The Closer

When Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson arrives in Los Angeles from Atlanta, Georgia, she immediately finds herself thrust into a very different way of life. She struggles to get over her past problems while dealing with co-workers who resent the fact that she leapfrogged over many veteran cops to the elevated position of deputy police chief. Her quirky personality and hard-nosed approach to her job immediately irritate her colleagues, as does the fact that she is a tough-minded Southern woman in a department dominated by men. Although focused on her career, she's also trying (somewhat unsuccessfully) to overcome her love of doughnuts, chocolate bars and other snacks and to reignite a personal life that has fallen by the wayside.

Brenda investigates the unusual murder of Heather Treman (HELEN TUCKER), a high-profile model and the wife of movie star Dean Treman (BRAD ROWE). Despite having a bad sense of direction, Brenda navigates the streets of Los Angeles to track down leads, all of which, at first glance, seem to point to Dean as the culprit. Meanwhile, Brenda meets with her ex-boyfriend Fritz for a friendly dinner and gets the name of the Priority Murder Squad (PMS) changed to the Priority Homicide Division (PHD), trading in one set of initials for a set considerably more desirable.

Brenda investigates the death of a high-priced Russian call girl whose client list reveals the name of Danny Booth (DON McMANUS), an Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer and close friend of Brenda's boss, Pope. During the investigation, Brenda questions Nick Kozlov (SETH GABEL), who was the deceased woman's boyfriend and is the illegitimate son of a Russian mob boss. Although Brenda suspects either Kozlov or Booth, she halts her investigation into the former when the FBI provides an alibi for where he was on the night of the murder. She later discovers that Kozlov is a pawn in a larger FBI investigation into the Russian mob. However, instead of being thwarted, Brenda vows to probe deeper and outsmart everyone to solve the murder. Meanwhile, Brenda leaves a message for Fritz after their dinner together. She is still unsure if they are merely friends or if their relationship could be romantic.

Brenda follows the trail of a suspected sniper who is assassinating members of the East Side Catorces, one of the city's most notorious gangs. When a retired U.S. Marine Corps colonel comes forward at the first crime scene and offers detailed information about the murders, Brenda agrees to work with him secretly to avoid scaring off the suspect. But as the case unravels, she begins to think there is more to the colonel's story than he has revealed. After more killings happen, Brenda asks Fritz to help her catch the sniper.

Brenda investigates the murder of a psychiatrist who has been involved in a controversial clinical trial for a new drug to treat teen depression and anxiety. The trail leads to several possible suspects, from the psychiatrist's partner in the clinical trial to the doctors working for the research company developing the new drug, which has already caused the death of one child. As Brenda continues her investigation, she uncovers a startling connection that ultimately leads her to the murderer. Meanwhile, Brenda's squad learns that she had been charged with sexual misconduct at her last job in Atlanta. And her tentative relationship with Fritz gets complicated when they find themselves in an awkward situation involving a hidden microphone.

Brenda investigates the murder of a U.S. Congresswoman's daughter, who may have been targeted because of an online personal ad involving role-playing in a fantasy "rape" scene. As the investigation unfolds, Brenda becomes a target in a frightening incident that leaves her emotionally and physically shaken.

A date between Brenda and Fritz is interrupted by a call that a prominent judge has been shot and killed. Upon arrival at the crime scene, Brenda learns that the judge's autistic son has disappeared and that the judge's ex-wife is now heading to Los Angeles from Phoenix. Brenda and her team study the judge's case files, hoping to find some clue as to who would murder him. The victim's car is eventually found at the airport, with his son alive and unharmed in the trunk. The boy repeats a series of numbers over and over, puzzling the detectives as to the meaning. But Brenda soon figures out what the numbers are, giving her a crucial lead in her investigation. Meanwhile, Brenda and Fritz continue trying to define their relationship, unsure if they are just friends or if they are indeed dating.

Brenda delves into a case involving an attack on a gay man. The man, who had just been at a bar with his partner, was beaten to death with a baseball bat. After Captain Taylor receives a tip, the team thinks they have found their killer until his alibi clears, forcing Brenda to start her investigation all over to find the real murderer. Meanwhile, the case stirs up passions among the squad members, with Taylor frequently undermining Brenda's authority. Also, Brenda receives some much-needed help from Fritz in dealing with a situation concerning her cat.

A young Mexican girl, whose mother and cousin are illegal immigrants working for a wealthy American family, is found murdered. After an extensive investigation, marred by false leads and a tragic suicide, Brenda heads south of the border to track down and trap the killer by using a key stipulation in Mexican law.

A wealthy octogenarian dies just months after marrying a young stripper. After his widow then dies of an overdose, attention turns towards the butler as a possible suspect. But Brenda, who continues to have problems being accepted by her colleagues, has her sights set on the dead man's three grown children.

