- "The law is the law, and I swear by it no matter what."
- ―Tom Ridenhour to Misty Knight[src]
Thomas "Tom" Ridenhour was a Captain with the New York City Police Department who was transferred to Harlem when he took over from Priscilla Ridley. During his time as captain, Ridenhour oversaw the return of Detective Misty Knight to the force following her losing her right arm, and focused much of his efforts on bringing down the Stokes Crime Family since he used Comanche as his mole on the inside of the crime family, reporting all the crimes of Mariah Dillard directly to Ridenhour. However, once Ridenhour and Comanche had been caught at their secret meeting by Shades, Ridenhour was simply unable to defuse the situation as the panicked Comanche shot him in the heart, killing him instantly before Shades killed Comanche for betraying him and had then sabotaged the crime scene.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Meeting Mariah Stokes[]
- "I am not that shy girl you held hands with in ninth grade."
"Ninth, tenth and eleventh. You don't remember?"
"I never forget. And then there was Karla, and that was that." - ―Mariah Dillard and Tom Ridenhour[src]
In high school, Tom Ridenhour met a woman named Mariah Stokes. The two hit it off and dated in their first three years of high school. Following their breakup, Ridenhour met a woman named Karla. They soon got married.[2]
Using Comanche[]
Transfer to Harlem[]
- "When did you transfer from Midtown Homicide?"
"Oh, when Ridley made deputy chief and got transferred to One Police Plaza." - ―Misty Knight and Tom Ridenhour[src]
Thirty-five years later, Ridenhour transferred to the Harlem precinct to replace Priscilla Ridley. One day, Misty Knight returned from losing an arm and wanted to rejoin due to many prisoners being let into the streets because of Rafael Scarfe. Ridenhour greeted her back. Suddenly, Luke Cage arrived and gave them an unconscious Arturo Rey III, who was selling heroin and also used a Judas Bullet. Ridenhour told Cage that he could not do this because it is illegal. Cage told him that he does the police's job and he will not stop until he trusts them again.[1]
Ridenhour soon contacted an ex-con named Comanche who had relations with Mariah Dillard and Shades. Ridenhour hired him to get intel on Dillard.[4]
Clashing with Misty Knight[]
- "What the hell were you thinking? You go to a crime scene without authorization. You let an assault perpetrator go without authorization."
"Luke Cage is out there doing things that you and me and Bailey and Nandi can't. Look, we are this close to taking down Mariah." - ―Tom Ridenhour and Misty Knight[src]
Ridenhour witnessed Nandi Tyler and Misty Knight clashing over their past rivalry in their childhood. Later, Benjamin Donovan arrived announcing that Arturo Rey III was bailed out. Ridenhour found Knight interrogating Rey without supervision and threatened Knight with suspension.[5] This anger went even further when Knight let Luke Cage free after he beat Cockroach Hamilton to a pulp. She then interrogated Hamilton, which clashed with Tyler and Mark Bailey's invesigation on him.[6]
Talking with Comanche[]
- "The purpose of you being back on the streets is to infiltrate that connection, not give me excuses as to why you can't."
- ―Tom Ridenhour[src]
Ridenhour walked into the precinct to see a video of Luke Cage getting punched by a man named Bushmaster. Ridenhour was happy to finally see Cage get defeated. Later, he met Comanche in a disclosed location. Comanche got into Ridenhour's car and they talked about his intel on Mariah Dillard. Comanche said that Dillard does not trust him at all, but Ridenhour told him to not give excuses.[4] He met with Comanche again a day later and told Comanche that he gave him a week, yet he came up with nothing. Comanche said that Dillard was going legit.[7]
Interrogating Mariah Dillard[]
- "We've got narcotraficante shit. Pirates of the Caribbean-type shit. And now it's in Harlem. You remember the posses? This is the posses on steroids. Talk to me, May May. What do you know?"
"I want protection. For me and my daughter."
"We'll protect you both. I promise. But I'm gonna need your help." - ―Tom Ridenhour and Mariah Dillard[src]
Fear sprung among the people as the decapitated heads of Mark Higgins, Cockroach Hamilton, and Ray Ray were displayed on posts in Mariah Dillard's building. On top of this, Ridenhour was contacted by Knight, who found Hamilton's decapitated body in his apartment. Ridenhour yelled at Knight once again for breaking into Hamilton's apartment. He told her to go home until further notice.
