The Legion of Super Bloggers! : Who's Who: Science Police

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Who's Who: Science Police

Science Police
by Russell & Siskoid

Known members: Commander Loring, Chief (Commander) Wilson, Chief Zoltorus, Chief Ianos, Chief 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, innumerable unnamed officers

Relationship to Legion: Allies

Legion Log
The Science Police (or "The SP" as it is commonly called) was created when the Special Weapons and Sciences Branch of the United Planets Police Force became the agency that was best able to keep up with the rapidly accelerating technology of the modern era. Their name was soon shortened to the Science Police, and all other regular police organizations, such as the World Wide Police (Earth-only police force) and the Metropolis local Metro-Police were consolidated into the SP.

The Science Police are the main law enforcement organization in the United Planets. Officers are stationed on every UP world and colony, with special outposts located near the boundary line between the UP and the Khundia space sector, and on the edge of the UP where Tyrraz floats, an eternal threat. Their main headquarters is located in Metropolis, on Earth.

The Science Police likewise recruits from every UP planet and colony, with no limitations imposed on applicants because of gender, race, species or homeworld. The Science Police Academy is located on Mars. Basic officer training takes four years; specialized advanced training may take up to four more years. The officer is then assigned field work for five years. Generally speaking, the prison planet Labyrinth and Daxam Watch are considered the two "worst" assignments. After completing their initial assignments, officers can then apply for a two-year leadership program.

Legionnaires are sworn Science Police deputies, which allows them to make arrests while anywhere in United Planets territory.

Over the years various Science Police support groups and functions have been shown, such as Sensor Autodogs, used to hunt down criminals; an interrogator device used to read suspects' minds; and a super rogues gallery computer, which stores data on all known criminal elements throughout the UP.

The Science Police have changed their standard uniforms at least three times since the Legion was founded. Their classic grey and navy blue uniform made its debut in 2975, and was the official Science Police color scheme for more than ten years.

Since their founding, the Legion has met at least four Chiefs, several Commanders, and uncountable officers. Most officers went unnamed, but there are four major exceptions: Officer Dvron, Officer Erin, Chief Zendak, and Officer Cusimano. Each of these four supporting characters will get their own profiles in the coming weeks.

The so-called Five-Year Gap was hard on the Science Police, the malaise of the post-Collapse galaxy creating tension between the population and the authorities. The SP's headquarters are on Weber's World and headed by Commander Edvard Ahbernethy Hagbard. His top aide is Commissioner Zendak, though day-to-day operations are led by Chief Gigi Cusimano.

After the Reboot, Officer Shvaughn Erin acts as Legion liaison, and Legionnaires Saturn Girl and Leviathan were both recruited from the ranks of the Science Police.

After the Threeboot, the Science Police worries about the new vigilante movement the Legion represents, but plays a much smaller role in the team's adventures. It would eventually clash with the Legion when it became misaligned with the U.P. government of the time.

After Infinite Crisis, the Science Police's original history has presumably been more or less restored. Some Legion Academy graduates would end up joining the organization after being rejected for Legion membership. From that point on, the SP actually has its origins in the 21st Century where it serves the Federal government of the United States, with divisions in Metropolis and Midway City. That Science Police was created to replace the Special Crimes Unit, a division of the Metropolis Police Department that specialized in crimes committed by metahumans and aliens.

The Science Police has appeared in other media, including the Legion of Super-Heroes animated series, Batman: The Brave and the Bold, the Supergirl TV series, and the DC Universe Online video game (the latter two, the 21st-Century version).

Important Science Police stories:

Action Comics #287
(reprinted in The Legion of Super-Heroes Archives Vol. 1
and Showcase Presents: The Legion Vol. 1)