What was the dirt on Daniels? The Wire Explained

In The Wire, it becomes evident that Lieutenant Daniels is not as squeaky clean as he first appears, with it being implied by the likes of Burrell and McNulty that Cedric Daniels may have dirt on him. So what was Daniels' shady past, and what did the higher ups know about him?

[@Extreme_Reach_JT]

I saw the actor that played Daniels, Lance Reddick, hiking once. He gave me a look like Daniels would give , Pryzbylewski or some other dude that would mess up. Made me stop in my tracks lol. RIP Lance Reddick.

[@aharris82]

He had one of the coldest mean mugs on the show XD He was a great actor to grace the screen, seemed like a decent person too

[@nathanielsmith6065]

Wait but why'd he look at you disapprovingly? What did you do? Lol

[@PhilP8980]

Terrible loss. One of the most underrated actors I've ever had the privilige of watching.

[@KtotheG]

​@@nathanielsmith6065"What the fuck did I do?" - McNulty

[@mikem591]

Did he stop and say: "IN MY OFFICE!"

[@ianstallings]

Fine, I'll watch the Wire again.

[@Logans_Conquest]

Great minds think alike

[@r655321]

I know right. Twist my arm.

[@babylonian.captivity]

lol ikr?

[@roryanaughe5217]

Locked in. Again

[@chromegnats]

Started it again because of this video. Her goes my 112th play through.

[@PkTwothousand]

I can’t believe he died of heart disease, he looked super fit

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

I actually forgot he passed…damn. Now I’m a little sad all over again

[@alantrimble2881]

He was jacked in The Wire! He put on a little bit of weight as he aged, but he wasn’t out of shape at all.

[@averyb4633]

You’re joking right? Ever hear of the Covid gene therapy MRNA shot?

[@xneapolisx]

That dude was built like a sh*t brick house. Guess those types of illnesses can't be spotted from the outside of a person. RIP Lance 😢

[@vincentmedley5091]

Genetics can be a beast

[@glowing571]

The dirt on Daniels was that he was also working for Homeland Security, where he ran a unit investigating the paranormal. He got that money from some very Fringe activities.

[@manbeast_cs]

nice!

[@Robotic420]

FRING IS VERY GOOD

[@glowing571]

@TallonIV581 Yeah. I recommend it. It's got a heavy X-files influence. It has it's weaker episodes but the stories are generally pretty good and the character of Walter Bishop is one of my favourites in the sci-fi genre.

[@manbeast_cs]

@TallonIV581 I liked it but it isn't for everyone. Its kind of like x files but they knew when to call it quits, instead of dragging the show on. If you like sci fi you will prolly like it then.

[@joed9849]

Sick satanic shit!

[@gcm827]

“The late Lance Reddick…” it never doesn’t sting 😢

[@Andy_Sidaris]

Kind of racist to point out how he was late

[@k.y3551]

@@Andy_Sidarislate as in deceased

[@MRGRIMZ89]

THAT'S NOT JIMMY'S BROTHER. THEY JUST CALL EACH OTHER THAT BTW.

[@rrosin]

Lol, I caught that as well and went looking for the comment. Couldn't believe I would miss something like that.

[@adrianraygoza9221]

I'm pretty sure it was intentional. He does that for the Sopranos, same way he calls Blundetto that animal.

[@plyingspace5025]

ive watched the series 3 times and was wondering if they explicitly said they were

[@billymadgehooper3053]

@@plyingspace5025i doubt he was since mcnulty wouldn’t have been shuttered without pension if his brother was in a position of such power

[@MarcillaSmith]

And yet, his second cousin was living on the streets. What a family!

[@CGFIELDS]

Daniels was a professional officer with integrity 100%

[@alantrimble2881]

True, but the “dirt” was there to show us that Daniels wasn’t ALWAYS square plumb and true. He learned a hard lesson in the Eastern. That’s why he nurtured Carver & made him a good cop.

[@chromegnats]

I always felt it was heavily implied that he had “dirt” in the past.

[@willi9550]

Burrell would never turn him in. He'd rather dig shit then be seen witha shovel

[@henriquecruz1614]

Exactly, and Daniels called him out in his face. I think think if Burrell was gonna do it, he would've had done it.

