# Jim Flaherty — Little Caesar character guide

> Jim Flaherty in Little Caesar by W. R. Burnett.

**Role:** supporting

**Also known as:** Jimmy, Flaherty, Mr. Flaherty

**First appearance:** 0002-little-caesar

## Snapshot

A grinning police detective who calls himself Rico's friend, Flaherty watches the young gangster rise and warns him he'd be a man yet — if they don't put him behind bars.

## Who they are

Flaherty is the flatfoot who turns up at the wrong moments, needling Blondy Belle and reminding Rico that he's got his eyes on him. He plays the friendly Irish cop, but his interest is a leash, and Rico knows it. As the one lawful gaze fixed on Rico's ascent, Flaherty shadows the story's early arc with the quiet threat that someone, somewhere, is keeping score.

## Relationships

### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty is a corrupt police detective who hunts Rico and tries to bring down his gang.

### [Joe Sansone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/joe_sansone)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty targets Joe Sansone as a key member of Rico's gang, trying to arrest or turn him.

### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty is a corrupt police detective who hunts Rico and tries to bring down his gang.

### [Joe Sansone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/joe_sansone)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty targets Joe Sansone as a key member of Rico's gang, trying to arrest or turn him.

### [Rico](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/rico)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty is a corrupt police detective who hunts Rico and tries to bring down his gang.

### [Joe Sansone](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/joe_sansone)

_rivalry_

Jim Flaherty targets Joe Sansone as a key member of Rico's gang, trying to arrest or turn him.

## In the story

### [VII](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iii-vii)

Police detective; confronts Rico in the hallway, offers a tip and a chance to inform, but is rebuffed.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iv-iii)

Confronts Rico and Blondy Belle outside the banquet, claiming to be a friend and watching Rico's rise.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-iv-vi)

Detective surveilling Rico; threatened by Rico.

### [III](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vi-iii)

Leads the arrest of Joe Massara, taunts him, and denies him cigarettes.

### [IV](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vi-iv)

Rough police agent who interrogates Joe, raps his knuckles with a ruler, and accuses him of shooting Courtney in the back.

### [VI](https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/chapters/part-vi-vi)

Arrives at Rico's building with a police car, sent by the Big Boy to talk to Rico.

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters/jim_flaherty
- Book: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se
- All characters: https://www.betterreads.dev/discover/little_caesar_se/characters