Ed Murphy

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Captain Ed Murphy is the secondary head of the Los Angeles Police Department. A very busy man, his best, although destructive, cops on the force are Martin Riggs and Roger Murtaugh.

Biography

Ed Murphy is Captain (not Chief) of the Los Angeles Police Department, notably the detective bureau. As Captain, he takes his job very seriously and does not enjoy owing the city money from damage caused by his notable men Riggs and Murtaugh. In the third film, when both cops take it too far with causing an explosion at the ICSI Building, he demoted them to patrolmen as punishment so they can cause minimal harm to the city. He later reinstates them, when they both prove to their boss they can focus on the job more seriously than he thinks. In the fourth film, with the department losing its insurance carrier on city property, he is unable to let go of Riggs and Murtaugh since they are the best cops he has. Instead, he promotes them both to Captain, something he has done to assure the other detectives can follow their lead when they bust a Chinese smuggling ring. Despite their troubles, Murphy considers them his good friends and even is welcomed into the family of Roger Murtaugh.

Lethal Weapon

We first see Captain Murphy talking to Dr. Stephanie Woods in the hallway of the police station. They bring up the subject of Martin Riggs' suicidal issues, which Woods believes is taking control over his actions he commits while on the job. However, Murphy assures her Riggs will be fine and he still counts on him doing his job. But Woods ignores his statement and keeps complaining about it when Murphy needed to use the bathroom as he said "excuse me", then pointed to the men's sign.

He was later seen passing by Roger Murtaugh and commented how he looked better with a beard. Murtaugh sarcastically replied "Thanks Captain".

Lethal Weapon 2

Murphy is very upset with Murtaugh, Riggs, and the detectives for letting the suspect get away the other night. He is even more frustrated when he hears Murtaugh's story that a helicopter came from nowhere and a gunman began shooting in general directions.

Then, in his office, he assigns both Riggs and Murtaugh an assignment to protect a federal witness named Leo Getz. They immediately become disappointed and call the case a "shit assignment." Murphy tells them otherwise he doesn't "give a fuck" and they should be considerate he is giving them a chance. In addition, he shows Riggs his "No Smoking" sign since he had a cigarette in his mouth the whole conversation. But Riggs says he knew about it and sees the same rule on the glass wall to his right and tells Murphy the same thing he told them.

Lethal Weapon 3

Captain Murphy is in his office with the Head of Internal Affairs Herman Walters. He tells his currently demoted patrolmen Riggs and Murtaugh he too just found out the news about the armor-piercing bullets (or cop killer) case being transferred to internal affairs.

While watching the security footage of the man who killed Billy Phelps in the interrogation room, Murphy gets upset that one of the cops blocked the view of the camera with his head when he knew it was there. Luckily, Cole had a tape of the suspect in the interrogation room Billy was killed in which internal affairs installed 6 months ago, something Murphy comments he never knew about until now. With this tape, he discovers the killer is former cop Lieutenant Jack Edward Travis. He tells Riggs and Murtaugh Travis went on a stakeout with his partner for a cappuccino but he never came back.

Exiting the police station, Murphy and Walters discuss their differences in the department so they do not pity each other as Murphy heads to his Chevrolet Caprice squad car when he sees a man leaning down next to his. Thinking he might be hurt, he checks to see if he is alright, but it is a trick when Jack Travis turns and faces Murphy, pointing his gun. Murphy surrenders his weapon to him and Travis tells him to drive to the underground subway compound as his henchman joins him.

Upon arrival, Murphy is told by Travis about his special operation in the subway and that good cops do not have futures, where Murphy butts in to him that he used to be one of the department's cops. He reluctantly watches Travis shoot a cop of his own and Murphy is taken downstairs to he held captive. One of Travis' men handles Murphy and brings him to an incomplete section of the currently under construction subway system.

When Riggs, Murtaugh, Cole, and Edwards start a Shootout in the subway, Hatchett brings Murphy onto the rails and they both plummet upon landing from jumping. Murphy pushes Hatchett with his legs into an electrical circuit on the railing, electrocuting him to death.

While Riggs chases Travis, Murtaugh and Cole (Edwards got killed in the gunfire) help Murphy out of the low rails in the subway and Murtaugh subsequently borrows his Captain's car to locate Riggs.

Lethal Weapon 4

Captain Murphy calls his detectives into his office. He tells them how they are like dinosaurs headed for extinction, and the department is looking for new cops with guns and psychology degrees. This is due to the destruction Team Riggs/Murtaugh caused over the years in the department with the latter losing its insurance carrier.

However, since Murphy can't fire them, he decides to promote them both to the rank of Captain. It comes as a surprise for both Riggs and Murtaugh (who initially expected Lieutenant positions) .

Murphy later pays a visit to the hospital to see Rianne Murtaugh-Butters and Lorna's new born babies. He then demotes his cops back to the rank of Sergeant after telling them the police insurance carrier is now stabilized again. He poses for a photo with the Murtaughs and Riggs, ,Lorna, Leo, and Butters, being accepted as family.

Gallery

To view the Ed Murphy gallery, click here.