Brenda and her team are assigned to investigate the murder of an Iranian businessman and his driver in a medical center parking deck. Complications ensue between the LAPD and the FBI concerning which has jurisdiction over the case because the businessman's name appears on the FBI's terrorist watch list. The FBI agrees to allow the LAPD to investigate but only if an FBI liaison serves on the team. That agent is Fritz, whose relationship with Brenda may become strained as a result of the issues raised in the case.

Faulty evidence from a botched murder investigation three years ago is revealed after the body of woman believed to have been the original murder victim of a death-row killer shows up in the morgue. Now Brenda and her squad must scramble to keep the killer, who has a penchant for burning women alive, behind bars when the court mandates his release in light of the new evidence. Meanwhile, Taylor continues his political assault on Brenda's rank.

The conflict between Brenda and Taylor reaches the boiling point when Brenda is charged with "conduct unbecoming." Meanwhile, Brenda's team must investigate the murder of a high-profile Hollywood producer. Signs indicate the murder may have been committed by someone in the victim's family.

Things don't add up when an LA cop turns up dead. Brenda and her team race against the clock to get to the truth, while tension increases between the Priority Homicide Division and the Robbery-Homicide Division. In the meantime, Brenda's relationship with Fritz elevates to a whole new level.

Brenda deals with an unexpected visit from her fussy mother, Willie Ray (recurring guest star FRANCES STERNHAGEN), which puts Brenda's plan to move Fritz into her house on hold. Meanwhile, Brenda investigates the death of a jury member in the trial of an Armenian mob boss. Risking a mistrial, she pursues the case, and a surprising perpetrator might end up behind bars.

Brenda investigates the shooting of three youngsters, one of whom is the son of Taylor's friends. The shooting, which took place in a known gang area and which has all the markings of a gang-related crime, leads Brenda on a complicated trail of clues that could tarnish the image of one of the victims. Meanwhile, Brenda must also deal with her mother, Willie Ray (recurring guest star FRANCES STERNHAGEN), whose visit to Los Angeles is preventing Fritz from moving in with Brenda.

Brenda probes the murder of a young woman at a high-priced restaurant. Among the suspects are a corrupt investor, who had previously been investigated for murder, and her husband, an ambitious chef. As the case unfolds, Brenda learns that the victim may have used unconventional means to advance her career and that of her husband. Meanwhile, Brenda must also cope with a major landmark in her life: her 40th birthday. She attempts to hide it from the squad, but their analytical skills eventually uncover her secret.

Provenza and Flynn are shocked to discover a dead body in Provenza's garage. However, Provenza persuades Flynn not to report it until after they get back from a big Dodger game for which they have tickets. Unfortunately, the corpse disappears from the garage and turns up elsewhere, stripped and mutilated, and Brenda furiously interrogates Provenza and Flynn. The situation soon becomes a race against time as the Priority Homicide Division tries to cover for its negligence and solve the case before the Robbery Homicide Division gets involved.

Brenda investigates the death of a paparazzo who appears to have killed himself by jumping from a hotel window. Her team of investigators soon discovers that a popular celebrity was staying at the hotel and may have been the target of the photographer's prying camera tactics. Meanwhile, Fritz has been getting calls from a female colleague at the FBI, stirring up feelings of jealousy in Brenda.

After finding severed body parts in a dumpster, Brenda determines that the victim was a popular porn star who had AIDS. Brenda's circuitous investigation reveals that many of the victim's fellow stars may have also been exposed to HIV, and many had motives to kill.

After fishermen discover the badly decomposed bodies of a mother and daughter in the Los Angeles harbor, evidence points to ritual suicide. But Brenda's instincts tell her that there's more to these deaths. As the case takes one bizarre turn after another, Brenda discovers a shocking truth about the killer.

A bereaved mother contacts Brenda and the Priority Homicide Division regarding the death of the woman's son, accusing his doctors of murder. Despite some initial misgivings, Brenda sympathizes with her and opens an investigation. But with both Taylor and Pope questioning her rationale, Brenda faces the possibility that she may not be able to close this case.

Brenda is called to testify in a custody hearing between Pope and his estranged wife. Realizing that the proceedings may reveal Brenda's past relationship with Pope, Brenda worries that her squad's trust in her will be damaged. Meanwhile, Brenda's team investigates the death of a woman whose identity may have been stolen by a drug addict.

Brenda gets into a minor traffic accident but ignores protocol and leaves the scene so she can hurry to the location of a multiple homicide involving the smuggling of illegal immigrants. Her decision comes back to haunt her when Pope decides to take away her car keys. It's going to take some internal wrangling for her to get her driving privileges back.

Brenda investigates the death of a teenager who was expected to testify that a man convicted of murdering a Korean couple was not actually the culprit. But several unexpected twists in the case make her wonder if the boy was really going to tell the truth. Meanwhile, Pope's ex-wife exposes Brenda's past relationship with Pope when she threatens Brenda in front of her entire squad.

