The characters of Blue Bloods need to be in peak shape at all times, in order to deal with the never-ending onslaught of crime that permeates New York City. The show tells the story from several different perspectives, designed to give audiences a broader overview of how law enforcement works, and the politics behind much of it.

Intelligence plays a vital role here, whether it’s being street-savvy, or highly educated on the finer points of the law. Each character brings their keen intellect to the table in order to solve crimes, and – more importantly – make them stick. They do all this, while dodging the various landmines that come with being involved in New York law enforcement.

Eddie Reagan

Thanks to the actions of her con artist father, Eddie was forced to grow up fast, and she took a lot of hard knocks along the way. She’s made a ton of mistakes in her life, all of which led her to overcome and do better. Her success as an NYPD officer stems largely from her self-determination, work ethic, and street smarts.

Eddie started out very green, but after partnering with Jamie, she was influenced by the family’s strong moral compass. She can identify situations quickly, come up with solutions, and spot the flaws in a case. She’s done undercover work, she’s had to deal with Internal Affairs investigations, and she’s handled inter-policing strife with particular excellence. Her only downside is her tendency to let her anger fuel her actions, but she has learned to quell that impulse over the years.

Anthony Abetemarco

Anthony is the son of an Italian gangster bookie, which means he got a crash course in street smarts from an early age. Later, he joined the NYPD as a detective, before migrating to the District Attorney’s Office, where he works closely with Erin Reagan. He’s also one of the smartest characters on the entire show.