Sergeant Phil Cerreta was a homicide detective that joined the 27th Precinct after Max Greevey was gunned down in front of his house in 1991. He was partnered with Mike Logan. Although Logan initially resented him, they eventually formed a close working relationship. (L&O: "Confession")
Cerreta is portrayed as an Italian-American Catholic who, unlike his successor, Lennie Briscoe uses charm and manners to investigate cases. Little is revealed about Cerreta's personal life, except that he and his wife Elaine they have five children, and he had served in the military before becoming a police officer. His family has a history in the textile and printing businesses (L&O: "The Working Stiff") and are loyal trade union members. He has a 15-year-old daughter named Linda (L&O: "Wedded Bliss") born 1976 or 1977. He became a police officer in 1969. (L&O: "Prince of Darkness") He never had occasion to fire his weapon in the line of duty. (L&O "Self Defense")
In 1992, Cerreta was shot twice in the stomach by a black-market gun dealer, with one bullet ending up near his spine, but he survived. Although there was concern that he might not walk again, he ended up retaining his motor functions. Cerreta later agreed to allow the DA's office to make a deal with the gun dealer, in which his charges were dropped down to assault with a deadly weapon in the hopes of convicting a cartel hitman. (L&O: "Prince of Darkness") Soon afterwards, he informed Logan of his decision to transfer to a desk job in the 110th Precinct. Cerreta's reasoning was that he wanted to spend more time with his family, as well as the fact that a couple of nerves near his spine were grazed by the bullet, leaving Cerreta with some permanent weakness in his legs. He was succeeded by Lennie Briscoe, who remained with the 27th Precinct until 2004. (L&O: "C.O.D.")
Appearances[]
- Law & Order (2 seasons, 31 episodes):
- Season 2: "Confession" • "The Wages of Love" • "Aria" • "Asylum" • "God Bless the Child" • "Misconception" • "In Memory Of..." • "Out of Control" • "Renunciation" • "Heaven" • "His Hour Upon the Stage" • "Star Struck" • "Severance" • "Blood Is Thicker..." • "Trust" • "Vengeance" • "Sisters of Mercy" • "Cradle to Grave" • "The Fertile Fields" • "Intolerance" • "Silence" • "The Working Stiff"
- Season 3: "Skin Deep" • "Conspiracy" • "Forgiveness" • "The Corporate Veil" • "Wedded Bliss" • "Helpless" • "Self Defense" • "Prince of Darkness" • "Point of View"
Law & Order - Main Characters | |
Senior Detectives: Max Greevey • Phil Cerreta • Lennie Briscoe • Joe Fontana • Ed Green • Cyrus Lupo • Kevin Bernard • Frank Cosgrove • Jalen Shaw Junior Detectives: Mike Logan • Rey Curtis • Ed Green • Nick Falco • Nina Cassady • Cyrus Lupo • Kevin Bernard • Frank Cosgrove • Jalen Shaw • Vincent Riley Commanding Officers: Captain Donald Cragen • Lieutenant Anita Van Buren • Lieutenant Kate Dixon Executive Assistant District Attorneys: Benjamin Stone • Jack McCoy • Michael Cutter • Nolan Price Assistant District Attorneys: Paul Robinette • Claire Kincaid • Jamie Ross • Abbie Carmichael • Serena Southerlyn • Alexandra Borgia • Connie Rubirosa • Samantha Maroun District Attorneys: Adam Schiff • Nora Lewin • Arthur Branch • Jack McCoy • Nicholas Baxter |