Officer Tonie Churlish is a plainclothes officer who was previously assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit, having previously worked for the the Bronx Special Victims Unit.
Early Life[]
Churlish grew up as the child of two therapists. She was also a member of the Girl Scouts. She said she also used to watch the TV show Cagney and Lacey with her grandmother. (SVU: "Bad Things")
With the NYPD[]
Churlish and Detective Terry Bruno, who were both working for the Bronx SVU, met with Captain Benson and Sergeant Tutuola, who had been asked to take over the Bronx unit and closing their cases. Churlish worked with Benson and Tutuola consistently throughout a case involving young deaf women and eventually caught a serial rapist and murderer named Ronnie Samuels. (SVU: "Jumped In")
After Captain Mike Duarte showed Benson the "rape trees", Churlish was assigned by Anya Avital and Ingram Wise to assist Tutuola in hiring new detectives for the Bronx Special Victims Unit. Churlish also assisted the team with their case against Oscar Papa for rape and the attempted murder of Benson. (SVU: "Soldier Up")
Churlish assists Tutuola in interrogating Velasco after he confesses to Hector Suarez that he was ordered to commit a murder. Churlish becomes hostile towards Velasco during the interrogation, but Velasco ends up telling him that he saw his friend commit the murder. Afterwards, Tutuola tells Benson that he was impressed with Churlish, and Benson tells him to have Churlish see her the next morning for a job. (SVU: "King of the Moon")
Churlish transferred from the Bronx Special Victims Unit to the Manhattan precinct following her impressive work, replacing the position that was previously filled by Amanda Rollins. She immediately clashed with Muncy, who expressed her anger that Churlish had recorded Velasco without his consent or knowledge. Churlish noted Muncy's loyalty to Velasco, which irritated Muncy. (SVU: "The Presence of Absence")
Churlish was kidnapped by a serial rapist after he spiked her drink while she was undercover. Before she could be raped, Muncy, Velasco and Benson rescued her and arrested Churlish's kidnapper. (SVU: "Lime Chaser")
Churlish departed the Special Victims Unit sometime in 2023 sometime after the departure of Muncy and Whelan's death.
Trivia[]
- Officer Churlish is the second-known plainclothes Officer assigned to the Special Victims Unit, after Katriona Tamin, who worked for the 16th Precinct from 2019 until her promotion to Detective in 2021.
- She doesn't drink alcohol. (SVU: "Lime Chaser")
- Churlish is the only recurring character from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit who has been assigned to the Manhattan Special Victims Unit to appear on Law & Order: Organized Crime.
Appearances[]
- Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (1 season, 11 episodes):
- Season 24: "Jumped In" • "Soldier Up" • "Blood Out" • "King of the Moon" • "The Presence of Absence" • "Lime Chaser" • "Bubble Wrap" • "Bend the Law" • "Debatable" • "Bad Things" • "All Pain Is One Malady"
- Law & Order: Organized Crime (1 season, 1 episode):