Science Police
The Science Police is a law enforcement agency that features in DC Comics.
Contents |
History
Pre-Crisis
The Science Police was a law enforcement organization that was known to operate in the universe.
When the Legionnaires powers ran amok, the world-wide police came to the scene where they acknowledged the superheroes past work but that if they could not regain control of their abilities then they would have no choice but the exile them from Earth. It was eventually discovered that the cause of the Legion's problems was a villain by the name of Urthlo. (Adventure Comics v1 #300)
The Commissioner called on the Legion of Super-Heroes after recent hypno-interrogation revealed the location of the long rumoured Thieves Planet. On this world, crooks from around the universe hid out was a reality, and although he didn’t know the exact location he knew which space sector it was in. The Legion flew to an asteroid in the sector, waiting for any criminal ships to pass by. When they spotted one Cosmic boy, still unsure of Lightning Lad’s powers, ordered the legionnaire to take it down with a lightning bolt. Sub Boy reflected a burst of heat and light off a cliff behind Lightning Lad, which struck the criminal ship, bringing it down. The criminals were from the Hydra World, and had stolen a group of rare animals from an intergalactic zoo. The Legion placed the animals safely onboard their own ship, but Chameleon Boy took a liking to Proty, a Protean that could shapeshift just like him, and decided to keep him as a pet. Thieves’ World was hidden from the world by an invisibility shield, but the Legion located it using the coordinates set in the Hydra World criminal’s spaceship. The Legion tried to pass themselves off as criminals, but the master of Thieves’ World was a telepathic sentient ball of electricity and soon found them out. He had his Atom Guard robots apprehend them and throw them in his jewel jail, but Chameleon Boy had his new pet transform into a gun, allowing the Legion to bluff their way out of prison when a guard came to feed them. The Legion tore through Thieves’ World, apprehending a number of criminals, and Lightning Lad used his powers to short-circuit the master. (Adventure Comics v1 #308)
The Time Trapper journeyed to the 30th century where he captured Science Police Commissioner Wilson and took on his identity. He then used this persona in an attempt to get the secret of the Concentrator that was a dangerous weapon in the care of the Legion of Super-Heroes. (Adventure Comics v1 #121)
Post-Zero Hour
Following the [[Zero Hour], a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
During the 21st century, the Metropolis Special Crimes Unit established a new Technology Squad to handle high-tech crimes with them gaining the 'Science Police' nickname. (Superman v1 #654)
In the 25th century, study of the Speed Force outside of the Flash Museum was illegal and grounds for arrest by the Science Police. (Flash v3 #8)
On a Thursday, the Science Police responded to an incident involving raiders at the Metropolis Jewellery Exchange. Surrounded by the police, the criminals began taking hostages and threatened to kill them if the authorities stormed the building. They also reprogrammed the force sleeve to create an impenetrable barrier to prevent the Science Police from entering the building. The hostages were only saved by the intervention of a newly formed team of heroes called the Ringers who were outfitted by the Global Grace Foundation. Using their power rings, they disabled the force sleeve and dealt with the raiders. The next morning, the Science Police responded to another incident at Roundrock that was a temporary holding facility for convicted felons. This site came under attack from a Purification Cult who were extremists that felt the only way to stop evil was to eradicate it and thus were looking to murder the in-mates inside. The cult had a thermite bomb that could vaporise the entire island which prevented a direct engagement and thus the Science Police sent three volunteers to scout ahead. They were present when the Ringers arrived once more where they engaged the Purifiers. From hiding, they witnessed one of the Ringers nearly using his ring to kill one of his targets but was stopped by Driana Allon. The attackers were apprehended and were taken to a foundation facility. (Legion: Science Police v1 #1)
Post-Flashpoint
Following the Flashpoint, a new version of reality was created with a different history of events.
