List of NYPD Blue Characters - Informants

Informants

• Steve Richards—A low-rent snitch in Seasons 2 and 3, Steve blew a surveillance operation when offered a cut of the proceeds from a planned robbery. No one wanted to listen to him when he returned, and he slathered his information around a great deal of BS, but Steve gave enough good data to help save a kidnapped business exec and earn himself a hefty reward.
• Vinnie Greco—Lt. Fancy's top snitch, whose info apparently led to the bust that earned the future Lt. his detective shield. Vinnie returned in Season 2 with info about an elaborate and legitimate robbery plan involving military-level hardware. He was roped into informing on Fancy for bigoted Cmdr. Haverill, but turned into Fancy's snitch again when his ruse was discovered, and got Haverill making vile statements on tape after the successful bust and forced him to retire. He returned later with info about an arson case, where he was not as useful and no one on the squad much liked to deal with him. Played by Joe Pantoliano.
• J.B. Murphy—J.B. loved doo-wop music, giving data to Danny Sorensen, and drugs. While he was a top-level snitch at first, he spiraled back into his addictions in spite of Danny's desperate efforts to help, and died when he overdosed inside a building that was later burned down with his still-breathing body inside.
• Julian Pisano—A sleazy, stupid, immediately hated guy whose initial claim to non-fame was his help of the man who murdered Danny when the body was buried. Julian later turned up with valid information for a crime he hadn't had the chance to commit himself. Andy and Clark later found out Julian's wife was trying to kill him and got him to control himself long enough for them to arrest her for attempted murder. Played by character actor Lenny Venito.
• Ferdinand Holley—A stick-up artist and drug addict dubbed by Detective Simone as his best informant ever. Holley caught AIDS through his heroin addiction and would specialize in robbing various drug dealers without ever attacking citizens. He made Sipowicz and Lt. Fancy uncomfortable with his non-law abiding activities but played a crucial role in bringing down the Barnes crew which was being investigated by a Federal Drug Task Force led by Sgt. Ray Kahlins. Kahlins would later give up Holley's identity in an interrogation unapologetically for making Kahlins' task force look incompetent in a drug raid and Holley then died at the hands of the Barnes crew. Holley was regarded by Sipowicz as more stand-up than Sgt. Kahlins and Holley's death caused Simone to viciously beat Sgt. Kahlins in front of his task force unit. Played by Giancarlo Esposito.