RED DRAGON to SWILL

RED DRAGON to SWILL

Red Dragon Bistro (1750 W. Grell Avenue):

See also SOYLENTE VERDE.

Rios, Lumiere Cristobal:

Lumiere is a college physics major at COLLEGIUM CAINE and serves as its Physical Plant Director.

Rodriguez, Victor (V-Rod):

A Yalie and a Georgetown Law alumnus, V-Rod is a high-octane policy wonk for the Ravensgate office of the DEA and a liaison agent to the Office of Homeland Security. He is an alumnus of DEA’s COMETPRO team and is a political rival of ANTONIO MARCOLI.

Romanescu, Lilith Ilona:

Captain of Mid-South Precinct at the time of the POLICE STRIKE OF 2002, Romanescu was the Acting Superintendent of Public Safety while PHILIP SNOW was recovering from his attempted assassination. She also was a member of the SINCLAIR COMMISSION. An exemplary officer who chose the night shift due to an unspecified skin condition, she died under suspicious circumstances of spontaneous human combustion in April 2002.

Romanyi The Sorceress:

See TEAM HYPERION, JOSHUA CAINE and AURELIE ROMA CAINE.

Rosenklein, Morris (Morrie):

A fire-breathing counterculture advocacy journalist in the 1960s and 1970s, Morrie tempered his rhetoric somewhat and went mainstream. He has been the General Manager and News director for KRGO since 1988. Some of his prominent hires include VELJON WILSON and VIC CHARLTON.

Ross-Muth Museum of Fine Arts (2121 Lee Parkway W.):

This municipal art museum is twice the size of the Seattle Art Museum and is the epicenter of the Ditko Beach Park/International District arts and cultural scene. Originally a cathedral, the main museum building dates back to 1912.

Rust City Massacre (1 April 2002):

See also POLICE STRIKE OF 2002, CITY HALL MASSACRE, APRIL FOOL’S DAY RIOTS. After the attempted assassination of PHILIP SNOW, the main suspects were members of the SPANNO-TORCHIA-VINCENSE TROIKA. MATT SHINMEN, then a lieutenant, and his 100-member STREET CRIMES UNIT converged on the Rust City Union Hall (911 S.E. 9^th Street). Upon arrival, striking cops waiting in ambush opened fire on both the SCU and the hall, prompting a running firefight that set 38 buildings ablaze, destroying 13 (including the hall). The SCU killed 21 mobsters and rogue cops and wounded approximately 50 others while suffering only seven wounded.

Rusty’s Bar-X Burger Ranch (420 Vermont Avenue N.W.):

This is the biggest and best burger joint in The Bottoms, but not necessarily the cleanest. TABULA RASA, a regular, says to beware of the pistachio milk shakes.

Samurai Seven:

This gimmicky band of thugs tried to rob a bank. They failed. THE DOE FAMILY stopped them, and two officers from the Checkerheads’ STREET CRIMES UNIT killed one of the Seven. It is rumored that they have found a replacement while in prison.

Shabazz, Alia:

A former Gang Enforcement detective and RAID sniper, Shabazz is a veteran of MATT SHINMEN’s version of the STREET CRIMES UNIT. Wounded in the RUST CITY MASSACRE, she returned to duty in May 2002 as the lieutenant in charge of SCU. She and WILTON FRANKLIN are active in the AFRICAN POLICE BRETHREN.

Shadowstrike:

An original member of THE DOE FAMILY and THE FOUNDRY, this darkness manipulator and hand-to-hand fighter is no longer active with the team.

Sharples, Russell (Rusty Shrapnel):

Rusty Shrapnel is WILLIAM PAULSEN’s top lieutenant—and a fellow Sheridan guest. He’s awaiting trial on charges related to the attempted assassination of Superintendent of Public Safety PHILIP SNOW and the murders of three of Snow’s bodyguards.

Sheridan Federal Regional Stronghold:

Located near the Willamette Valley town of Sheridan, on the other side of the Coast Range from Ravensgate, this is the regional superprison where metahuman criminals are kept as they stand trial and await or serve their sentences.

