 Michael says he was the first black lieutenant, but Gee is ranked by Black officers such as Deputy Com.Harris and Col. Barnfather.Normally this would indicate that they both made lieutenant before him, but given Giardello's known predilection of being impolitic with the brass (including being a known leak to the press to put media pressure on the department) and Harris and Barnfather being known political animals that would play ball with their superiors, it is of strong consideration that Giardello was passed over for Captain by both for that reason and not strictly racism by either whites or lighter skinned blacks.