The Wire (TV Series)

Transitions (2008)

John Doman: Deputy Commissioner for Operations William A. Rawls

Quotes 

• [Rawls knocks on Burrell's door as he is cleaning out his office] 

  Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell : Come to see a dead man walking?

  Deputy Commissioner for Operations William A. Rawls : I hear Carcetti's gonna do right by you. Salary with the coordinating council, then a DC job. You deserve it.

  Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell : Sure, I deserve it. But not for doing the job. What I got, they gave me for carrying their water all these years. To Carcetti, I'm a hack. Royce was no different. Maybe I am. But every day, they send over a new priority. Go after the bad guys. No, change that. Make quality-of-life cases. Get on top of the murders. On second thought, run the whores out of Patterson Park. You think the mayor tells the schools how to teach kids, or the health department how to do its job, or sanitation how to pick up trash? But, get elected, and suddenly, they know police work.

  [Rawls chuckles] 

  Commissioner Ervin H. Burrell : You might think it'll be different, when you sit here. But it won't. You will eat their shit. Daniels too, when he gets here.

  [Rawls stops smiling, and leaves]