [17]
In "Day Off", when her 12-year-old cousin Tomas was diagnosed with Leukemia, Chris donated her bone marrow to save his life.
In "Patrol", Chris is offered a spot on Sergeant Mumford's team (which would come with a promotion), but she turns him down to remain on Hondo's team. [1]
In "Sea Legs", she reveals that her mother died in a car accident when she was 13.
In "Animus", Chris reveals to Lieutenant Piper Lynch that she was kidnapped and raped by a group of men when she was 15 who thought she was someone else. She never reported the incident and did not tell her family until years later. Chris decided to become a cop due to this, but never told her squad about the incident.
Chris enters a polyamorous relationship in the second season but breaks it off later. She is the godmother to Deacon's children. After starting a relationship with Street at the end of the fifth season, she leaves S.W.A.T. and the LAPD to prioritize helping and housing illegal immigrant girls seeking asylum in the United States.
Her call sign was 24-David.
Dominique Luca
| Dominique Luca | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | Kenny Johnson |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Dominique Luca |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Officer III+1 |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Family | Carl Luca (father) Unnamed mother Terry Luca (brother) Eva Durant (half-sister) |
| Relatives | Jack Luca (grandfather) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank |  Officer III+1 |
Officer III+1 Dominique Luca is a third-generation S.W.A.T. officer and third-in-command of Hondo's team; his grandfather was on one of the LAPD's first S.W.A.T. Teams in the 1970s. He is portrayed by Kenny Johnson. [16]
Luca drives S.W.A.T.'s primary transport truck, affectionately called "Black Betty." Deacon admits that Luca is a gifted mechanic, as Luca also operates various other S.W.A.T.-related vehicles. Early in season one, Luca is kicked out of his apartment by his girlfriend, and the team is reluctant to take him in, as he is a terrible house-guest despite his friendly and easy-going personality. Street was required to take him as punishment for earlier actions. In "Miracle", Luca mentions that the top of his bucket list is getting a picture with Beyoncé, which he achieved after winning a game of S.W.A.T. tag with Chris.
In "Patrol", Luca reveals that he is dyslexic and wasn't diagnosed as such until he was 14. [1] In "Source", Street is forced to kick Luca out of his apartment to make way for his mother. But, because he doesn't like living alone, Chris gives him a retired K-9 drug dog called Duke as a pet. In "The Tiffany Experience", Luca invites Street to be his roommate again, which he gladly accepts.
His call sign is 22-David.
Victor Tan
| Victor Tan | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | David Lim |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Victor Tan |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | Officer III |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Family | Unnamed father (deceased) Fei Tan (mother) Jacob Tan (brother) |
| Significant other | Bonnie Lonsdale (ex-wife) Ally (ex-fling) |
| Relatives | Unnamed grandfather (deceased) Unnamed sister-in-law (Jacob's wife) Unnamed aunt & uncle (Zee's parents) Zee (cousin; deceased) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank | Officer III |
Officer III Victor Tan is a three-year veteran of S.W.A.T., joining after serving with the LAPD Hollywood Division's Vice Squad. He is portrayed by David Lim. [18]
In "Rocket Fuel", it is revealed that he joined the LAPD because of his cousin, who Tan thought was killed in a car accident, but Tan later learned that his cousin had overdosed on PCP.
He married his long-time girlfriend, Bonnie Lonsdale, but in the season six episode "Lion's Share", Tan learns that she has been cheating on him. As a result, their marriage ends; during this time, Tan faces a two-week suspension from S.W.A.T. for getting into a bar fight while drunk.
His call sign is 25-David.
Jack Mumford
| Jack Mumford | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Last appearance | "Positive Thinking" March 10, 2021 |
| Portrayed by | Peter Onorati |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Jack Mumford |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank | Sergeant II |
Sergeant II Jeffrey "Jack" Mumford is another S.W.A.T. Team Leader whose team frequently works alongside Hondo's. He is portrayed by Peter Onorati. [19]
He has been divorced three times; in "Payback", he gets engaged again after only a month-long courtship, and they marry soon after. [4]
In "S.O.S.", he is a S.W.A.T. training instructor alongside Rocker. He retired in "Invisible", leaving command of his team to Sgt. Rocker. [13]
His call sign is 50-David.
