Monica Rawling
Encyclopedia
Captain Monica Rawling is a fictional character
from the FX television show The Shield
, played by Glenn Close
, who received an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.
as Captain of the Farmington precinct. A morally strong woman, she tried to redeem Vic Mackey
and Ronnie Gardocki
by involving them in a controversial asset forfeiture program
designed to clean up Farmington, by destroying the neighborhood drug trade. The program was extremely unpopular with the local citizens, yet she continued to keep the seizures in place, believing that they did more good than harm.
Rawling had a history in Farmington, starting as a patrol officer with partner Rich Nelson. In "Back in the Hole", drug kingpin Antwon Mitchell
reveals that Rawling and Nelson had an affair, but that Nelson eventually returned to his family. Mitchell claimed that Nelson planted evidence on him that put him in jail for 13 years. When Rawling told Mitchell that Nelson had died of cancer
, Mitchell appeared pleased, saying that Nelson has said he would "piss on his grave". When Mitchell murdered an 11 year old girl turned police informant, Rawling was determined to take him down. A video recording of him confessing the murder to Shane Vendrell
and also ordering the death of Vic Mackey provided the means to send Mitchell back to jail. However, after finally proving that Mitchell was responsible for ordering the brutal stabbing deaths of two Farmington police officers, Rawling learned that David Aceveda
had arranged an immunity deal for the imprisoned drug lord. Learning that the DEA
was using Antwon's information to build a case against the Salvadoran drug cartel which had been supplying him with heroin, Captain Rawling ordered Vic and the Strike Team to build a case against the Salvadorans first.
The DEA was enraged that Rawling had forced them to "eat shit," and subsequently threatened to cut off all Federal funding to the LA
area unless Rawling was fired. Although the Chief immediately complied, Monica Rawling was allowed to remain at the Barn until Mitchell was delivered to the police station
and formally arrested for the Farmington cop killings.
Rawlings gave Vic more responsibility, and took him on as a sort of right hand man, despite Acaveda's protests. Despite a few arguments, their relationship was usually cordial. While Mackey serves as a good cop, he was also a political liability.
Early in the season, Rawlings opens an investigation into Mackey to prove to Acaveda that Mackey was clean. This eventually leads to IAD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh
's investigation into the Strike Team.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the FX television show The Shield
The Shield
The Shield is an American television drama series starring Michael Chiklis which premiered on March 12, 2002 on FX in the United States and concluded on November 25, 2008 after seven seasons...
, played by Glenn Close
Glenn Close
Glenn Close is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and singer of theatre and film, known for her roles as a femme fatale Glenn Close (born March 19, 1947) is an American actress and...
, who received an Emmy nomination as Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series for her performance.
Character history
Monica Rawling succeeded David AcevedaDavid Aceveda
David Segovia Aceveda, played by Benito Martinez, is a character on FX's television crime drama The Shield.Originally, he was the captain of "the Barn", a fictional LAPD precinct in the also-fictional Farmington district of Los Angeles, California...
as Captain of the Farmington precinct. A morally strong woman, she tried to redeem Vic Mackey
Vic Mackey
Detective Victor Samuel "Vic" Mackey, portrayed by Michael Chiklis, was the antihero and main protagonist of the FX crime drama series The Shield. Mackey was a corrupt and brutal Detective in the Los Angeles Police Department; he stole from drug dealers, routinely beat suspects and committed murder...
and Ronnie Gardocki
Ronnie Gardocki
Detective Ronald Everett "Ronnie" Gardocki, is a fictional character who appears in the FX crime drama The Shield. He is portrayed by David Rees Snell. Ronnie is known for his extremely calm demeanor, well-groomed appearance, and quiet nature....
by involving them in a controversial asset forfeiture program
Asset forfeiture
Asset forfeiture is confiscation, by the State, of assets which are either the alleged proceeds of crime or the alleged instrumentalities of crime, and more recently, alleged terrorism. Instrumentalities of crime are property that was allegedly used to facilitate crime, for example cars...
designed to clean up Farmington, by destroying the neighborhood drug trade. The program was extremely unpopular with the local citizens, yet she continued to keep the seizures in place, believing that they did more good than harm.
Rawling had a history in Farmington, starting as a patrol officer with partner Rich Nelson. In "Back in the Hole", drug kingpin Antwon Mitchell
Antwon Mitchell
Antwon Mitchell is a fictional character from the FX television show The Shield, portrayed by Anthony Anderson.-Character overview:Mitchell is a former drug lord who, having been released from prison after a lengthy sentence, tried to reinvent himself as an upstanding community activist...
reveals that Rawling and Nelson had an affair, but that Nelson eventually returned to his family. Mitchell claimed that Nelson planted evidence on him that put him in jail for 13 years. When Rawling told Mitchell that Nelson had died of cancer
Cancer
Cancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
, Mitchell appeared pleased, saying that Nelson has said he would "piss on his grave". When Mitchell murdered an 11 year old girl turned police informant, Rawling was determined to take him down. A video recording of him confessing the murder to Shane Vendrell
Shane Vendrell
Detective Shane Vendrell is a fictional character on the FX Networks police drama television series The Shield. He is portrayed by actor Walton Goggins....
and also ordering the death of Vic Mackey provided the means to send Mitchell back to jail. However, after finally proving that Mitchell was responsible for ordering the brutal stabbing deaths of two Farmington police officers, Rawling learned that David Aceveda
David Aceveda
David Segovia Aceveda, played by Benito Martinez, is a character on FX's television crime drama The Shield.Originally, he was the captain of "the Barn", a fictional LAPD precinct in the also-fictional Farmington district of Los Angeles, California...
had arranged an immunity deal for the imprisoned drug lord. Learning that the DEA
Drug Enforcement Administration
The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal law enforcement agency under the United States Department of Justice, tasked with combating drug smuggling and use within the United States...
was using Antwon's information to build a case against the Salvadoran drug cartel which had been supplying him with heroin, Captain Rawling ordered Vic and the Strike Team to build a case against the Salvadorans first.
The DEA was enraged that Rawling had forced them to "eat shit," and subsequently threatened to cut off all Federal funding to the LA
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
area unless Rawling was fired. Although the Chief immediately complied, Monica Rawling was allowed to remain at the Barn until Mitchell was delivered to the police station
Police station
A police station or station house is a building which serves to accommodate police officers and other members of staff. These buildings often contain offices and accommodation for personnel and vehicles, along with locker rooms, temporary holding cells and interview/interrogation rooms.- Facilities...
and formally arrested for the Farmington cop killings.
Relationship with Vic Mackey
Before Rawlings arrived at the barn, Aceveda disbanded the strike team and wrote a burn notice on Mackey. This made Mackey "untradable" because no other department would take him afterwards. As Rawlings put it, he was the "red-headed stepchild of the barn before (she) came."Rawlings gave Vic more responsibility, and took him on as a sort of right hand man, despite Acaveda's protests. Despite a few arguments, their relationship was usually cordial. While Mackey serves as a good cop, he was also a political liability.
Early in the season, Rawlings opens an investigation into Mackey to prove to Acaveda that Mackey was clean. This eventually leads to IAD Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh
Jon Kavanaugh
Lieutenant Jon Kavanaugh is a fictional Lieutenant in the Los Angeles Police Department on the FX television show The Shield. He was portrayed by method actor Forest Whitaker.-Kavanaugh's career before the investigation:...
's investigation into the Strike Team.