The following article contains discussions of sexual assault.
Chief McGrath (Terry Serpico) was a temporary commanding officer of the SVU, and in just a short amount of time on theLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, he managed to frustrate me more than few other characters have. Over26 seasons ofLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, there have been numerous characters who have come and gone with nothing more than bad feelings and mistakes to be left in the wake of their relatively short times on the series. Not everyone can be Mariska Hargitay’s Captain Olivia Benson after all.
While there are plenty ofexcellent characters who have come throughLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit, there have been plenty of others who have joined the New York-based task force and actually jeopardized the important work they do there. You see, it’s not just the perpetrators of crimes who cause trouble for the SVU. Their own rank and file can be disastrous in their own way. Take Chief Thomas “Tommy” McGrath, who first appeared in season 22. His time on the show was so fraught, it was a relief to see him finally go.
Why Chief McGrath Was The Worst On SVU
McGrath Was Abrasive And Insensitive
Chief McGrath first appeared inLaw & Order: SVUin season 22, episode 16, “Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing”, andfrom the start, he was already set up as an unpleasant figure. McGrath is made the temporary commanding officer of the SVU after Garland (Demore Barnes) resigns. From the moment he gets there, he sees things he wants to change. He’s arrogant and rude, berating Garland for some perceived mistake in his first appearance, but what makes him such a disreputable character is his views on sex crimes, which are particularly heinous for the leader of a sex crimes unit.
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McGrath thinks there’s a difference between “rape” and “real rape”, andbelieves that women who live promiscuous lifestyles, such as those in the sex work industry, are not victims and the unit should avoid “wasting” their time on them. This, of course, enraged Benson and others, who essentially refused him, forcing him to compromise in certain cases. He frequently explodes in anger at both family members and subordinates and is the exact type of boss who does to do well in a high-pressure role like the one inSVU.
McGrath Left SVU After Interfering With His Daughter’s Sexual Assault Case
Eventually, McGrath Saw The Error Of His Ways
McGrath’s work comes close to home when his teenage daughter, Shea McGrath (Grace Culwell), is raped at a party by someone she was seemingly close to. First, McGrath bursts into an interrogation and threatens to harm a suspect; then, when Shea’s assailant is discovered, McGrath nearly shoots his father. It’s no coincidence that the father refers to Shea as a “slut”, mirroring the sexist attitude towards sex crimes that defined McGrath’s career at SVU.
Chief McGrath’s First And LastLaw & Order: SVUEpisodes
22
16
25
4
Duty to Report
He’s put on modified duty and essentially relieved of command of the SVU. Later, when news of domestic abuse at Shea’s rapist’s house becomes widely-known,McGrath chooses his family over his work, realizing that he’s put off caring for them for far too long.
IAB Captain Renee Curry Was A Welcome Replacement On SVU
Curry Brought Some Much Needed Diversity To The SVU
Thankfully, we got a much more competent and reasonable IAB Captain to replace McGrath in the form of Renee Curry (Aime Donna Kelly). Curry was previously the captain of the Internal Affairs Bureau but joined the SVU after McGrath’s gun incident. With so few women on the SVU team, it’s good to have another female agent, particularly one as talented as Curry. Plus, she’s an excellent baker. Chief McGrath never once brought in donuts, muffins, or crumb cake to his team onLaw & Order: SVU.
