The Special Crimes Unit of the Metropolis Police Department is a specialized unit of the City of Tomorrow police, where not only do they face common crimes, but Superman’s presence lures villains beyond the stars

Him Metropolis Police Department –Metropolis Police Department-, which in the continuity of the DC universe is usually led by Commissioner David CorporonAND DC character not as well known as his Gotham counterpart, be it James Gordonsea Renee Montoya; owns a Special Crimes Unitalso not as famous as the protagonists of Gotham Central, to which it is dedicated defend the city from threats supernatural in the case Superman is absent.

This unit, canonically, is directed by agents Maggie Sawyer Yes And Turpinowho maintain frequent contact with the Man of Steel. Another of Superman’s police contacts over the years has been within the police department Inspector William Henderson. The police unit specifically appeared in a limited series released in the United States between 1994 and 1995, titled SCU Metropolis.

THE Stryker Island Prison (based on Rikers Island in New York), is one of the prisons in the DC Universe, being the largest prison facility in Metropolis, as is the name of the island on which it is located; is found in west river metropolissouth of New Troy.

Fun fact, the real Rikers Island is located in the East River, connected by a pedestrian and vehicle bridge to the borough of Queens, although the island and its prison complex are technically and officially part of the borough of Queens.

Origin of Unity

The first time Metropolis Special Crimes Unit (MSCU) was in the first volume of the American edition of Adventures of Superman. This unit was introduced as a division of the Metropolis Police Department responsible for investigating more specialized crimes in the city or dealing with metahuman threats such as battles between heroes and villains.

The Metropolis Special Crimes Unit had its own purpose-built facilities in the new headquarters of the Metropolis Police Department, as narrated in the original USA. Superman: Metropolis Secret Files and Origins v1 #1.

This police unit also had a delegation Washington DCwith a special jurisdiction The Metropolis Police were allowed to create a second unit of the Special Crimes Unit outside the city limits, with a former member of the original unit as captain. Brian “Sal” Arsalaas reflected in the US collection of Hawk and dove -Hawk and Dove v3 #23-.

Known cases of MSCU

Subsequently, Superman and MSCU detectives investigated the mysterious crimes perpetrated by the Baron Domenicawho was the head of a criminal organization that killed people through apparently supernatural means. For assisting police investigators, in the American edition. Superman v2 #26the Baron swore that he would kill Superman and the police officers for interfering in his affairs.

In the previously mentioned series that this police unit had within the DC universe – Metropolis SCU – in the first issue of the miniseries the appearance of a ray of red light in The City of Tomorrow was narrated, which brought the Special Crimes Unit to be sent to investigate, in case the matter had an extraterrestrial origin.

In addition to the police, the journalist from Daily planet, Lois Lane He was present at the scene, where he first observed their operations and believed that their actions would be the future of police work. In this incident one of the officers was killed, as reported by the Daily Planet. Captain Sawyer and his officers attended the funeral of Agent Shellyfallen in the line of duty and Lane wrote a heartfelt obituary in tribute to the Special Crimes Unit officer.

At some point during the lost year, after the Endless crisesthe division of the Metropolis Police Department dedicated to supernatural crimes was renamed the Science Police, apparently in reference to the group of the same name Legion of superheroes of the 31st century.

Metahumans and special equipment

Revolta villain in the series The Man of Steelwhen you run away from Stryker Prisonunleashed a wave of destruction on Metropolis during Superman’s absence. The level of destruction created by the villain caused a wave of protests against the authorities and, above all, against the Special Crimes Unit who did not know how to handle the situation with the metahuman criminals.

After the fateful accident, the then mayor of Metropolis, Buck Sackethe decided that Unity would begin recruit metahumans among their ranks to help their agents. Captain Maggie Sawyer initially resisted, but was forced to relent and accept the metahumans into the Special Crimes Unit.

The Unit was able to achieve a Kryptonian battle suitas told in Superman: The Man of Tomorrow, so he commissioned Harold Vekko to study it. Agents wanted the suit analyzed to determine whether it could be replicated and used as the ultimate counter-terrorism kit.

Hex Kryptonian technology was used as the basis for the Simm-Botlarge bipedal humanoid machines operated by a pilot, built with Kryptonian suit technology, which made them quite powerful -Action Comics v1 #705-. On the other hand, in the regular Superman series -EE. USA v1 #654-, when the superhero temporarily lost his powers, the Special Crimes Unit created a technological team to deal with the threats without him.

The change after the Flashpoint event

After the Flashpoint event, a new version of the story was created with a different set of circumstances, so, at some point, Maggie Sawyer returned as captain to the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit -Action Comics v1 #957-. On the other hand, the Atomic skull -Atomic Skull-, as part of a custody agreement with the Unit, was incorporated as an agent, helping capture super-powered criminals who escaped from Stryker’s prison -Superwoman v1 #9-.

Members

As the most representative member we must mention the Captain Maggie Sawyera woman with short, dark hair who was previously part of the Major Crimes Unit -Superman v2 #4-, an agent who, with her investigative experience in the DC Universe, has served in other police forces, including the problematic Gotham police. City, although Tom King proved that this wasn’t always the case.

They would be other prominent agents of the Special Crimes Unit of Metropolis, to name the most representative And Turpino, Aaron Jace, Lyle Beedler, Russ Tenclouds or Lupe Teresa Leocadio-Escudero.