The Sheriff of ‘Uddersfield’s Publick House (100 S.E. 21^st Street):

Imagine if the guys from Spinal Täp ran an English pub. OK, now imagine they ran it well. The Sheriff of ‘Uddersfield’s Publick House is a Northern England ale house with a headbangers’ aesthetic—brain-shaped gelatin desserts under glass, dartboards, heavy-metal touring mascots scattered here and there, a miniaturized Stonehenge putt-putt golf course, goat’s-head doorknockers, and dishes named for classic heavy-metal songs or albums. Our advice: Go for the gusto and order the Crazy Train!

Shinmen, Matthew James (Matt):

PHILIP SNOW’s right-hand man, a former homicide detective and STREET CRIMES UNIT lieutenant, is now an inspector in charge of SPECIAL OPERATIONS BUREAU. A Checkerhead since 1987, Shinmen has a reputation as the exact opposite of his benefactor. Where Snow favors community policing and shies away from the grittier aspects of the job, Shinmen has a reputation as a skull-cracker who once told a rookie patrolman, “Some perp offers you a bribe on your street, you hit them so hard hospitals in Portland hear you got in the last word.”

Shinmen has a record for insubordination and excessive force, which may be why Snow didn’t make him a chief or deputy chief, but many believe his spotty personnel file stems from his refusal to sell his badge.

A former shortstop for the minor-league Ravensgate Brewers (1984-85), Shinmen also is the only American-born eighth-degree aikido black belt on the West Coast. He was a Homicide detective who helped JAMES SMITHSON investigate the 1993 explosion of TEAM HYPERION’s airplane, and he was married to Dr. PATRIA MORII in the late 1980s.

During his early police career, he attended night school to finish his Packwood College philosophy degree. He was a wrestling and baseball star at Rust City’s D’AMBROSIO HIGH SCHOOL, and a National Merit Scholar semi-finalist. The MEAALOA twins, JIMMY and JOEY, were fellow members of the Class of 1982. His parents own and run PIZZA DOJO and have a minority ownership share in LAWFUL FALAFEL.

Shinmen’s vegetarianism has its roots in a 1977 hunting trip with his uncle, JUDGE INAKIMOTO “MAD MOE” ISHII, where he shot a deer and was traumatized by its death throes. He is rather proud of his dietary habits, and he credits them for his cholesterol count [63 HDL, 125 LDL] and his ability to outrun and out-fight perps half his age.

Siegfried, Roy (“Batty,” 1959-2003):

Former Homicide detective who transferred to the STREET CRIMES UNIT upon MATT SHINMEN assuming command, Siegfried’s upward mobility is directly related to the POLICE STRIKE OF 2002. Immediately afterward, “FRANK” FRANKLIN promoted him to lieutenant and PHIL SNOW transferred him back to the new HOMICIDE & SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE unit.

However, his antics in SCU and the old Homicide unit, and those of former partner LEON “SPAZ” SPASZNIEWSKI, have garnered him some unwanted attention from Shinmen and his clique. Siegfried was nicknamed for his resemblance to Rutger Hauer and a gaze one former colleague once characterized as a “seen-things-you-people-wouldn’t-believe stare.” Siegfried and Spaszniewski were the field supervisors of the late NIKKO WYLDE, and they were implicated in her murder.

REY ALLEMANDE, his former Homicide commander, slipped into Death Row at the Oregon State Penitentiary and killed him in December 2003.

Sinclair, Bryan, J.D., Ph.D.:

An ambitious and encyclopedic legal scholar, Sinclair is a reformer and the new Metropolitan Prosecutor. In 2001, as the Ravensgate City Attorney, he wrote the successful ballot referendum that finally merged the redundant offices of the City and District Attorneys—-16 years after voters merged the city and county governments. He also declared his candidacy against DELBERT “BOSS” YOAKHAM, the man who had been DA as long a Sinclair had been alive. Upon declaring his candidacy, he created the Sinclair Commission and began hammering away at Yoakham on the themes of police reform and official integrity.