[@MarcillaSmith]

*live in

[@adrianraygoza9221]

Assuming that when Daniels was in the Eastern, he was the rank of Sergeant. His guys probably took something and he found out about it later, but rather than turning them over, he helped cover it up the same way he did for Prezbo cold cocking the kid. It would be cool if the situation had something to do with Prop Joe and Cheese. Remember, Prop Joe said he had nephews and cousins fn up all his stuff. It's not like he could pop them and not hear about it come Thanksgiving.

[@patrickjeffers7864]

Yeah the fact that they never actually said what the dirt was made this series even better

[@tigerleoneinc.9282]

Daniels wasn't dirty. His wife was.

[@CesarR1037]

I was thinking the same thing

[@chromegnats]

Great shout.

[@robsop9512]

that was the implication as i saw it.

[@k.y3551]

Daniel’s stole drug money on raids and helped dirty officer beat charges. He’s less than the Saint he pretends to be.

[@KtotheG]

She was definitely power, status and money hungry.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

Great video as usual. I think Daniels made mistakes when he was young, but he's cleaned himself up. He's a good cop, real po-leece.

[@tavarisp452]

I’ve always thought Daniels was dirty back in the day. But likely a go along to get along thing to avoid be ostracized. He was smart and built the funds up which makes him look even dirtier because he has more than a police lieutenant should have. Unlike the court employee Lester catches in season 5 who’s dirty but has a gambling problem and has nothing to show for the dirt but debt.

[@KB8Killa]

His wife was a powerful woman she made a lot of money too I assume.

[@tavarisp452]

@@KB8KillaI think so. But if the FBI was looking into him they would’ve checked for the source of the money meaning they would’ve looked the wife. In the episode when the FBI guy tells McNulty about it Jimmy asks is the money from gambling or something like that and is told no. FBI believes he’s dirty because they can’t find the source of the money and given his and his wife’s income they shouldn’t have that much.

[@cha.numba1]

The dirt on Daniel's was that he was working undercover at Oswald Correctional Facility some years back and pushed another officer in an abandoned elevator shaft

[@Dawnbreakerr]

Hell yeah, more Wire videos!

[@bacob2432]

One of my all time favourite characters for sure! I think his dirt will be similar to what we see Carver and Herc take from the drug bust. Low risk, high reward, I'm not sure if I can blame them. Great video again

[@henriquecruz1614]

Yeah, that's my theory as well, and that's why I think Daniels immediately suspects them after that one drug bust

[@r.plante2916]

"Mary-Land"

[@Cbart23]

Bodymore Murdahland

[@black10872]

@@Cbart23 That's just the city. The rest of Maryland is nice and quiet.

[@Cbart23]

@@black10872 DC lobbyist money.

[@TheGreat_Kramer1]

He stole drug money on raids, helped fellow officers beat charges, looked the other way and all the normal things that every narco ends up doing by just being a narco.

[@johnj7955]

All the things Every cop winds up doing just because they are cops.

[@KB8Killa]

Stealing drug money is a big no no. I can't believe he would have done that! Look at me defending a fictional character lol

[@black10872]

@@johnj7955 Are you sure about that? You wore the blue to personally see that first hand?

[@johnj7955]

@black10872 its in the news every day man. I don't need to, "wear blue" to see that. You know it's true.

[@black10872]

@johnj7955 Well.... this narco you talking to never stole no money from drug raids. So you pretty much talking about a small minority of bad cops that did bad things.

[@MrN0where]

Interesting analysis. Like how you paralleled Daniels with Carver. I almost forgot he took dirty money and was a snitch for Burrell in Season 1. Off topic but I think a show you might enjoy if you haven’t seen yet would be The Shield. The protagonist Vic Mackey is a corrupt cop that tries to hides his crimes while also trying to control the streets and find profit for his family. Would be interesting to see your thoughts on it.

[@SteadyRoosevelt]

definitely, The Shield was a great show.

[@RobewhO]

Ladder, huh? Like Carcetti says, chaos is a ladder.. ..wait..

[@TariqBusy]

Daniels actor was jailhouse built, don't forget he's an OZ alumnus too.

[@ninersdodgersthunder]

This is arguably the best ensemble cast and well written show ever made. An absolute masterpiece. The thing is, EVERYONE is flawed. Like we all are as humans. Not one single character on that show is innocent. Meaning, people have their vices. Some greater than others.

