Harold Bates
| Harold Bates | |
| Actor | Granville Van Dusen |
| Appears in | Season 3's "The Watch Commander" |
| Call Numbers | |
| Badge Number | |
Harold Bates is actually a Lieutenant of the California Highway Patrol that is best known under his nicknames such as Lt. Whiz-bang or Apples, and just was recently transfer to the Central Los Angeles Area Office (Southern Division) as the new watch commander. After arriving at central he immediately notices how the motors are parked especially Grossie is even parked facing the building. After Getraer had introduced him immediately to the A-shift during the briefing rather than of be a leader he first comes off as a dictator when he begins preaching about appearance, orderliness, fuel conservation, and even reprimands Ponch for wearing a non-regulation shirt. He tries to display his first effort of friendliness while in private with Getraer, insisting he call him by his first name rather than his proper given title. While he was out patrolling the streets that's when he had caught Jon, Baricza, Grossie, and Bonnie having lunch at Lucy's Drive In.
He reprimands Jon and Grossie for violating a regulation regarding large groups of officers taking breaks together.
Being senior officers, Bates feels that they should've told Bonnie and Baricza to find another place to have lunch. This upsets Getraer back at Central, but his efforts to get through to the Lieutenant get him nowhere.
Just outside, Grossie is tampering with Bates' gas tank, adding more fuel.