Captain Nathaniel Adym managed to convince the Science Police to establish a specialised division known as Echo. It's purpose was to covertly monitor the Time Institute as it was held that no single agency should control the ability to travel through time. However, Adym's superiors used his interest in time to create a division that handled a witness protection protocol. (Legion Lost v2 #13) Select individuals that were added into the protocol had their minds wiped and were relocated to the past for their safety. (Legion Lost v2 #11)
Zorak was trading information for a one-way ticket to echo. (Legion Lost v2 #11)
Overview
In appearance, they were a world-wide police force that helped protect Earth from threats. (Adventure Comics v1 #300)
Science Police Interrogators were able to conduct ultra-sensitive probes that revealed a subjects innermost thoughts and were able to detect deception. (Adventure Comics v1 #377) The agency was known to make use of hypno-interrogation as a means of getting intelligence of criminals. (Adventure Comics v1 #308)
A body linked to the organization was the Science Police Commission. (Adventure Comics v1 #303) One of the branches of the agency was Echo that was originally formed to watch the Time Institute but was co-opted by senior Science Police personnel for a witness protection protocol. (Legion Lost v2 #13) As such, this top secret divisions mission was the protection of witnesses who were mindwiped and secured in the past with a case officer assigned to watch over them. (Legion Lost v2 #11) It was claimed that no one resigned from the ranks of Echo. (Legion Lost v2 #13) The Science Police answered to the President of the United Planets. (Adventure Comics v1 #319)
In recognition of achievements, the Commissioner of the Science Police was able to award people with a Distinguished Service Arm-Band. (Adventure Comics v1 #328)
During the modern age, the M.S.P. made use of Hover-Bots that monitored activities in the city such as crimes and superhuman activity. (Superman's Pal, Jimmy Olsen v2 #1)
It made use of a link to a satellite surveillance system. (Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes v1 #249)
They maintained a database that could sort out the records of criminals including those with unusual powers. (Adventure Comics v1 #316)
Facilities operated by the organization included:
- Oasis One : a floating prison on Earth that hovered above Metropolis that held ruthless prisoners. The President of the United Planets could remotely detonate the installation in case of a super-criminal breakout. (The Legion v1 #35)
Members
Present
Future
- Desmond Wilson : a red haired male in the 30th century who was the Commissioner of the Science Police. (Adventure Comics v1 #321)
- Commander Loring :
- Chief Wilson :
- 'Chief Zoltorus :
- Chief Ianos :
- Kimball Zendak :
- Officer Dvron :
- Captain Maltor :
- Officer Smyt :
- Commander Hagbard :
- Officer Shvaughn :
- Officer Cusimano :
- Officer Quav :
- Officer Ishikindru :
- Officer Skden :
- Officer Shadder :
- Officer Omar Magz :
- Officer Dyrk Magz :
- Giy Delor : (Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes v1 #249)
- Jarik Shadder :
- Gigi Cusimano :
- Nate Adym :
- Jocelyn Lure : a female Detective that was part of Echo Division and assigned to the 21st century. (Legion Lost v2 #14)
Notes
- The Science Police were created by Jerry Siegel and John Forte with the 30th century version first appearing in Adventure Comics v1 #303 (December, 1962).
- In DC Comics Presents v1 #97 (1986), it was shown that Krypton maintained a Science Police that was used to apprehend its super-criminals.
In other media
Television
- In Legion of Super-Heroes, the Science Police made a number of appearances in the animated series starting with the pilot episode "Man of Tomorrow" where it was said that they were afraid of the Fatal Five. In "Phantoms", it was shown that they had a poor view of the Legion of Super-Heroes with its officers calling them freaks. They were deployed to battle Drax and his pets where they became embroiled in his battle with the Legion. As a result, the Science Police began to attack both Drax and the Legionnaires. When Drax attacked Legion Headquarters, the Legionnaires let the Science Police handle his two pets as they sought to confront the renegade Kryptonian. In "Cry Wolf", the Science Police were assisting the Legion in the arrest of Timber Wolf after it appeared that he killed his father Dr. Mar Londo in a fit of animalistic rage until it was discovered that the doctor had framed his son.
Video games
- In DC Universe Online, the Science Police appeared within the MMORPG where they primarily resided in the Metropolis area. They were described as being a special branch of the Metropolis Police Department that handled criminal cases too great for average police officers. Their headquarters was situated at the MPD's 8th Precinct in the Metropolis Tomorrow District.
Appearances
- Adventure Comics v1:
- Superboy and the Legion of Super-Heroes v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes:
- Legion: Science Police v1:
- The Legion v1:
- Legion of Super-Heroes v4:
- Legion: Science Police v1:
External Links
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