Frank Reagan (Tom Selleck) is the heart of Blue Bloods. Sure, he may not have the most screen time, especially as the show has progressed, but it’s impossible to conceive of the police drama without him at the center.
Part of the reason why is Selleck’s steadfast performance, but the other part is the role that Frank occupies within the world of the show. He’s the Police Commissioner of New York City, and anyone who has watched the show knows that it’s even more difficult a job than it sounds.
Frank Reagan has been Commissioner since 2010
Frank has had to contend with countless issues and moral quandaries over the years, but since we are nearing the end of Blue Bloods, we thought it’d be useful to chart the character’s reign at the top. We actually know the exact date that Frank became the Police Commissioner, and it is September 24, 2010.
Frank had a stellar track record as a police officer prior to his promotion, which should come as no surprise. He was a beat cop who managed to make detective in only three years, which is a wildly quick turnaround. From there, the character continued to rise up the ranks until he was handed the top job.
The character has considered retiring multiple times
That being said, Frank Reagan’s tenure as Commissioner has not always gone smoothly. He offered to resign in 2011, when Mayor Carter Poole (David Ramsey) was elected. He obviously chose to stay on for the good of the city, but a similar conflict occurred in 2015 when Poole was re-elected.
Frank debated whether or not to stay, but decided that he was needed as long as the “Mayor’s head is in his a*s.” Parity was reached, somewhat, the following year, when Mayor Poole explicitly asked Frank to stay on.
There’s been speculation as to whether Frank Reagan will retire before the end of Blue Bloods, but this is something that showrunner Kevin Wade has shot down. As far as he’s concerned, Frank will stick it out to the end. There’s nothing more on-brand than that.