When the wife of a major crime boss is murdered while in FBI custody, Brenda and the LAPD face off against Fritz and the FBI for jurisdiction. As the case unfolds, the team learns that today's Mafia doesn't follow the traditional rules anymore. Brenda also suspects that the agent supposedly protecting the crime lord was corrupt and hastily prepares to interrogate him before the FBI can regain control of the investigation. However, the situation goes seriously awry, putting lives and careers in jeopardy.

Following the recent traumatic events at the end of her Mafia case, a demoralized Brenda is placed on administrative leave, and Taylor dismantles and reassigns her team. But help comes from an unexpected source when Brenda is offered the chance to redeem herself by unofficially working on the case of a murdered Lebanese teenager, in a highly charged situation that has the attention of top-level government authorities. To succeed, she must covertly reassemble her squad and carry out the sensitive operation without Taylor finding out.

As Brenda continues investigating a wide-ranging case that began with the death of a Lebanese teenager, she uncovers layers of political intrigue and questionable loyalties--and realizes that she herself is under surveillance. Relying on a daunting 60 ,000-name database and a computer expert, she narrows the list, hoping to determine whom the boy was supposed to meet when he was killed. And although little direct help comes from the dead teen's evasive mother, Brenda eventually finds the small clue that could help her avert a worldwide crisis. Actor/director KEVIN BACON, series star Kyra Sedgwick's real-life husband, directed the episode.

In the third season premiere, budget cuts are hitting the LAPD hard, and Brenda must give up one of her team members to the counterterrorism unit -- or force Provenza into early retirement. Meanwhile, the team investigates the murder of a family, with the prime suspect being the son who survived.

The body of a long-missing 16-year-old gang member turns up with Provenza's business card in his pocket. The kid apparently tried to speak to Provenza years earlier about shots that had been fired at a police car, but he disappeared shortly after that. When a priest, credited with turning around the lives of gang members by protecting them from the police, is caught in the middle of the investigation, Gabriel comes to his defense. Meanwhile, Fritz accidentally answers Brenda's phone when Brenda's father calls, giving away the secret that they're living together.

During a funeral for one of Flynn and Provenza's former police colleagues, the squad discovers the dead body of an unknown, buxom blonde in their old friend's casket. As Brenda investigates, Flynn and Provenza slowly realize that they know more about the victim than they originally thought. Meanwhile, a dangerous and belligerent bride holds Brenda personally responsible for ruining her wedding.

In a special 70-minute extended episode, a young African-American girl is abducted on her way home from school, and in a race against the clock, the team must find out who took her and where she is. When the investigation focuses on a convicted sex offender now on parole, Gabriel takes matters into his own hands, jeopardizing both the case and his future with the LAPD.

Priority Homicide Division confronts a mysterious old man who won't identify himself but who confesses to murdering seven people. Meanwhile, Fritz and Brenda may finally have found the home of their dreams.

To Brenda's irritation, Pope requires her homicide team to undergo training to deal with a potential attack involving weapons of mass destruction. Fritz helps Brenda find a way around the resultant manpower problem. Brenda is perplexed by her current murder case because the witness, a parking valet who called 9-1-1 to report the crime, refuses to answer her questions. Although Brenda eventually persuades the witness to reveal what he saw, the situation is complicated by a less-than-brilliant suspect who also tries to dodge Brenda's interrogation. Meanwhile, Brenda is too busy to cope with disturbing physical symptoms that she initially blames on stress.

Brenda is called in to investigate the murders of two Hispanic teens who may have been killed as part of racially motivated gang shootings over the past couple of months. A cousin of one of the victims is convinced that the incident is part of a racial war between African-American gangs and Latino gangs--and he's determined to exact revenge.

The wife of a deputy district attorney is found dead on the beach, the apparent victim of a serial killer. The murderer's chosen weapon is a cattle prod that he uses to torture his victims prior to killing them. The squad's investigation becomes a race against the clock to prevent another woman from dying.

Since Brenda's traumatic incident with a serial killer has left her shaken, the department psychologist takes her off investigative duty. To keep Brenda busy, Pope assigns her to a television reporter doing a story on the LAPD. While Brenda and Gabriel are escorting the journalist, their car is attacked with a barrage of gunfire, leaving the reporter dead. Because she is a witness and off active duty, she is not able to participate in the investigation ... at least not overtly. Meanwhile, when Brenda's parents, Willie Ray (recurring guest FRANCES STERNHAGEN) and Clay (recurring guest star BARRY CORBIN - "One Tree Hill"), visit, Fritz meets Clay for the first time. Brenda still has not told her parents about her engagement. Series star Kyra Sedgwick's husband, actor KEVIN BACON ("Mystic River," "The Woodsman"), directed the episode.

When a young Chinese woman, the owner of a lucrative tour company, is found murdered in one of her tour buses, the case comes to Brenda's squad because the company had been shuttling around a number of high-profile officials from the Chinese government. The investigation takes a turn, however, when the detectives uncover salacious details about the backgrounds of some of its employees. Meanwhile, with Brenda working, Fritz is forced to entertain her parents, Willie Ray (recurring guest FRANCES STERNHAGEN) and Clay (recurring guest star BARRY CORBIN).