[@smilingwolf7259]

Cedric Daniels and ALL of the those in leadership did so many things to line their pockets that I was surprised they didn't get struck by lightning for all their anger toward McNulty, who did all those questionable/bad things to force good police work. I mean, were they angry that McNulty never stooped to their level, or jealous because he flexed his "corruption" muscle to do good, which was something that never occurred to most of THEM ... ? Lester Freeman was my favorite character: smart, quick to learn, and smooth as silk.

[@charleslennonbaker]

Before the FBI did their investigation, the BPD 'thought' something was going on, right? How did they come to this theory? Did suspects claim they had been robbed, or was there a 'mole' or, in the district, an Internal Affairs officer already in the mix? Without the resources to follow up on their own and believing their own department, including Internal Affairs, may be compromised beyond the Eastern District, it would make sense why they went to the FBI instead of conducting the investigation further. After initial FBI reports on Daniels, the BPD may have discovered something more, and there are two possibilities. Maybe Daniels was not a compromised cop, as they thought, but an informant for another agency, not with the FBI or their own department. Imagine if Daniels was willingly or not cooperating with, let's say, the DEA, and in that role, he worked to get his fellow BDP cops charged. His participation as an informer would harm his career and his and his ex-wife's safety. Additionally, some of his undercover activities may not have been 'legal' in the truest sense. Alternatively, the heads of the BDP may assume or rightfully believe the 'dirt' uncovered would indeed lead back to the top and their friends in high places, and Damiels was not an informer, just a dirty cop who was stupid enough to leave a trail. Regardless of what 'we' know of Damiels and his ex-wife, nothing in their character strikes me as foolish. So why would the supposed stolen funds be open to inspection by the Feds FBI/IRS or any diligent investigator? They aren't trying to hide it because it was legitimately gained through payment by the government for work as an informant.

[@s1os2s3]

Imagine having character development in today's Hollywood. L.E: Carver did not steal money in the beginning of the season. He geniunely thought he turned in all the money finding it in the wheel well. He did steal money later in the season, I think.

[@MrThehoyce]

True, but at the end of season 1 when they're busting the Stash House he and Herc mention that there is no wire to prove how much was found this time (unlike with Clay's driver) and they each take a stack of bills.

[@PaidTheCost88]

Nerese was devious af

[@illinoisbanks1470]

But she was FINE

[@henriquecruz1614]

@@illinoisbanks1470 Oh Indeed

[@bobloblawblahblah6100]

Daniels went and cleaned his whole ack up

[@Contingentx]

Rest in peace 🙏

[@bigcartoonyIIV]

They knew he stole the cheerios from frans house, and ended up going to rehab and became a cop.

[@mr4914]

Underrated comment

[@thebettingpublicsportsshow]

There are no virgins in narcotics. - Ervin

[@firstof3cooks]

He played a guy on drugs in the Corner. I liked him in the Daniels role better and truly miss him as an actor.

[@RamensFiasco]

Need to rewatch . I watched while working security and it distracted me , i missed so much details.

[@samriley8278]

Carver never stole money. The bag ripped and the money was in the trunk of the car.

[@ItsyaboiL]

Him and herc definitely skim some cash on atleast one raid

[@DTA707]

I'd love to see a video on his character in Oz. Great actor, gone to soon

[@TheShahofBaltimore]

Let’s Go!! A New WIRE Video! About time baby!!

[@pavelshliaha1706]

“Do you think he would ever use the file against him?” He DID use the file against him

[@goodyeoman4534]

And if a jury of my peers, you all, deem it right for me to walk out of here an upright and justified man? Well I ain't gonna lie to ya, imma gonna watch these same damn KZbin videos tomorrow and the day after that and the day after that until they got me laid out at Marge's Funeral Home and they truck me off to Mount Auburn!

[@BENNY_MAC]

😂😂 well done Goody!

[@generalnsj]

Excellent work my friend, bravo!

[@shortstories2669]

Daniels got his money in Corporate world being a cutthroat CEO

[@Cbart23]

Natural Po-lice.

[@chibz92]

Fine fine. I’ll watch again.

[@vincentwilliams127]

The show ( The Wire) is about (The City Of Baltimore)!! It's the main character!!