David "Deacon" Kay
| David "Deacon" Kay | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | Jay Harrington |
| In-universe information | |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Children | Matthew Kay (son) Lila Kay (daughter) Samuel Kay (son) Victoria Josie Kay (daughter) |
| Relatives | Mary Beth (mother-in-law) Cathleen (aunt; deceased) |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank | Sergeant II |
The senior member of Hondo's team, Sergeant II David "Deacon" Kay has been with S.W.A.T. for 10 years. After Buck was fired, Deacon was passed over for promotion (despite his seniority) in favor of Hondo. He is portrayed by Jay Harrington. [20]
Deacon is the only member of the team to be married and have children; he and his wife, Annie, celebrated their tenth anniversary in 2018. In "Seizure", Annie suffers a seizure and is hospitalized, needing emergency surgery. However, in the next episode, Annie collapses again, and Cortez reaches out to Plank to get a specialist to save her life. In the season one finale, Deacon and Annie renew their vows with their friends present. Deacon takes extra time off to take care of the kids so Annie can pursue her original career in law; however, Annie reveals that she is pregnant again.
In season 2, Deacon struggles financially and begins a second job as a security consultant for one of Hondo's friends. Luca notices his struggles with money and gives him money to help the family. Deacon reaches a breaking point after his newborn daughter, Victoria Josie Kay, is diagnosed with a heart condition, and he cannot pay for the operation to fix it. He reaches out to a former loan shark that he once arrested to pay for the procedure. Deacon crashes into a truck to prevent it from hitting civilians, injuring him and requiring him to go to rehab, adding stress to the situation.
In "Cash Flow", Deacon is offered command of Sgt. Mumford's team after Mumford announced his retirement, but Deacon withdrew his name for consideration after taking money from a crime scene temporarily.
One of his four children, Lila, is named after a school shooting victim from 2013.
His call sign is 30-David.
Robert Hicks
| Robert "Bob" Hicks | |
|---|---|
| S.W.A.T. character | |
| First appearance | "Pilot" November 2, 2017 |
| Portrayed by | Patrick St. Esprit |
| In-universe information | |
| Full name | Robert Hicks |
| Gender | Male |
| Title | S.W.A.T. Commander |
| Occupation | Police officer |
| Spouse | Barbara Hicks (wife; 1995–2015; deceased) |
| Children | John Paul "J.P." Hicks (son) Molly Hicks (daughter) |
| Nationality | American |
| Police career | |
| Department | Los Angeles Police Department |
| Rank |  Commander |
The LAPD Special Operations Bureau Executive Officer, Commander Robert Hicks, is the direct superior and mentor of Captain Jessica Cortez. In 2017, he fired Sergeant Buck Spivey after Spivey accidentally shot an unarmed black teenager during a shootout and appointed Hondo as his repacement over senior team member Sergeant Deacon Kay in a blatant attempt to ease the tensions between the community and the LAPD. [8] He is portrayed by Patrick St. Esprit.
Hicks is a widower; his wife Barbara passed away due to Alzheimer's disease three years before "Seizure". The couple were close friends with the Kay family; Barbara had taught Deacon's wife, Annie, how to be a S.W.A.T. wife. He and Barbara have two children: Molly, an attorney who lives in Pittsburgh, and John-Paul, or J.P., a gay rights protester and drug user from whom Hicks has been estranged for most of his life, which worsened after Barbara's death.
As a senior officer within the LAPD, Hicks carries a Kimber Custom TLE II in .45 ACP as his duty weapon.
St. Esprit was promoted to a series regular for season 2. [21]
Piper Lynch
Detective Lieutenant Piper Lynch is from the LAPD Hollywood Division. The mayor appointed her as a tactical consultant to S.W.A.T. Despite being a challenge to the team's usual strategies in the field and not being a S.W.A.T. officer, she is an experienced detective, having contacts around Los Angeles. She is portrayed by Amy Farrington.
Nichelle Carmichael
Nichelle Carmichael is Hondo's love interest, introduced in season three. They break up towards the end of the season when Hondo realizes they are on two different paths in life. They remain friends during the fourth season, and he helps at the community center where she works whenever possible. Towards the end of the fourth season, they restart their relationship after realizing how happy they make each other. They eventually have a daughter, Vivienne, and become engaged during the late part of the sixth season. She is portrayed by Rochelle Aytes.
Zoe Powell
Zoe Powell is a police officer in the Los Angeles Police Department. She first appears during a S.W.A.T. Academy session. She later passes the selection and became member of S.W.A.T. She reminds Street of himself in the beginning. She is portrayed by Anna Enger Ritch.
Her call sign was 28-David.
