Janice Licalsi (formerly Gennaro) is a fictional character portrayed by

Amy Brenneman Amy Frederica Brenneman (born June 22, 1964) is an American actress and producer. She worked extensively in television, coming to prominence as Detective Janice Licalsi in the ABC police drama series ''NYPD Blue'' (1993–1994). Brenneman ...

on the television series ''

NYPD Blue ''NYPD Blue'' is an American police procedural television series set in New York City, exploring the struggles of the fictional 15th Precinct detective squad in Manhattan. Each episode typically intertwines several plots involving an ensemble ca ...

''. She appeared in 18 episodes during the first two seasons of the show. The character was written out after technical advisor and producer Bill Clark became uneasy with the thought of having a murderous police officer as a main character.

Character history

A uniformed police officer, Licalsi was assigned to the fictional 15th precinct. She took her mother's maiden name when she joined the force. Her father Dominic Gennaro, also a police officer, was on the payroll of mob boss Angelo Marino, who subsequently used this information to

blackmail Blackmail is a criminal act of coercion using a threat. As a criminal offense, blackmail is defined in various ways in common law jurisdictions. In the United States, blackmail is generally defined as a crime of information, involving a thr ...

her into working for him. Marino orders Licalsi to kill Detective John Kelly. In order to accomplish this, she entered into a relationship with Kelly, but ended up falling in love with him. Licalsi was unable to kill Kelly and instead killed both Marino and his driver. Some time after Marino's death, Licalsi was contacted by mob boss Tommy Linardi, who has proof that she was working for Marino. She informs OCCB Inspector Lastarza, who unofficially assigns her to work undercover as an informant, a situation which strains her relationship with Kelly. After Linardi and his associates are murdered, a notebook belonging to Marino is entered into evidence. The notebook contains Licalsi's name, and Kelly gives Licalsi the opportunity to destroy the pages incriminating her. At the end of the first season, Licalsi is promoted to

detective A detective is an investigator, usually a member of a law enforcement agency. They often collect information to solve crimes by talking to witnesses and informants, collecting physical evidence, or searching records in databases. This leads the ...

on the recommendation of Inspector Lastarza. She is temporarily assigned to the 15th squad pending a transfer to the intelligence division. She feels guilty over her actions involving the mob and, on Kelly's recommendation, speaks to a

priest A priest is a religious leader authorized to perform the sacred rituals of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and one or more deity, deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in parti ...

. Following this conversation, she surrenders herself to Lt. Arthur Fancy and confesses to murder. Upon her arrest, Kelly contracts for her a high-priced lawyer and pays her bail. Kelly testifies at Licalsi's trial on her behalf, instigating an internal affairs investigation. The two resume their relationship during the course of the trial. Licalsi is convicted of

manslaughter Manslaughter is a common law legal term for homicide considered by law as less culpable than murder. The distinction between murder and manslaughter is sometimes said to have first been made by the ancient Athenian lawmaker Draco in the 7th ce ...

, and sentenced to two years in prison, though her lawyer says that she'll get

work release In prison systems, work release programs allow certain prisoners to go outside the prison and work at a place of employment, returning to prison when their shift is complete. It is granted only to prisoners who are sufficiently trusted or can be su ...

after six months, and Kelly says he'll be visiting her upstate. This is the last time the character appears or is mentioned on ''

''.

References

Episode references

Secondary sources

{{DEFAULTSORT:Licalsi, Janice Licalsi, Janice Licalsi, Janice Fictional female murderers Television characters introduced in 1993