[@franklinboyd123]

Daniels had a great character arc. As with real life, his old unit wasn't dirty in a vacuum. Skimming money involves higher ups, prosecutors, possibly judges and aldermen. Nobody wants to start pushing down dominoes. Remember the mantra about following the money.

[@colechillen7700]

You should see if David Simon would sit down for an interview with you 😂. He might tell you.

[@jimboj460]

RIP Lance Reddick gone way too soon 🙏🏼

[@dakritic]

McNulty’s brother? Lol..Special Agent Fitzhugh is not his biological brother. In America, The term “brother”is also a term of endearment amongst friends friends. In this case, brother in law enforcement.

[@bacob2432]

I loved him like a brother in law enforcement...

[@bacob2432]

Cine obviously is aware of this btw

[@PaidTheCost88]

“In America” 😂

[@markangelou9368]

Hey Daniels… price of the brick going up

[@MrRaheemfrank]

You did your big one with this one good video

[@ryann.9636]

So long ago, who can remember…?

[@jeffcurry1251]

He was a legend. RIP🫡🙏🏿

[@PhilP8980]

In all seriousness now-still fuck the bosses-but the interactions between Daniels and Carver, along with Carver's interactions with Colvin are some of the best in the show. The contrast between where Herc and Carver end up show how Carver used the advice and experience given to him to become real poe-leece.

[@Jayessdablu]

all these years i didnt know that the FBI guy was McNalty;'s brother! Fuuuuuuuu..

[@Saveyourbs]

“This……IS BULLLLSHIT!” - Cedric Daniels. RIP Lance Reddick 🙏🏾

[@MaverickHeel]

Purell Burrell (iykyk) was never going to use the file but he tried unsucessfully to control Daniels. That's an unsaid theme of The Wire....how to control people using their dirt. Once he realized that Daniels wasn't going to budge, he backed off.

[@Connect200]

It looks like Daniels was ripping off Prop Joe lol.

[@dakf660]

Great video

[@majorsynthqed7374]

The dirt was that he secretly worked as a hotel manager for a man named Winston.

[@elvinpena6273]

I really believe he took some drug money as well. Would you knowing the system trying to fuck you up financially? If the system paid good . None of thid would've happened.

[@youtuberabbithole6002]

I didn't know the actor died 😢

[@GodSonBlessed]

RIP Lance Reddick.

[@romnesia7729]

Next video - why didn't snoop and chris tell marlo that Omar was talking smack?

[@jwouter]

God dammit…… fine i will watch it yet again , you’re happy now ?😮

[@NateG219]

Carver became more like Bunny than Daniel's, but with Daniel's mixed in a little

[@gregmartin114]

I thought it was clearly explained he and his detail were keeping some of the drug money they confiscated .

[@robsop9512]

McNulty's brother? what - because they call each other "brother" here and there?

[@Hodapp]

McNutty’s brother? Not his actual brother is it?

[@3ggh3ad]

he did some shady stuff while working undercover in OZ penetentiary

[@alexcc777]

Suggestion: U should watch "A Prophet (2009)" about French Arab & Corsican Mafia......7.8 rating imbd.....

[@mrmr9420]

Great movie

[@Robertsonberg]

BOOSH!! 5HE WIRE!!!! THANK YOU

[@hedgedrisk]

I know this is off the subject, but will someone please explain the Brother Mouzon & Lamar dynamic…please help me understand why they even know one another.

[@AjeethRajesh]

I always thought it was Daniels’ wife Marla who was dirty, not Cedric himself

[@nickm8425]

i always assumed he took bribes earlier. And his east file was of some pretty bad guys being let off easy.

[@paisan8766]

When he was on the street in the Eastern workin narcotics, he took money with the other guys in his unit. Simple

[@Connect200]

From Prop Joe more than likely

[@damonstewart70]

Was he in john wick

[@ericholland669]

Yes

[@onyxturpin6382]

Something tells me Myra Daniel’s had a lot to do with that dirt because she would push him to play politics and was not afraid of maneuvering that minefield to gain an advantage…remember she wanted a crack at city councilwoman herself and she could have used Lt Daniel’s to climb the ranks/gain influence

[@ramirostryker]

“and in narcotics, there are no virgins”

[@hoovagangswcqpent8621]

All they did was took his role from oz n brought it to the wire

[@juniorsoprano7013]

One line in the show specifically says he was skimming money off drug busts.