When a woman's body is found at the bottom of a cliff near her wrecked car, it initially appears to be an accident scene. But Brenda and the team find out that the victim was from Homeland Security in Washington, D.C., and was auditing the LAPD. Also, the body indicates that someone pepper-sprayed her, stabbed her and, after the crash failed to kill her, smashed her head. Sorting through the suspects that the auditor had angered proves difficult once the FBI gets involved, but Brenda persists -- and her investigation leads her to make a shocking discovery about the dead woman's connection to someone Brenda knows.

Brenda is put on the witness stand by the prosecution in a murder case, since she is certain that the defendant, Jonathan Schafer (recurring guest star TBA), is guilty. Flashbacks show how the LAPD's investigation unfolded. A wealthy divorce lawyer has been found drowned in his swimming pool, and the evidence points to Schafer, who was one of his clients. But because of exasperating missteps by a member of Brenda's team, some crucial evidence is disallowed by the judge, making it easy for the defense lawyer to claim the death was just the result of an accident, not murder. Meanwhile, as she tries to combine her insurance policy with Fritz's, Brenda learns a shocking fact from his past.

Brenda's reputation is jeopardized by her inability to provide usable evidence to the beleaguered prosecution in the case of a murdered divorce lawyer. She remains convinced the defendant, Jonathan Schafer (recurring guest star MICHAEL WISEMAN), is guilty, but when Schafer's alibi is strongly supported, even the prosecuting attorney wants to drop the case. With only one weekend to break Schafer's alibi, it's going to take all of Brenda's interrogation skills -- and some hard investigative work from her team -- for justice to be served. Meanwhile, Brenda and Fritz have a very serious argument that could change their relationship forever. Commentator LARRY KING, journalist DOMINICK DUNNE, attorney RIKKI KLIEMAN and Congresswoman LORETTA SANCHEZ guest star as themselves.

As Brenda reluctantly allows Fritz to decorate their house for Christmas in order to help sell it, she is called to the scene of a robbery of an armored car in which two guards were killed and one, Wesley Reed, was wounded. But before Brenda can talk to Wesley, he flees, and his gullible teenage brother reveals that Wesley left the state and went to his Georgia hometown -- which is coincidentally near where Brenda's parents, Willie Ray (recurring guest FRANCES STERNHAGEN) and Clay (recurring guest star BARRY CORBIN), live.

Through a series of unexpected circumstances, Brenda finds herself transporting a robbery suspect, Wesley Reed, from Georgia to Los Angeles in a recreational vehicle driven by her parents, Willie Ray (recurring guest FRANCES STERNHAGEN) and Clay (recurring guest star BARRY CORBIN), and accompanied by Fritz, Flynn and Provenza. Along the way, Brenda and the others form a surprising bond with the vulnerable, young fugitive. But in her eagerness to get a break in the case by interrogating Wesley, Brenda makes several questionable decisions that may come back to haunt her when the team arrives back in L.A.

In the fourth season premiere, Griffith Park is a blazing inferno, threatening sections of Los Angeles, Glendale, Burbank and San Mateo. With four people dead and firefighters desperately trying to keep the flames at bay, the Priority Homicide Division is called in to begin an investigation. Things turn ugly when an old nemesis of Brenda's -- pyromaniac Bill Croelick (guest star JASON O'MARA "Life on Mars," "Grey's Anatomy," "Men in Trees") -- enters the scene. To make matters worse, a reporter has been attached to the squad as part of a PR campaign for the LAPD. On the home front, Fritz and Brenda have moved into a duplex, but the owner doesn't allow pets. This doesn't stop Brenda, however, from doing everything she can to keep Kitty under wraps, even if it means fighting with Fritz over the situation.

A recently paroled murderer is found dead in an alley near a halfway house, the victim of a hit and run. Brenda must tread carefully, because the crime for which the victim was convicted was a major press event in Los Angeles. Flynn was the primary on the original case, and the wounds he feels from it are still painful, even eight years later. At home, Fritz spends the day lying on the floor after throwing his back out.

After reporting to the police that she had been raped by one of her classmates, a high-school girl apparently hangs herself in her bedroom. But Brenda is not so sure it's a suicide, especially given that the boy who allegedly raped her is the son of Mark Yates (guest star DANIEL BALDWIN - "Homicide: Life on the Street"), a Los Angeles County Sheriff's Dept. commander. Despite some major head-butting between Brenda's squad and the overheated and overprotective Yates, Brenda's intense investigation eventually uncovers a ruthless sexual game being played at a local private school.

A man wearing a surveillance wire in downtown Los Angeles is shot to death at point-blank range and the first person on the scene is none other than Ricardo Ramos (guest star STEPHEN MARTINES - "General Hospital"), who covers Priority Homicide for the Los Angeles Times. The victim's connections to a drug investigation intersect with Fritz's FBI work, and the ongoing duel between Brenda and her fiancé for control of the case leads to confrontation.

