 Giardello is considered a renegade commander and a thorn in the bosses' side due to his tendency to alert the media about investigations and allow his officers to investigate in a way that, while effective, is not representative of the department's political objectives.Early in the series, Giardello finds conflict with George Barnfather, a college-educated bureaucrat who is less experienced on the street and more interested in appeasing those who outrank him.Giardello is particularly incensed when Barnfather refuses to grant Steve Crosetti an honor guard because his suicide would create bad publicity for the department.