With Yoakham out of the race and under indictment, Sinclair ran unopposed in 2002 for the office he helped create. The Democrat is a political ally of PHILIP SNOW and, while he disapproves of his methods, MATT SHINMEN.

Sinclair holds a summa cum laude bachelor’s degree in political science from the Evergreen State College in Washington, is a graduate of the law school at Seattle University, and holds a doctorate in public administration from the University of Ravensgate.

Sinclair Commission:

Originally chaired by BRIAN SINCLAIR, this was a multi-jurisdictional panel investigating Ravensgate police corruption. Using an obscure state law, Sinclair empaneled a three-to-five-member commission with subpoena authority to review corruption allegations and route the cases to the appropriate state, local or federal agency. Its current roster includes chairman INAKIMOTO ISHII, Deputy Chief Malik Yussuf Ali from the BUREAU OF PUBLIC SAFETY, Checkerhead Chief of Administration Rodney Russell, LAURIE NUNEZ WATKINS from the City Assembly, and Sinclair himself. Quorum for the commission is three members.

Russell and Watkins are late additions to the commission: Russell, recently hired away from the Baltimore Police Department, replaces the late LILITH ROMANESCU. Watkins replaces a recalled Assemblyman.

Smithson, James:

Retired from the BUREAU OF PUBLIC SAFETY after partner MATT SHINMEN was drummed out of the Homicie unit, Smithson continued his obsession with their last case, the 1993 murder of TEAM HYPERION, until the day he died. His body washed up on the shore of Ditko Beach State Park, near DEVEREAUX MANOR, in February 2002.

Snow, Mike (1978-):

Son of Superintendent of Public Safety (and Deputy Mayor) PHIL SNOW, this 1999 Portland State graduate is a patrolman in the SPECIAL OPERATIONS BUREAU under MATT SHINMEN. He is the partner of DANIEL “RUBE” CODY.

Snow, Philip:

Snow was a policy wonk and 30-year veteran Checkerhead with an ability to play politics, which is how he ended up being Chief of Operations when the previous Superintendent of Public Safety was fired after the messy WTO-copycat riots of 1999. No other candidate wanted the job, so the interim superintendent became permanent and has served ever since. In his short tenure on the job, Snow did an end run around his own administration by relying upon the STREET CRIMES UNIT to spy upon other units and investigate officers accused of corruption.

Snow declared his candidacy for Mayor of Ravensgate in 2001 and adopted a police-reform agenda that alienated his commanders and the RAVENSGATE POLICE GUILD. This strategy worked to his advantage, as he gained a significant following among those tired of police abuses and/or Throckmorton rule. Even the RPG supported him, in hopes they could cut a deal with the moderate Republican if he were elected.

Then THE FOUNDRY uncovered the evidence Snow and BRYAN SINCLAIR needed to put away dirty cops for good. This angered the RPG, precipitated the POLICE STRIKE OF 2002, and ended his mayoral candidacy.

Prior to the April Fools Day strike, 31 top brass resigned out from under Snow. Twelve others were lost to indictments and disability. Snow eliminated 14 redundant positions, placed 29 loyalists in top ranks, and dispersed hard-core supporters from SCU and Mid-South Precinct throughout the department to act as his eyes and ears. He also consolidated the Municipal Facilities Security Division (MFSD) under Central Precinct, Parking Enforcement under Transit Police, Detectives into Operations, and Support Services (bailiffs, jailers, etc.) into Administration.

Philip Snow has made a point to embrace the principles of community policing and eschew the dirtier side of police work. However, anyone paying attention to him will note who in his command structure is his closest confidante—and hatchet man.

Snow earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Portland State University and is a 1972 graduate of the Oregon State Police Academy.

The Somnambulist:

See EMIL KERGILLIAN and TEAM HYPERION for more information on the man who chaired the RAVENSGATE CRIME COMMISSION from the early 1990s until his death in 2002.

Soylente Verde (701 Quincy Avenue E.)
Red Dragon Bistro (1750 W. Grell Avenue)
Hannibal's (656 W. Ackerman Avenue)

One is a Sci-Fi themed tacqueria popular with the collegiate crowd, the other two are upscale Uptown eateries. All three are owned by the Donner brothers.