Posing as hit men, Provenza and Flynn successfully bring an attempted murder sting operation to a close only to find all their evidence, along with Provenza's car, has been stolen while they stopped for lunch. Brenda, forced to free her suspect, must face a furious Pope, who insists that Priority Homicide must get the car, the evidence and the suspect back in 48 hours. JENNIFER COOLIDGE ("Best in Show," "Legally Blonde," "Joey," "Nip/Tuck") guest stars.

When a rebellious, adopted 12-year-old boy disappears, Brenda must decide whether he should be treated as a runaway or as a critical missing person. The further into the case she goes, the more toxic the child seems to be, and Brenda begins to question if the missing boy is a victim -- or a potential killer.

After Detective Sanchez's brother is shot, the entire squad will not rest until they find the culprit. The investigation is jeopardized by an overzealous detective and a leak within the department. KEVIN BACON directs the episode.

After a hairstylist for a television show is murdered, Brenda and the squad must wade through a history of domestic violence and secret addresses to find the murderer. Brenda also has to deal with her parents, Willie Ray and Clay (recurring guest stars FRANCES STERNHAGEN and BARRY CORBIN), who have decided to pay a surprise visit in the RV on their way to Alaska. Brenda's father drops blatant hints wondering when they can expect Brenda and Fritz to finally tie the knot.

The bodies of two Tijuana police officers are found in the back of a stolen pickup truck, and all the evidence points toward an FBI informant as the prime suspect. But with corruption among police officers in Tijuana extremely common, it's difficult for Brenda's squad to know whom to trust. Complicating matters, a newspaper story by Ricardo Ramos (recurring guest star STEPHEN MARTINES) paints an extremely unflattering picture of Priority Homicide, a public relations nightmare that's going to require some fancy footwork by Pope, Taylor and Brenda to set right.

In the heart-pounding summer finale, Brenda's newly renamed Major Crimes Division investigates the death of a teenager who was killed by his own pipe bomb. When the team realizes the teen wasn't working alone, the shocking reality sinks in that there could be a potential massacre in the making. With the clock ticking, the squad has to track down his accomplices and stop their plans before countless innocent people lose their lives. And, in a shocking conclusion, one of Brenda's own detectives may end up paying the ultimate price.

Brenda's parents (recurring guest stars BARRY CORBIN and FRANCES STERNHAGEN) visit, but when a murder investigation interrupts the visit, Brenda brings them along.

The body of someone extremely overweight turns up in the trunk of a car. When the team finally tracks down a witness, they get quite a shock.

When a woman is found brutally raped and murdered in her home, all eyes turn toward a known sex offender. BILLY BURKE ("Twilight," "24") guest stars.

AMY SEDARIS ("Strangers with Candy") guest stars as Fritz's sister, Claire, who claims to be psychic and tags along on an investigation of a possible homicide.

In the season finale, Brenda and Fritz's wedding plans are interrupted as both are called in to work on investigations. FRANCES STERNHAGEN, BARRY CORBIN and AMY SEDARIS guest star.

In the season premiere, when Brenda's squad investigates the quadruple murder of a family, she accidentally stumbles into the middle of an FBI investigation that may have been a factor in the homicide. Meanwhile, Provenza's mood suddenly turns sour. Guest star LEE TERGESEN ("Oz," "Wanted") appears as Nicholas Carey and recurring guest star STEPHEN MARTINES appears as Ricardo Ramos.

The apparent kidnapping of a rich financier under investigation for ripping off investors leads Brenda's squad to think he may have staged his own abduction. During the investigation, Gabriel tries to cover the forensic accounting duties, since Detective Daniels has been promoted to another division. Meanwhile, something strange has happened to Lieutenant Provenza. And Kitty, Brenda and Fritz's cat, is enduring serious medical issues.

Sergeant Gabriel shoots a murder suspect he is certain is armed and firing at him, but his account does not match up with the evidence. Captain Sharon Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL - "Battlestar Galactica," "ER," "Independence Day," "Passion Fish"), the head of the Force Investigation Division, is responsible for investigating the shooting. However, Raydor's investigation is interfering with Brenda's investigation into the murder, which may have been ethnically motivated. Sergeant Gabriel shoots a murder suspect he is certain is armed and firing at him, but his account does not match up with the evidence. Captain Sharon Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL - "Battlestar Galactica," "ER," "Independence Day," "Passion Fish"), the head of the Force Investigation Division, is responsible for investigating the shooting. However, Raydor's investigation is interfering with Brenda's investigation into the murder, which may have been ethnically motivated.

Brenda and her squad are temporarily deputized into the FBI when a missing persons case turns into a full-blown murder investigation involving drug trafficking at gay dance parties. The case gives Brenda and Fritz the chance to work together again, but Brenda's investigative tactics don't exactly fit FBI protocol.

