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Like any organized profession with a large clientele, police officers and law enforcers utilize abbreviated codes and easy-to-remember acronyms to communicate clearly and quickly. One of the most glaring TV examples includes the popular crime proceduralBoschand its spin-offBosch: Legacy, the latter of which is poised to return to Freevee for a third season in late2024. The original show follows Harry Bosch’s skillful detective prowess and the latter focuses on Bosch’s daughter Maddie climbing the ranks of the LAPD.
BothBoschseries incorporate specific police jargon and encoded lingo that tells them what dangers lie ahead and what crimes to look out for. In addition to the LAPD, several FBI acronyms are expressed on the show, written by crime reporter turned bestselling crime novelist Michael Connelly. Those wondering what the recurring police and FBI acronyms onBoschmean are in the right place.
What Is Bosch About?
Created for Amazon Studios by Eric Ellis Overmyer,Boschisa popular police proceduralthat debuted in 2014. Lasting seven seasons and 68 episodes, the drama concerns Harry Bosch (Titus Welliver),a morally murky Los Angeles Police Detectivewho investigates a slew of crimes in the city. Season 1 is inspired by acclaimed crime author Michael Connelly’s novelsThe Concrete Blonde, City of Bones, andEcho Park. Each progressive season takes cues from Connelly’s latterBoschnovels.
In between his detective duties, Bosch raises his daughter Maddie (Madison Lintz), who follows in his footsteps and becomes an LAPD officer in the spinoff,Bosch: Legacy. Boschalso deals with Honey Chandler (Mimi Rogers), a powerful attorney who uses her legal and political connections to avoid legal trouble and retain power.Due to the procedural nature of daily law enforcement, Bosch and his colleagues often speak in unintelligible police codes that leave laypeople and casual viewers scratching their heads. Yet, once knowing what they mean, they’re easy to remember and can help make sense of various storylines.
What Does RHD in Bosch?
One of the most commonly searched Police and FBI acronyms is RHD, an abbreviation often heard by Bosch and his fellow cops on the show.RHD stands for Robbery Homicide Division, a unit responsible for examining a large swath of crimes, including every type of robbery, serial killings, sexual violations, kidnappings, ransom notes, financial extortion, human trafficking, and attacks on police officers.
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In Connelly’s novels, it is explained that Bosch was a member of the RHD division of the LAPD from 1982 to 1990. He was demoted for shooting a man and later reinstated in 2002, but chose to resign instead, before returning in 2005. RHD is one of the LAPD’s most intense, high-pressure units that attracts the department’s most skilled and fearless detectives. Bosch goes above and beyond his duties, believing that an RHD officer’s life is 100% dedicated to the profession rather than a casual day job.
What Does CRU Mean in Bosch?
Not listed among the Police & FBI acronyms onMichael Connelly’s website, CRU is often misinterpreted by Bosch fans.CRU stands for Crime Reduction Unit,a division Maddie Bosch joins following her harrowing kidnapping by Kurt Dockweiler inBosch: LegacySeason 2. Not to be confused with CRT (Crime Response Team), the CRU is known for reducing all types of public street crimes. Maddie is offered a chance to join the division by her commanding officer inBosch: LegacySeason 2, Episode 4, “Musso & Frank,” which reunites her with her former LAPD partner Reina Vasquez (Denise G. Sanchez).
In the following episode, “Hollywood Forever,” Maddie and Reina work a case in the CRU when criminals target Hollywood tourists near Grauman’s Chinese Theater. Although Maddie fails to track down a hooded assailant and balks in the face of danger, Reina is there to lend emotional support, knowing that Maddie is still reeling over her kidnapping. Later in Season 2, Maddie finds moderate redemption in the CRU by successfully raiding the home of Ellis, a corrupt cop. With a clear intent to reduce as much street crime as possible, CRU is a newer police acronym added to theBoschvernacular.
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What Does GSB Mean in Bosch?
Another commonly searched acronym relating to Bosch is GSB. Unfortunately, the search is the result of a massive nominal mix-up. GSB is not an official police & FBI acronym, nor is it ever mentioned in theBoschbooks orthe long-running cop show. Instead, those searching for Bosch and GSB online are directed toward the Bosch line of power tools. More specifically, GSB refers to an operational range of Bosch Power Hammer Drills.
While the Bosch power tools have little bearing on the policework depicted onBosch, it’s easy to confuse the acronym withGSR, which stands for Gun Shot Residue, a term often used in theBoschbooks and shows. There is also GBI (Great Bodily Injury), GIU (Gang Intelligence Unit), GOSD (Gang and Operations Support Division), and GRIT (Gang Related Information Tracking),according to MichaelConnelly.com. In some law circles, GBS also refers to “Government Security Building,” but it’s not an acronym used inBoschorBosch: Legacy.
Bosch & Bosch: Legacyare both available to stream on Amazon Prime Video.
