The Shield - Definition and Overview

The Shield is an American police drama television series on FX Networks. The show is notable for its controversial portrayal of corrupt police officers.

The Shield is about a fictional police force in a bad part of Los Angeles using a converted church as their police station. Although Michael Chiklis has top billing with his portrayal of Vic Mackey, the show is an ensemble that will normally run two or three seperate story lines through each episode, giving other characters plenty of screen time.

Vic Mackey is the leader of The Strike Team, a brutal four-man squad based on LAPD's Rampart Division, a real life anti-gang unit noted for its corruption. The team uses a variety of violent and extortive methods to maintain peace on the streets, while maintaining their own profits through drug protection schemes and robbery. Twice the team was given a fifth member.

Cast

• Detective Vic Mackey (Michael Chiklis)
• Detective Shane Vendrell (Walton Goggins) - Vic's friend and member of the strike team.
• Detective Curtis "Lemonhead" Lemansky (Kenny Johnson) - Member of the strike team.
• Captain David Aceveda (Benito Martinez) - Politically ambitious captain.
• Detective Claudette Wyms (CCH Pounder)
• Detective Holland "Dutch" Wagenbach (Jay Karnes)
• Officer Danielle "Danny" Sofer (Catherine Dent)
• Officer Julien Lowe (Michael Jace)
• Detective Tavon Garris (Brian White) (as of Season 2)