Brenda's squad investigates the murder of a former gang banger, but evidence indicates the victim may not have been the target. The case leads Brenda on a return trip to the doorstep of Father Jack (guest star MARK ROLSTON - "Cold Case," "The Shield") and the Crenshaw Community Center, where an upset neighborhood is convinced the LAPD doesn't care about stifling crime in the area. It's up to Brenda to prove otherwise.

Brenda's team investigates the shooting death of a popular online "hook-up king" who was in the process of putting together a television pilot for a men's cable network. The case goes awry when a police impersonator enters the picture. Meanwhile, Pope does a rotation as a regular member of Brenda's squad to get a firsthand look at how the team works, but his experience isn't exactly what he expected it would be.

A major shootout leaves two patrol cops and an 18-year-old neo-Nazi dead, with lots of unanswered questions as to what happened and who else might have been involved. The investigation is made all the more difficult by the involvement of Captain Sharon Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL) of Force Investigation Division, which is responsible for looking into shooting incidents involving officers.

The squad investigates the murder of a man who, 10 years ago, was the lead suspect in the murder of two girls. The state of the body indicates he was dragged behind a truck or SUV a full day before being shot twice in the head and dumped in Elysian Park. TOM SKERRITT ("Picket Fences," "Brothers and Sisters") guest stars as a detective who comes out of retirement to help with the investigation, but his obsession with closing this decade-old case threatens Brenda's own inquiry.

A confessed murderer, who was apprehended while Brenda was away on her honeymoon, gets details of the crime wrong during his allocution, causing Brenda to reopen the case. Brenda's investigation, however, is interrupted by a visit from her mother, Willie Ray (recurring guest star FRANCES STERNHAGEN), who hopes to pawn her troublesome niece, Charlie (recurring guest star SOSIE BACON - "Loverboy" and the real-life daughter of Kyra Sedgwick), off on Brenda and Fritz for the summer.

A large box with a body stuffed inside leads Brenda in search of suspects, and she winds up with several: a scripture-thumping stepfather, a disgruntled ex-girlfriend, a buddy who was constantly being hit up for money and a landlord who simply hated the victim's guts. Gabriel is studying for the detective exam, so Brenda uses the case as a teaching tool. Meanwhile, Brenda's niece, Charlie (recurring guest star SOSIE BACON), pulls a stunt so severe that Brenda and Fritz are ready to put her on a plane home immediately.

A shooting in a school parking lot leaves one person dead, another person critically wounded and a car loaded with marijuana. Brenda and Fritz, meanwhile, spar over how to handle Charlie (recurring guest star SOSIE BACON), especially after Brenda brings her niece into the middle of the case. Provenza, decides to make a big life change.

After the stabbing death of a woman who was apparently killed by someone wearing a Ninja outfit, Brenda and the squad soon realize they might have a bigger case on their hands than they thought. A detective from El Paso, Texas (guest star XANDER BERKELEY - "24"), where a similar crime occurred, comes to Los Angeles to help in the investigation, but his primary interest is in bringing the killer back to Texas to face the death penalty. Meanwhile, Brenda's father, Clay (recurring guest star BARRY CORBIN), arrives to take her niece, Charlie (recurring guest star SOSIE BACON), home to Atlanta. KEVIN BACON directs the episode.

The squad investigates the death of a 12-year-old boy whose father and brother are both gang members. The boy is found dead in a known gang party house, but soon the case includes two more bodies at a different house — but related to the same crime. Meanwhile, Fritz brings home a surprise for Brenda, and trouble is brewing in Provenza's romantic paradise.

A crime lab frequently used by the police is discredited, which brings several old cases up for review, including one Provenza closed seven years ago with his former partner, Detective Andrews (guest star BEAU BRIDGES - "Stargate SG-1," "My Name Is Earl," "We Were the Mulvaneys," "The Fabulous Baker Boys"). Andrews comes out of retirement to help with the case, but he isn't exactly prepared to testify in the new trial, throwing a wrench into a case that is already interrupting Brenda and Fritz's vacation plans.

Capt. Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL) approaches Major Crimes about delicately looking into a possible case of spousal abuse involving one of her female officers. Meanwhile, Fritz becomes increasingly irritated at home and feels ignored by Brenda.

In the sixth season premiere, a man is murdered while taking pictures of the stars from his balcony. The squad suspects the crime is somehow connected to the woman with whom he was having an affair, but their investigation is hindered not only by a missing murder weapon, but the difficult adjustment of moving their offices into a new building.

Captain Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL -- Battlestar Galatica) accompanies Brenda on an investigation involving the disappearance of a nanny working for close friends of the mayor. Meanwhile, Raydor's real purpose in taking part in the investigation could have big career implications for Brenda.

While investigating a suspicious suicide, the squad wades into a nasty child-custody dispute between a dying man and his meth-addicted ex-wife. Meanwhile, Pope applies for the police chief job, but Brenda might have something to say about whether or not he gets it.

