Don Cragen

Captain Don Cragen is a fictional character played by Dann Florek on the TV drama Law & Order from 1990 to 1993, and its spinoff ' since 1999.

Related Topics:
Fictional character - Dann Florek - Law & Order - 1990 - 1993 - Spinoff - 1999

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cragen started his career as a homicide detective in the 1960s with partner Max Greevey (played by George Dzundza), gradually rising up through the ranks to police captain. An alcoholic for much of his early career, Cragen went sober after pulling a gun on a pedestrian in a drunken rage when he was still a detective. He hasn't touched a drop since.

Related Topics:
Homicide - 1960s - Max Greevey - George Dzundza - Alcoholic - Sober

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1991, Cragen was investigated by internal affairs for corruption; during the investigation to prove his innocence, he discovered that he was being framed by his former captain and mentor, whom he turned in. He has maintained bitter relations with the police bureaucracy ever since. The same year, his former partner and longtime friend Greevey was murdered.

Related Topics:
1991 - Internal affairs - Corruption - Bureaucracy - Murder

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cragen transferred out of the Homicide Department in 1993, to be replaced by Anita Van Buren. He went on to head the Anti-Corruption Task Force. In 1998, Cragen was attempting to bust Mafia boss Don Giancarlo Uzielli for the murders of 15 people when he discovered that there was not only a cop in the 27th precinct on Uzielli's payroll, but that his former detective from homicide, Mike Logan, was interferring with the investigation of the Don by investigating a murder of his own. With Logan's help, Cragen discovered the identity of the corrupt officer: his former detective, and trusted friend, Tony Profaci.

Related Topics:
1993 - Anita Van Buren - 1998 - Mafia - Mike Logan

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

In 1998, Cragen transferred out of the Anti-Corruption Task Force to a new bureau, called the "Special Victims Unit", which investigates sex crimes. The new job was a way to cope with the death of his wife Marge, an airline flight attendant, in a plane crash.

Related Topics:
Sex crimes - Flight attendant

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Cragen functions as a kind of stern, but understanding, father figure to the detectives who work under him. He also maintains friendships with Logan and Lennie Briscoe, his former detectives from Homicide. When the latter died in 2005, Cragen was one of his chief mourners.

Related Topics:
Lennie Briscoe - 2005

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~