[@jerryalexander8803]

No, he said he was part of a unit that was skimming money not that he was doing it specifically, just like he was part of a unit that blinded a kid in one eye

[@jerryalexander8803]

@TallonIV581 it’s assumed, but no one really knows where he got his money..

[@Sct123uk]

Masterpiece

[@thebigmackrel2725]

Mcnultys brother was fbi?

[@Levrai10]

What does “you wanted it to be one way, but it’s the other way” mean?

[@StevelyBruckShut]

It kinda speaks for itself. The security guard thought he lived in a world where you could approach another man and ask that he respects you, and both move on with theirs lives amicably Instead he lives in a world where that got him killed

[@DJ-iu5bb]

When i was broke you didnt give me the time of day you probably harassed me and followed me but now im a Steppa and now you will put in a Vacant like the others because i got the Power and Respect

[@sushi6608]

Ragtag?? Really

[@MRGRIMZ89]

28!

[@L.m.CeeTee]

Your accent does not match this content.

[@L.m.CeeTee]

@TallonIV581 his accent doesn’t match the content of The Wire. What did you not comprehend?

[@JohnKobaRuddy]

True but it means nothing in the end. Believe it or not but James Gandolfini isn't a real mob boss. He just matches one sort of.

[@chromegnats]

Wtf is that supposed to mean? Weird, borderline racist comment. Can you explain why his accent doesn’t “fit” and what accent would be suitable for you?

[@SupportGamin2024]

Do better

[@Burjinder-Oslo]

He was Black.

[@drewc6899]

yo do THe Shield @cineranter

[@erics362]

He was part of a unit (the eastern DEU) that was skimming drug money. I didn't have to watch this video to know that. 😂

[@hedgedrisk]

what was he supposed to do (as a Sgt probably)

[@erics362]

@@hedgedrisk He was definitely "going with the flow" but his feelings of shame afterwards were indications of his morality.

[@hedgedrisk]

@@erics362 watching again now🗣🗣🗣

[@kylefisher5138]

​@erics362 you are 100% correct ... what crystallized it for me was when Daniels caught Carver betraying him and instead of being angry, he was understanding of Carver's situation because it reflected his own on the Eastern

[@ceartais65]

Lance Reddick RIP was awesome on SVU as medical examiner Taylor for the first few seasons

[@tenspeed999]

and Oz as the undercover narc who went bad

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

Wire = Best show ever We Own this City…I need to watch that

[@loupaduto9183]

1 Sopranos 2 the wire

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

@@loupaduto9183 with all due respect you have that backwards 1. Wire 2. Sopranos

[@loupaduto9183]

Were gonna have to agree to disagree on this one

[@powderedtoastfacekillah734]

@@loupaduto9183 the order may be in dispute but at least we agree on the best two shows

[@loupaduto9183]

This is very true....I loved the wire...but I wasn't big on the last season

[@babylonian.captivity]

Daniels was a leader of men.

[@ddfdfufff9170]

It's an honor to be joined by men

[@sayseriously]

For all you 'The Wire' fans... Watch the precursor 'The Corner'...

[@ms042364]

Yyessssssss!

[@kaganms]

It's definitely exactly what Carver did.. Skimming cash on raids. The show is meant to be cyclical and in the season finale when Daniels promotes Carver to lieutenant that's the closing of the cycle - Carver is now where Daniels was at the start of the show. If you wander how could someone do clean as Daniels ever be dirty - just look at the evolution Carver went through, not without the help of a mentor in Bunny of course, Daniels probably had a mentor as well who put him on the right path.

[@DStar267]

Burrell clearly stated he was part of a bad drug unit in the Eastern District that was skimming money.

[@kennymartinez1244]

That’s real good writing and character development

[@magicmoonmonke]

His dirt is his Oz storyline

[@zulubeatz1]

Totally agree. Excellent character.

[@mrbeatwave7021]

Marc Guehi’s dad

[@AmazingJayB51]

I think he probably kept drug money form cases. Similar to what Carver and Hurk who was trying to do the same. We Own This City showed how stealing drug money was a thing.

[@donolaughlin8780]

I thought oohhh! Once I saw the headline.

[@baltimoremike9161]

🙏🏾 Lance Reddick..