Water Rats - the other detectives

Although the Frank and Rachel years were a big part of Water Rats there were other detectives in the show. Some began their time when the duo still ruled the roost and others came later.

Jack Detective Sergeant John Edward Christey was a tough-talking, arrogant cop, who mellowed slightly as we got to know him. He began with the Rats when Frank was away on leave, then he reappeared from time to time and when Frank left the Water Police Jack was the permanent replacement.

He was attracted to Goldie immediately and unlike the years of simmering sexual tension between Rachel and Frank, Jack and Rachel had their one-night stand. When they were working together as partners, Rachel tried to pretend nothing happened, but later the relationship began to develop. As she lay dying in Jack's arms, he pleaded with her to live because he loved her. He was devastated by her death and went on a destructive one-man hunt to avenge her murder. After her killer was found Jack read Rachel's diary, where she admitted she loved him.

Jack was a single guy used to doing things his own way and that was the same when he was at work. His methods sometimes slid him slightly off the rails, but he always ended up on track and it was always in the pursuit of justice. The history of Jack's life suddenly changed when an eighteen-year-old girl came looking for her father. From a relationship ended long ago, he had a daughter, Sophie. Jack and Sophie slowly got to know each other, but it was a rocky path and there was a lot to learn.

Jack began to get tired of his work as a detective and spent some time as Acting Chief-Inspector at the end of the series. However he wasn't suited to a desk job and he ended up in a typical off-the-rails pursuit of justice. In the final ever Water Rats scene, we flew upwards from Jack floating in the water, until he was just a speck, and then gone.

Alex Detective Senior Constable Alexandra StClare was smart, sensitive, young, yet an experienced copper. She began with the Water Police after Rachel's death, transferring from the undercover unit.

Alex had a more privileged upbringing than many of her colleagues, growing up on the North Shore. At work however, everyone was equal and the only signs of her more affluent past were in her good clothes, nice car and taste for fine dining. She was a compassionate and affectionate cop, always there for her colleagues and the many victims of crime they came across. Alex threw herself passionately into her work as she often felt emotional about the cases they dealt with.

When she was younger, before she had joined the Police Service, Alex had been engaged to Matthew Grierson. She had broken it off and not seen him for years, until he was a suspect in a case the Rats were dealing with. After catching up on the lost years over a few glasses of wine, Alex succumbed to his charms once again. But although she liked the idea of falling in love with him again, she knew they were very different people. She later endured an obsessive stalker, who turned out to be Matthew's brother.

Mick tried many times to ask Alex out, but she was unwilling to mix work and play, although they did share a kiss. Alex and Jack also shared a brief kiss, but neither relationship progressed any further. Just like nearly all the Rats, Alex's personal life was full of failed relationships, as being a police officer doesn't make it easy.

Mick Detective Constable Michael Lionel Reilly was the quieter, more serious detective of the team. He joined the Water Police just before Frank left and as the third, most junior detective he often got given the small, mundane cases and lots of paper work. When Alex joined the Rats, the dynamic between the detectives changed slightly and although they often worked in pairs, all three worked as a team to solve their cases.

Mick was often accused of thinking with his libido rather than with his brain. He had a sexual harrassment complaint filed against him but luckily it was withdrawn as it was basically false. Mick tried many times to ask Alex out, with no success and he had an on-again off-again relationship with Emma. He also had a relationship with an ex-prostitute, Suzi. He was meant to be on-call the night Rachel was killed, but his phone had been turned off and he was sleeping with Suzi at the time. Mick never really got over the guilt from that night.