He then walked into the interrogation room and talked to Dillard. He called her by "May May" as they reminisced about their past relationship. However, she did not remember how long they were together, which saddened Ridenhour. She congratulated him on thirty-five years of marriage with his wife. He then asked her if she knew the dead men, she did. He also asked her if she knew who Nigel Garrison and Arturo Rey III were and she claimed not to. Later, Knight walked into his office and resigned. Ridenhour asked her to reconsider, but her mind was made up.[2] Ridenhour gave her a month until she came back.[8]
Propositioning Mariah Dillard[]
- "You walk, you connect Mr. Álvarez with this whole Bushmaster thing, they'll both end up in custody, and you still have some salt left over in the political arena. That's Marion Barry shit. The decision's yours. How do you want to live your life? On the run from Bushmaster? Or on the run from us?"
- ―Tom Ridenhour to Mariah Dillard[src]
Ridenhour found Misty Knight at the basketball court and tried to reason with her, but to no success as Knight's mind was made up. Knight also told him that Luke Cage was an ally, not a liability, then talked to him about his relations with Mariah Dillard. Later, he got a call from Knight, who discovered Piranha Jones' head. Ridenhour arrived and argued with Knight, who thought that there was enough evidence to say that Bushmaster was behind it; Ridenhour disagreed. He also told Knight that he planned to strike a deal with Dillard, much to her disagreement.
Ridenhour went to Harlem's Paradise and offered the deal to Dillard, but she did not want it as it involved Hernán Álvarez getting arrested. The two argued and Ridenhour asked if she wanted to run from Bushmaster or from the police. The argument turned towards her daughter, Tilda Johnson, with Ridenhour claiming that Dillard would not tell Johnson the truth. He left when the argument finished.[3]
Murdered by Comanche[]
- "At the same time your brownstone was being burned down, Thomas Ridenhour was shot and killed. He was meeting with a confidential informant."
- ―Misty Knight to Mariah Dillard[src]
Ridenhour arrived at the location to meet with Comanche. However, Comanche was done with it, he did not want to do it anymore as he disliked Mariah Dillard. On top of this, Comanche believed that they had enough evidence to take Dillard down. Ridenhour said it was not enough and forced him to stick a little longer. Comanche was over it because Dillard knew there was a snake. Scared, he decided to shoot Ridenhour, who fell onto the ground and died almost instantly.[3]
Legacy[]
Police Investigation[]
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- "Now, this brother, he was busy, too, 'cause he worked for you as well."
- ―Misty Knight to Mariah Dillard[src]
To be added
Personality[]
- "I learned a lot of lessons from Tommy Ridenhour over the years. Some harder than others. But the most important one was that you can't stop the tide. You can only try and save as many people as you can from the flood."
- ―Priscilla Ridley to Misty Knight[src]
To be added
Abilities[]
To be added
| This section requires expansion |
Equipment[]
Weapons[]
- Glock 19: Ridenhour took his gun to his meetings with Comanche, and drew it when he realized that Comanche had been followed. He had no chance to use it before Comanche shot and killed him, though Shades used the gun to shot Comanche in the stomach, to make it appear that Ridenhour himself had been the one to shoot. Shades shot him again in the chest to kill him, before planting the gun on Ridenhour's hand.
Facilities[]
- 29th Precinct Police Station: To be added
Relationships[]
Family[]
Allies[]
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Enemies[]
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Appearances[]
| Appearance for Tom Ridenhour |
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In chronological order:
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References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Luke Cage: 2.01: Soul Brother 1
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 Luke Cage: 2.06: The Basement
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Luke Cage: 2.07: On and On
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Luke Cage: 2.04: I Get Physical
- ↑ Luke Cage: 2.02: Straighten It Out
- ↑ Luke Cage: 2.03: Wig Out
- ↑ Luke Cage: 2.05: All Souled Out
- ↑ Luke Cage: 2.08: If It Ain't Rough, It Ain't Right