Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski
| Roland Pryzbylewski | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| First appearance | "The Detail" (episode 1.02) |
| Last appearance | "–30–" (episode 5.10) |
| Created by | David Simon |
| Portrayed by | Jim True-Frost |
| Information | |
| Aliases | Prez, (Mister) Prezbo |
| Gender | Male |
| Occupation | Detective (retired) School teacher |
| Spouse(s) | Joan Pryzbylewski |
| Relatives | Stanislaus Valchek (father-in-law) |
Roland "Prez" Pryzbylewski is a fictional character on the HBO drama The Wire, played by actor Jim True-Frost. Pryzbylewski is a detective of Polish heritage in the Baltimore Police Department. Initially seen as incompetent, hapless, corrupt and hot-headed, he proves to function better behind the scenes as a talented code-cracker. Eventually, he leaves the Baltimore Police Department following an accidental shooting of another officer and becomes a middle school math teacher, where he develops into a caring and moral person. In some ways he is the mirror-image foil to Herc, who also lost his job at the police department but went on to aid criminals.
"Prez" has a well-known history of incompetence in the department; an oft-recounted incident involved him shooting up his own squad car in a panic and then calling in a false report. He has been bounced around various units, and is considered an inept detective by many of the subordinates in the Police Department. Because of his marriage to the daughter of senior officer Stanislaus "Stan" Valchek, he is protected from being discharged, despite their mutual animosity. Prior to the beginning of Season 1, Pryzbylewski had been working in the casualty division under Lieutenant Cantrell.
Prez is portrayed as a sometimes intelligent and decent man, but lacks the necessary drive due to the often brutal realities of Baltimore police work. Despite eventually winning the respect of his colleagues in the Barksdale Detail through his code-breaking and paper-trail skills, he is never truly comfortable as a police officer. By contrast, he later becomes a dedicated and capable teacher.
Prez is sent to Lieutenant Daniels' Barksdale detail because Deputy Commissioner Burrell allows the unit commanders to dump their most incompetent officers on Daniels. Upon arrival at the detail, he accidentally shoots a wall while showing off modifications to his gun. Daniels is appalled, but agrees to keep Prez if Cantrell will also give him Leander Sydnor, the best detective under Cantrell's command.
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