Badge of Honor (novel series)

The Badge of Honor novel series is a series of novels written by W.E.B. Griffin about the Philadelphia Police Department. Although the books were originally set in the 1970s and early 1980s, and the characters have only aged a few years (Matt Payne is still only 27), Book VIII, Final Justice, moves the story to the post-9/11 era.

Jerry Carlucci is the former Mayor of Philadelphia. He is clearly modeled on Frank Rizzo. Like Rizzo, Carlucci served 26 years as a police officer and held "every rank but policewoman." Despite being mayor and having a police commissioner under him, Carlucci insists on hands-on direction of the Police Department.

In Final Justice, Carlucci is succeeded by African American Alvin Martin.

In an apparent disconnect, in The Traffickers, which begins approximately 30 days after the end of Final Justice, Mayor Carlucci is in full control.

Paulo Cassandro is the underboss of the Philadelphia Mafia. He is the owner of Classic Livery, which provides limousines to the public; he also serves as enforcer to Vincente Savarese, along with his brother, Pietro.

Taddeus Czernich is the nominal Commissioner of Police; in reality, he is nothing more than a figurehead for Jerry Carlucci. In Final Justice, Czernich is succeeded by Ralph Mariani, an Italian American.

The Czernich character was based upon Joseph F. O'Neill, who was Mayor Rizzo's hand-picked Police Commissioner. O'Neill was referred to as "Big Red" or "The Irishman".

Penelope Detweiler was the only daughter of Richard Detweiler, the majority stockholder in Nesfoods. She was involved with Anthony DeZego, "Tony the Zee," and was present when DeZego was murdered. Her relationship with DeZego led to her addiction to heroin. She was hospitalized in a private sanitarium in Nevada. When she returned to Philadelphia, Detweiler had a brief relationship with Matt Payne. She died of a heroin overdose in The Murderers.

Chief Inspector Matthew Lowenstein is Chief of Detectives. He has resented Carlucci's interference with his force, and attempted to resign in The Murderers. He retained the office when Carlucci granted him concessions.

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