Chief Pope was reassigned to a different position within the LAPD.
In the television series “The Closer,” Assistant Police Chief Will Pope, played by J.K. Simmons, is a key character who oversees the Priority Murder Squad, later renamed the Major Crimes Division, led by Deputy Chief Brenda Leigh Johnson. Throughout the series, Pope is both a professional ally and a personal friend to Brenda, although their relationship is complicated due to their past romantic involvement.
As the series progresses, Pope aspires to become the Chief of Police. However, his ambitions are often thwarted by political maneuvers and the fallout from various cases that the division handles. In the final season, Pope’s career takes a turn when he is passed over for the promotion to Chief of Police, a position he had long coveted. Instead, Tommy Delk is appointed as Chief, and Pope is offered a different role within the department.
Pope’s reassignment is a significant turning point for the character, as it not only affects his professional trajectory but also changes the dynamics within the Major Crimes Division. Despite this setback, Pope continues to play a role in the series, although his influence within the department is somewhat diminished. The series concludes with Brenda Leigh Johnson leaving the LAPD, and Captain Sharon Raydor, played by Mary McDonnell, taking over as the head of the Major Crimes Division in the spin-off series “Major Crimes.”