The Maltese Falcon · Character

Tom Polhaus

A big, friendly police sergeant who works the Archer murder case and treats Spade with an ease his lieutenant clearly doesn't share.

supporting

Also known as Polhaus, big Tom, Sergeant Polhaus

First appearance: Death in the Fog

As a supporting figure in The Maltese Falcon, Tom Polhaus is not background color—the story leans on what they do once the chapter opens.

Accompanies Dundy to Spade's apartment; tries to mediate and urges Spade to cooperate.

In the storyDeath in the FogOpen this moment free

See Tom Polhaus in Death in the Fog Book page

Free preview opens at this moment — character cards, Character Web, and themes sit beside the text as you read.

With Sam Spade (friendship): A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law. With Sam Spade (friendship): A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law. With Sam Spade (friendship): A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law.

Continue beside the text

The fuller portrait of Tom Polhaus sits in Reading Lens — open the free preview to keep reading with notes on the page.

See Tom Polhaus in Death in the Fog

Character Web

17 connections

A slice of how Tom Polhaus sits in the book — open the reader for the full interactive map.

Relationship types

Friendship
Other

Character groups

Core Falcon Hunters
Incidental References
Protagonist

+12 more in the full Character Web

Open in reader

Narrative arc

Story tension across the book — this chapter sits in Exposition.

Setup
Escalation
Breaking point

Spade’s phone call to the police marks the emotional and psychological peak because he coldly betrays Brigid O…

Full beat labels and climax notes unlock in the reader.

Follow the arc while reading

Relationships

Sam Spade
friendship · positive
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's… How this plays out →
Sam Spade
friendship · positive
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's… How this plays out →
Sam Spade
friendship · positive
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's… How this plays out →

Sam Spade
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law.
Sam Spade
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law.
Sam Spade
A friendly but professional rapport, with Polhaus as a decent cop who respects Spade's skills while trying to keep him on the right side of the law.

Relationship notes

How these ties play out is in the reading companion — open the free preview.

See Tom Polhaus in Death in the Fog

In the story

Tom Polhaus appears across 5 companion beats. Open any chapter in the free preview to see the notes beside the text.

Death in the Fog
Accompanies Dundy to Spade's apartment; tries to mediate and urges Spade to cooperate.
VII: G in the Air
Accompanies Dundy to Spade's apartment and witnesses the disturbance.
Horse Feathers
Accompanies Dundy to Spade's apartment. He is skeptical of the situation and tries to calm Spade, muttering 'I hope to God you know what you're doing.'
XV: Every Crackpot
Polhaus meets Spade for a meal, attempting to mediate between Spade and Dundy. He reveals that Thursby's Webley gun was used to kill Archer.
XX: If They Hang You
Arrives with Dundy to arrest Gutman and Cairo; reports Gutman's death by Wilmer.

Chapter companion notes

Spoil-light check-ins for Tom Polhaus unlock in the free preview.

See Tom Polhaus in Death in the Fog