Spanno-Torchia-Vincense Troika:

Elsewhere in the U.S., these three families do not get along. However, the Chicago-based Torchias, Vegas-based Vincenses and Jersey-based Spannos have joined forces in Ravensgate. They also are allied with the RAVENSGATE KLOWN KOLLEGE and SAM O’MUIR’s odd coalition of Irish and Jewish gangsters.

Spanno, Dominic Alicante (The Chef), J.D.:

This Ivy League-educated New Jersey “tax attorney” acquired his nickname for his apparent accounting prowess. His kid brother GIUSEPPE refers to him as a “troubleshooter”—whatever that means. Dominic Spanno is believed to have subcontracted out to the government’s Alphabet Soup for clandestine dirty-tricks missions abroad and at home. Legend has it that he drove a plumbing truck in the DC area during the summer of 1972.

Spanno, Giuseppe (Sloppy Joe, Joey Dogs):

He’s called “Sloppy Joe” because of his dapper dress—he’s immaculately coiffed, wears the finest suits, everything’s color coordinated. He’s called “Joey Dogs” because some of his people breed racing dogs—and snitches are known to “go to the dogs.” Spanno prefers to think of himself as a “union organizer” and “labor activist.”

Spaszniewski, Leon (“Spaz,” 1963-2003):

Former Homicide detective who transferred to the STREET CRIMES UNIT upon MATT SHINMEN assuming command, Spaszniewski’s upward mobility is directly related to the POLICE STRIKE OF 2002. Immediately afterward, “FRANK” FRANKLIN promoted him to sergeant and PHIL SNOW transferred him back to the new HOMICIDE & SPECIAL INTELLIGENCE unit.

However, his antics in SCU and the old Homicide unit, and those of former partner ROY “BATTY” SIEGFRIED, have garnered him some unwanted attention from Shinmen and his clique. Siegfried and Spaszniewski were the field supervisors of the late NIKKO WYLDE, and they were implicated in her murder.

REY ALLEMANDE, his former Homicide commander, slipped into Death Row at the Oregon State Penitentiary and killed him in December 2003.

Special Operations Bureau (SOB):

In the wake of the POLICE STRIKE OF 2002, Philip Snow consolidated the Homicide, Special Investigations, Internal Affairs, Intelligence, RAID, ECM, Training and STREET CRIMES units under the aegis of Special Operations. He promoted Lt. MATT SHINMEN to Inspector and appointed him SOB’s commander.

Street Crimes Unit (SCU):

Originally intended to be an elite Patrol Division unit aimed at locating and arresting fugitives and gate-crashing street crimes in progress, SCU took on a life of its own under Lt. (now Insp.) MATT SHINMEN. When he ran the unit, he hand-picked and trained its roster and beefed up its firepower to deal with more heavily-armed fugitives. He also took it upon himself to assume the mission of the old Gang Enforcement Unit, later absorbing it into SCU when its commander and half its roster were busted for corruption. In two short years, SCU became Superintendent Snow’s unofficial internal-affairs investigators and special-missions squad. In the same time period, the unit busted more dirty cops than the COUNTERINTELLIGENCE DIVISION (CID) ever did in 10 years, and the unit’s alumni are now spread throughout the Checkerhead command structure as Snow’s and Shinmen’s eyes and ears. SCU now trains and coordinates with the RAPID ARMED INTERVENTION DIVISION.

Swill, Daniel Jack (“Dan,” “Danny Boy,” 1947-2003):

The RAVENSGATE POLICE GUILD is no more, dissolved under RICO, and Swill no longer has a job as a desk sergeant at Mid-North Precinct. This doesn’t mean that its former president, facing indictment for 321 separate acts of corruption, still doesn’t have his hand in some nefarious scheme. He was an Exalted Pillar of Wisdom in the AL-AMARJA SHRINE TEMPLE until the FOREST CREST raid. Swill suffered a fatal heart attack in December 2003 while in custody for racketeering, murder, rape and kidnapping.