Officer Barbrady is a police officer. He is extremely incompetent at his job, usually being incapable of solving the crimes he is legally obliged to investigate. Despite this, he actually does maintain the balance of peace in South Park as shown in "Chickenlover" when shortly after he retired the city fell into chaos.
Background
For the first six seasons, Officer Barbrady was the only Police Officer in South Park, as shown in "Chickenlover". However, during the seventh season, Sergeant Yates and several other officers were added, starting in "Lil' Crime Stoppers" and Officer Barbrady became the Police Chief. Since then, he has appeared in the background, and as shown in "Die Hippie, Die" and "Erection Day", it has seemingly been so long his voice has actually changed. However, his voice seems to have returned to normal once again in "The Snuke".
Officer Barbrady under alien control, seen in Cartman Gets an Anal Probe
It appears that the decline in his role made him a lot more competent, as in "Quest for Ratings", he arrests a pharmacist for selling drugs to minors, in "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub", he questions the evidence for a "religious cult" in Mr. Mackey's house party, he realizes his mistake when he gives Jimmy directions to a sleazy part of town, shows apparent discomfort after helping to kill Britney Spears in "Britney's New Look", and told Randy that South Park was being ravaged in "Pandemic". He also tried to stop the Obama supporters from disturbing the peace in "About Last Night", but fails and his patrol car gets tipped over by rowdy supporters.
He has started to appear more and more in episodes in Season 14 with him being in "Medicinal Fried Chicken", "200" and "It's a Jersey Thing".
Illiteracy
Barbrady was illiterate until the episode "Chickenlover" when the Chickenlover made a plot to make him read by having sex with chickens. Barbrady was also sent to school to learn how to read by the Mayor. The Chickenlover made Barbrady learn where he would strike next by reading the clues left at the crime scenes. When the arrest was finally made, Barbrady acted gratefully to the Chickenlover, but had to arrest him nonetheless for being a gallophile. Chickenlover then gave him the book "Atlas Shrugged" which Barbrady thought was "a load of crap" and made him realize reading is "a waste of his time".
Appearance
He wears a traditional blue police officer's uniform, and black sunshades. He appears to be slightly overweight. Barbrady is likely near deaf; he wears a hearing aid and speaks in a loud, expressionless manner. Of note, he has not been seen without the sunglasses except during the ending of "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe", but his eyes, mouth and cheeks are changed due to the alien control and so it is unknown how he looks without his glasses.
Personality
Officer Barbrady fits the personality of an oaf, unintelligent, willing to use unnecessary force, etc.
Relationships
Mayor McDaniels
Many episodes which feature both Barbrady and Mayor McDaniels, it is implied that they are in a relationship - in "Pinkeye", they are seen "not wearing any pants" (Barbrady in lingerie) and McDaniels shirt open, insisting to Chef it has "nothing to do with the Japanese mafia". In a Season 2 episode, McDaniels is at her desk when suddenly Barbrady's voices comes up asking where the little man in the boat is. McDaniels tells him to keep looking and at the end of the scene, swoons when he says he's found him. Despite this, in "Spontaneous Combustion", McDaniels is seen reading "Jugs" and in "The Coon", Cartman questions the Mayor's sexuality, implying that their relationship is secret.
Also, despite the fact that Barbrady is generally portrayed as a bumbling oaf, the Mayor still tended to call on him up until Season 7. This is due to the fact that until then he was the only officer in the town.
Trivia
- Officer Barbrady doesn't drink coffee, as seen in episode "Gnomes". He instead prefers to get hit in the face by a cat swung by the tail.
- At the South Park Studios FAQ, it's mentioned that Barbrady has been too busy taking reading classes to do police work.
- Officer Barbrady has a Long Island accent, particularly noticeable in "Erection Day".
Prominence
- "Cartman Gets an Anal Probe" - He helps Farmer Denkins with his cows.
- "Weight Gain 4000" - Arrests Mr. Garrison.
- "Volcano"
- "Big Gay Al's Big Gay Boat Ride" (cameo)
- "Pinkeye" - Disbelieves Chef's theory about the zombies.
- "Mr. Hankey, the Christmas Poo" - He tells Kyle it's illegal for Jews to eat Christmas snow.
- "Tom's Rhinoplasty" (cameo)
- "Cartman's Mom is a Dirty Slut"
- "Cartman's Mom is Still a Dirty Slut"
- "Chickenlover" - He gains literacy and helps the boys solve a mystery.
- "Ike's Wee-Wee"
- "Conjoined Fetus Lady"
- "Summer Sucks"
- "Roger Ebert Should Lay Off the Fatty Foods"
- "Chef Aid"
- "Cow Days" - Kyle declared shenanigans against the rigged ball game, and Stan called him "Officer Buttbaby".
- "Spookyfish" - He questions "Sharon Marsh" about the murders, and ends up getting tied up in the Marshes' basement for the rest of the episode.
- "Prehistoric Ice Man"
- "Spontaneous Combustion"
- South Park: Bigger, Longer & Uncut (cameo)
- "Jakovasaurs"
- "Two Guys Naked in a Hot Tub" - He is part of the stakeout; his first act of competency, as he questions the ATF's evidence.
- "Cartman Joins NAMBLA" - He guards the child-molesters.
- "Scott Tenorman Must Die" - He unintentionally distracts Farmer Denkins.
- "Toilet Paper" - He interrogates Josh.
- "Grey Dawn" - He arrests Grandpa Marsh.
- "Quest for Ratings" - He arrests a pharmacist.
- "Die Hippie, Die" - He keeps Cartman in Jail.
- "Erection Day" - He accidentally sends Jimmy to the bad part of town.
- "The Snuke" - He alerts the rest of the Police to Cartman's plan.
- "About Last Night" - Tries to stop the Obama supporters from disturbing the peace but fails, his patrol car is also tipped over.
- "Medicinal Fried Chicken" - He asks Cartman if everything is all right in an alley and it's at the shoot out in Billy Miller's house, which he ends up killing his mom.
- "200" - Tries to make people leave in orderly fashion. He makes many appearances but has few lines.
- "It's a Jersey Thing" - Part of the team that goes to Skeeter's Bar and finds Snooki.
- "Ass Burgers " - Finds Kyle, Cartman, and Kenny skipping school to find out what Asperger's is and brings them back to class.
References
Template:Various South Park Townsfolk