McNamara

authoritative procedural cautiously compliant pragmatic

McNamara serves as a mid-level Wesley police supervisor who acts as the station’s procedural interface with outside authorities. He arrives when summoned, establishes control by asking visitors to state their business, listens to White House representatives, and coordinates subordinate officers’ responses. Faced with political pressure and documentary corroboration of the visitors’ status, he moves from guarded authority to pragmatic compliance, arranging that officers follow the lead of higher-ranking civilian interlocutors to contain escalation and restore local order.

8 appearances

Also known as: Sergeant McNamara, Sgt. McNamara, SERGEANT MCNAMARA

McNamara's Journey

A timeline through the narrative

8 moments

S1E15 · Celestial Navigation

Invoking the President at the Station Desk

Measured and professional; cautious curiosity that quickly recalibrates toward institutional self‑preservation when faced with proof of federal involvement.

Enters as Sergeant McNamara, asks the visitors to state their business, listens to Sam's direct demand for Mendoza, inspects evidence (the broadsheet) and stands at the pivot point where the …

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S1E15 · Celestial Navigation

Identity Confirmed — Local Arrest Becomes Political Flashpoint

Guarded recalculation — outward control while rapidly assessing political risk and next procedural steps.

Sergeant McNamara enters, asks Sam and Toby to state their business, listens to Sam's demands, and is forced to reconsider his station's position when the newspaper image and Sam's assertion …

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S1E15 · Celestial Navigation

Toby Extracts an Apology — Mendoza Released

Guarded relief — willing to comply to contain potential political fallout and prevent escalation.

Sergeant McNamara acknowledges Toby's directive and signals departmental compliance—pledging to follow behind the group—thereby converting initial guarded authority into pragmatic cooperation.

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S1E15 · Celestial Navigation

Forced Apology at the Wesley Station

Resigned but cooperative, seeking to limit harm to the department and avoid protracted controversy.

Sergeant McNamara responds minimally but affirmatively, signaling departmental willingness to comply ('We'll be behind you'), indicating pragmatic acceptance of the terms and readiness to have officers follow the visitors' lead.

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S2E3 · The Midterms

Bartlet Draws the Line: No Campaigning in the Oval

N/A (mentioned off-screen)

McNamara is referenced alongside Gates and Wyman as target for Bartlet's campaign phone call, symbolizing the donor network tempting Oval sanctity.

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S2E17 · The Stackhouse Filibuster

White House Frenzy: Rallying Senators as Grissom Relieves Stackhouse

Determined communal support

McNamara referenced as immediately succeeding Grissom on Senate floor post-yield, continuing the grandfather relay to bolster Stackhouse's filibuster as White House celebrates.

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S2E17 · The Stackhouse Filibuster

Grissom's Procedural Yield Grants Stackhouse Vital Respite

Determined supportiveness

McNamara referenced as immediate successor post-Grissom, stepping into relay to bolster Stackhouse's filibuster, embodying emerging bipartisan grandfather chain viewed on bullpen TVs.

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S2E17 · The Stackhouse Filibuster

Cheers Erupt as Bipartisan Senators Cascade to Relieve Stackhouse

Determined camaraderie

McNamara referenced by C.J. as immediately succeeding Grissom in the narrated relay of grandfathers taking the floor to support Stackhouse's filibuster on TV.

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Affiliation

Senate Judiciary Committee