Provenza once again finds himself in a professionally embarrassing situation when he discovers a dead body in the condo of a flight attendant he picked up while extraditing a prisoner.

At the request of Detective Mikki Mendoza (recurring guest star PAOLA TURBAY -- The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Cane), the squad becomes involved in investigating a series of brutal murders that indicate a Mexican drug cartel may have moved into the city.

After a parole board member is viciously murdered during a panicked phone call with Sgt. Gabriel, Pope announces an overreaching plan to boost the police department's image. His plan, however, hinges on Brenda first being able to solve the crime.

A bank robbery supposedly committed by a known gang of thieves leaves a security guard dead. It also leaves a lot of unanswered questions about the prime suspects and why this latest robbery doesn't fit the gang's regular pattern. Meanwhile, Pope receives some news about his chances at becoming the city's police chief.

In a case that could carry national security implications, three soldiers are gunned down outside a Los Angeles club two days after returning home from duty in Afghanistan. Brenda's investigation puts her on a collision course with Major Edward Dorset (guest star GARY COLE -- The Good Wife, Entourage, Desperate Housewives), a military liaison officer.

Brenda's squad picks up a case from Hollywood involving the brutal murder of an aspiring actress who made a date through an online service. But Brenda's investigation is forced to take second fiddle while she prepares for an interview with the mayor to become the next Chief of Police, a job Brenda is still not even sure she wants. Recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL appears as Captain Raydor.

The murder of two paramedics leads the LAPD and the FBI on separate investigations on a case that could be the precursor to a major terrorist attack. But Brenda fights to remain a step ahead, even though she's forced to work with the chief of the counterterrorism unit, who happens to be one of Brenda's fellow finalists for the job of Chief of Police.

One of Brenda's detectives is ambushed on the street, and the main clue to figuring out the motive behind the attack is a garbage bag containing more than $37,500. The investigation then turns into a race to clear the detective's name over allegations of witness tampering. Recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL appears as Captain Sharon Raydor.

Chief of Police Tommy Delk (recurring guest star COURTNEY B. VANCE) assigns Major Crimes a seemingly minor case involving the armed robbery of several medical marijuana dispensaries. But when one of the robberies turns into a murder, the case becomes a test of Brenda's readiness to move up in the department.

In the first part of this two-part episode, a long-brewing family squabble leads to a stabbing in a mall on Christmas Eve and the accidental death of a patriarch in a case that threatens to derail everyone's holiday plans. Brenda is especially put out, since her parents (recurring guest stars FRANCES STERNHAGEN and BARRY CORBIN) are in town, and they have a very special announcement. Recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL appears as Captain Raydor.

In the second part of this two-part episode, a blood feud within a refugee family from Kosovo results in another victim, forcing Brenda and her team, along with Captain Raydor (recurring guest star MARY McDONNELL), to continue their investigation on Christmas Day. But Brenda's attention is diverted when the RV driven to Los Angeles by her parents (recurring guest stars FRANCES STERNHAGEN and BARRY CORBIN) is robbed, including all the holiday gifts stored inside.

The routine arrest of a crack addict exposes a questionable rehab facility and leads Brenda and her squad on a race to find a missing young woman. The case also leads Gabriel to question Brenda's judgment, and prompts Fritz to reveal to Brenda some ugly truths about his past.

In the seventh season premiere, Brenda and the squad investigate the owner of a hip-hop record label when one of his rap artists and six innocent bystanders are gunned down. The case hits home for Gabriel who knows two of the victims from church. Meanwhile, Chief Delk prepares to announce the department's new organizational chart just as Brenda becomes the target of a civil suit against the police department.

As the LAPD undergoes a major realignment, Brenda's team investigates the murder of a young girl who was house-sitting. Captain Raydor is forced to expand her audit of Major Crimes in light of the civil suit against Brenda and the LAPD.

Flynn and Provenza hope to make easy money by serving court papers for a lawyer. But, once again, they find themselves in hot water when a man is killed minutes after being served by the pair. Things quickly go downhill from there. Guest star ADAM ARKIN (Sons of Anarchy, Chicago Hope, Northern Exposure) appears as a financier targeted by his clients after pulling off a Ponzi scheme.

The team searches for a missing boy who attends the summer camp where Lt. Tao's son works. Captain Raydor makes a troubling suggestion to Brenda as she continues with her audit.

The squad investigates the death of a minister with a scandalous secret and the family who will do anything to protect his name and their church. Meanwhile, all but one member of the Major Crimes unit receives a subpoena in the civil suit against the LAPD, raising questions about whether the one who didn't get served might throw the rest of the squad "under the bus."

A home construction site becomes a crime scene when a body turns up underneath a retainer wall. Plus, Brenda considers taking on a high-priced lawyer, Gavin Baker (recurring guest star MARK PELLEGRINO -- Lost, Supernatural, Dexter), but, unfortunately for Fritz, the retainer fee could require cutting back on several luxuries.

