MovieChat Forums > The Departed (2006) Discussion > was Dilahunt really a cop?

was Dilahunt really a cop?

posted 9 years ago by jwc53531
8 replies | jump to latest

So, was Dilahunt really a cop or did the real cops plant the story to take the heat off Billy? I thought he might be BPD and since Billy was a State cop they wouldn't have known the other one was a cop?

[–] hero-de-celluloid 9 years ago

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/board/thread/255522900

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/board/thread/254154103

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/board/thread/252116903

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0407887/board/thread/252984299

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[–] bek-12 9 years ago

I think he was really a cop. It's pretty clear... he basically admitted it on his deathbed, but then the news story solidifies it. The criminals were just paranoid.

[–] wowjonesgg 9 years ago

Delahunt was not, I repeat, NOT a cop. No real police dept. with people any level of undercover, would announce it on TV, and not show that cop in uniform. Btw I am a retired police officer.

[–] hero-de-celluloid 9 years ago

Are you saying a real police department would announce to the press that a criminal they know to be a gangster is actually a cop? I have never heard of department announcing a criminal was a cop when they knew he wasn't. The liability is reason enough not to do that. Did your department ever publicly declare a known gangster/criminal to be a cop to the press? I would find it hard to believe any department would.

I have heard of departments memorialize undercover cops after they died w/photos. If a cop was killed in the line of duty (even undercover) there is usually a big production. His undercover work is over at that point. I don't know if Delahunt was a cop or not - but I have seen undercover cops deaths mentioned on TV (funeral coverage) showing who they were. I have never heard of department declare a gangster was a cop when they knew he wasn't.

To your point - if he wasn't a cop - and they declared he was - wouldn't the gangsters act the same way. Whether he was or wasn't - the police declared he was - they would think he was (except for Costello which was a long shot). So if your theory is he wasn't a cop because they wouldn't mention that with others undercover - it would be the same result if he was a cop. They would think he was and act the same.

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[–] jaseace 8 years ago

They announced that delahunt was the cop on TV to hide from the public and costellos crew the fact that costigen, the real undercover copwas, still active in the gang. He didnt admit being a cop on his deathbed he was saying he gave costigen the wronf address but he showed up at the right one and he new that he was the cop

[–] arunsah 8 years ago

yeah, but then he asked "ask me why I didn't tell anyone", what would be the point of that line if he wasn't actually a cop

[–] joeishotterthantimberflake 8 years ago

With Queenan dead, nobody else knew other Dignam who Billy was and Dignam definitely didn't tell anyone.

He was a cop

[–] socalmujer 8 years ago

Yes, I believe Delahunt was a cop based on the following implications: When Sullivan was researching Costello's group from the Citizen Bank envelope, Fitzy's photo was flashed as Sullivan entered an SSN, the computer made one beep (ID confirmed maybe?). Delahunt photo flashed, SSN entered, "person not found" multiple beeps. Costigan's name entered, "person not found." Sullivan did not share this info with Costello as he wanted to trap the rat with Queenan and wasn't sure which unknown it was until they met in person.