| Chief Brandon | |
|---|---|
 ' | |
|
Real Name |
Brandon |
|
First Appearance |
"Dick Tracy" comic strip (October 4th, 1931) |
|
Original Publisher |
Chicago Tribune New York News Syndicate |
|
Created by |
Chester Gould |
Origin[]
Chief Brandon was Chief of Police in Dick Tracy's city for many years. He was a slightly heavyset man, with a bald head and a pointed nose.
Chief Brandon had a close relationship with Tracy, serving as his boss and mentor, and also as a father figure to a certain extent.
Brandon apparently first met Tracy when Tracy had witnessed a crime. Brandon requested that Tracy come to the station to see if he could identify the offender at the morning lineup of arrestees. Tracy recognized one of the female prisoners as a former boxer turned criminal called Pinkie the Stabber, who was disguised in women's clothes. Brandon was impressed with the young man's powers of observation.
Shortly thereafter, the father of Tracy's fiancee Tess Trueheart was shot and killed during a home invasion by Big Boy's men, and Tess was abducted. Brandon recommended and approved Tracy's admission to the police force's Plainclothes Squad to help find Tess and apprehend Big Boy.
Brandon was highly supportive of Tracy and Pat Patton, even though he occasionally disagreed with their instincts or methods.
Brandon himself came under public scrutiny during the case of Boris Arson. While Arson was being held in jail, he asked Brandon for supplies to cook his own meals. Brandon, not seeing the harm, allowed it. This provided Arson with the items he needed to escape from jail, which became an embarrassment to Brandon, the police department, and the then-Mayor. Brandon was about to be sanctioned for his involvement in the escape, but Tracy took responsibility in Brandon's place.
Public Domain Comic Strip Appearances[]
- Dick Tracy (October 4, 1931 - July 13, 1936)
Public Domain Film Appearances[]
- Dick Tracy (1945)
- Dick Tracy vs. Cueball (1946)
- Dick Tracy Meets Gruesome (1947)
Notes[]
- Chief Brandon's first name has not been depicted consistently throughout the strip's history. His initials have been given as "G.R.", and he has been addressed/referred to as "George" on more than one occasion. He has also been called "John", and he identified himself as "Jim Brandon" to his old friend Pop Gainer.