The squad helps out a fellow law enforcement officer by investigating the mysterious death of her daughter. And Captain Raydor continues her audit of Brenda and Major Crimes, focusing her efforts on Detective Sanchez.

Brenda receives a tip about a murder-for-hire involving a major drug cartel, but since the case doesn't fall under her jurisdiction, she solicits Captain Raydor's help in investigating the tipster's allegations of police brutality. Meanwhile, Brenda's attorney, Gavin Baker (recurring guest star MARK PELLEGRINO), starts deposing the squad about the "Shootin' Newton" case at the center of the civil lawsuit against her.

Major Crimes investigates the mysterious disappearance of a stage father just as his daughter's new single is about to hit the charts. Meanwhile, the Baylor family offers to settle with Brenda in the civil suit against her, but the deal may be too good to be true. Guest stars include KEN HOWARD (The White Shadow, Grey Gardens), DEBRAH FARENTINO (Storm of the Century, Eureka) and RICK GONZALEZ (Reaper, Coach Carter).

The squad investigates the shooting death of a deputy sheriff as the judge in the civil case against Brenda decides whether or not to drop the case against her.

When a high school principal is shot while trying to turn his school around in the midst of a scandal, Brenda and her detectives soon realize their case overlaps with an existing FBI investigation. The situation leaves Fritz and Brenda sparring over whose murder case it should be.

In the 100th episode, the holiday cheer is interrupted when Santa's entrance into a Christmas Village via a zip line goes horribly wrong. FRED WILLARD (Best in Show, Modern Family) guest stars as Santa Jack, the village's owner, whom many believe to be the real Father Christmas. LAUREN BOWLES (True Blood) guest stars as the niece and business partner of Santa Jack, and CHRISTINE WOODS (FlashForward) guest stars as Buzz's visiting sister, who helps Brenda and the Major Crimes Division solve the holiday case.

The murder of a man under FBI surveillance puts the federal agents in hot water with the LAPD. Plus, Brenda's parents (recurring guest stars FRANCES STERNHAGEN and BARRY CORBIN), who have come to town for the holidays, have surprising news that keeps Brenda's mind from her case.

The Major Crimes Division investigates a hit-and-run murder of a young girl on a bicycle, and the LAPD's police commissioner (guest star MARK MOSES -- Desperate Housewives, Mad Men) and his wife, Gail (guest star ELIZABETH PERKINS -- Weeds), may be in trouble when Brenda becomes determined to uncover a scandal one of them tried to cover up. MAGGIE WHEELER (Friends) guest stars as Gail's friend who clashes with Brenda.

In the winter finale, the federal lawsuit against Brenda comes to a head when another murder occurs that is related to Turell Baylor's death. Brenda seeks help from a businessman (guest star JASON GEORGE -- GREY'S ANATOMY) with old ties to the neighborhood for help solving the case. Meanwhile, Brenda's lawyer (recurring guest star MARK PELLEGRINO) and the Baylor family lawyer (recurring guest star CURTIS ARMSTRONG) face off in court.

Brenda thinks she has finally cornered her longtime nemesis, lawyer and suspected rapist and murderer Philip Stroh (recurring guest star BILLY BURKE -- Rizzoli & Isles, Twilight films), when his latest client shows signs of cracking under pressure. But a shocking courtroom maneuver by Brenda puts the entire case in jeopardy, which does not sit well with new D.A. Claire Baldwin (guest star AMANDA MASON WARREN -- The Adjustment Bureau).

Provenza gets trapped into helping his first ex-wife, Liz (guest star DIEDRE O'CONNELL -- You Don't Know Jack), recover her wedding ring after she is ripped off by a shady gold buyer. But he once again finds himself stuck in a professionally embarrassing situation, this time involving a robbery, a felony murder, an evidence-swallowing dog and a frantically desperate appraiser (guest star REG ROGERS -- Primal Fear).

In a case that hits too close to home for Brenda, a well-liked cancer doctor is brutally killed and his drug supply wiped clean. But the case could have a much wider reach than anyone suspects. To make matters worse, Captain Raydor has a new assignment that leaves Brenda questioning her loyalty to Pope. And Gabriel makes a significant life change.

The murder of a priest puts the squad on a collision course with the Catholic Church and drives a wedge between Brenda and Chief Pope. Meanwhile, Brenda's parents are in town while her father continues his cancer treatments.

A young couple hanging out in someone else's house find themselves in hot water when a security guard and decorated veteran wind up dead in the street outside. But Brenda finds her investigation stifled by the watchful eye of the District Attorney's office. Meanwhile, Raydor and Pope finally pinpoint the leak in the department.

A young street hustler (guest star GRAHAM PATRICK MARTIN -- Two and a Half Men) sees what appears to be a man burying a woman in Griffith Park, prompting an investigation Brenda is convinced will lead to Philip Stroh (recurring guest star BILLY BURKE). Brenda's obsession with Stroh threatens not only her career, but also her life