| “ | Zeke, he’s not the only one! Your father had access, too. Location of Schenk’s body, you said it was where your father took you as a kid. When was the last time you saw your father? | ” |
— O'Brien telling Zeke that Dunleavy wasn't the only one who had access from the police computer[src]
| ||
Detective Lieutenant Tim O'Brien is a fictional character from the Saw franchise as well as a supporting character in Spiral.
He was portrayed by Thomas Mitchell.
Biography[]
Early Life[]
Tim O'Brien was a homicide detective working for the Metropolitan Police Department, sometime after the Jigsaw murders, The Metropolitan PD were under a list of policies called Article 8, which gave them the legal means to do whatever was needed to stop crime, this allowed for corruption. This legislation expanded the powers of law enforcement in order to fight crime. Police Chief Marcus Banks and head of homicide Angie Garza were actively involved in covering up these crimes and shielding their officers from punishment.
Turning On Ezekiel Banks[]
Turning On Ezekiel Banks However, the scandal was ultimately uncovered when Banks' son, Officer Ezekiel Banks exposed his partner, Peter Dunleavy, for murdering an innocent man named Charlie Emmerson to prevent him from testifying against another corrupt officer. After this O'Brien like almost every other cop in the department, turned against him.
Zeke's Undercover operation[]
Fitch and O'Brien watch Zeke get lectured
With his fellow officers against him, Zeke became hardened and distanced himself greatly. He refused to work with any new partners and instead, investigated murders. At an Apartment Complex, Zeke, A homicide detective working undercover with three gang bangers that plan to rob drug dealers there. After Zeke and the three gang bangers completed the robbery, they went to their car to leave the place when they were caught by the police including officers Barrett, Livingston, Mark, Paul, Grant, Pat Jones, Jeannie Lewis. He was reprimanded by the new police chief and family friend Angie Garza. Garza was angered that he went undercover without any backup, though Banks was sure he couldn't trust anyone. Garza refused to believe that and instead gave him a new partner, an idealistic rookie, though Banks tried to argue against the assignment. He didn't want to babysit someone, though Garza didn't give him a choice. She assigned him, and his new partner, to the homicide division once again.
Jigsaw Copycat[]
Zeke, O'Brien, and Garza watch the video
When off-duty detective Marv Bozwick is gruesomely murdered in the subway tunnel, Banks is called to investigate alongside his new partner, Detective In-Training William Schenk. At the station Angie Garza, Fitch, Kraus, O'Brien, Morgey and himself try to find out who killed Boz. Zeke revives a box from the killer with USB in it, Zeke plugs it in. They find the first video tape from the killer, who identifies the murdered man as a police officer. The killer plans to reform the Metro PD and remind them of the oath they took to the city. Schenk, Banks, and Detective Fitch piece together that the Jigsaw Killer has a new copycat. Once Zeke saw the video that Schenk anonymously sent to him in the form of an USB, he recognized the courthouse that appeared in the video, went there along with William and found the red spiral. (Spiral)
Fitch's Death[]
Police officers approach the truck
Detective Fitch and Detective Deborah Kraus went to the pawn shop witch when he did the owner told Fitch they were closed Fitch showed him his badge the man then let Fitch inside to look at the security cameras Fitch saw Boz chasing a man dressed as Uncle Sam and realized the man was Benny Wrights and that he lived at a bread factory. Fitch decided that he would go there and look for Benny. Kraus asked if Fitch if they should tell Zeke about this Fitch replied and told her not to, she then left the pawn shop Fitch asked the owner if he could see one of the guns and took it with him Detective Fitch is abducted and later put into a trap. The police then found a truck with a spiral painted on it, located under a bridge. Zeke decided to open the door upon doing so he found inside a dead pig and a box containing Fitch's fingers and badge. (Spiral)
Schenk's Fake Death[]
O'Brien and Zeke react in horror after finding the corpse
A box is later delivered to the station with a taunting note asking Banks if the killer was getting under his skin. Inside the box is a piece of Schenk's skin inside, identified via a distinctive tattoo. Also, inside is a vial that directs the new batch detectives to a butcher shop. Banks recognizes the place as a hobby shop that he and his father visited when he was younger. After getting to Constantine, Ezekiel and O'Brien entered the room where Benny's body (Who was still believed to be William's) was being examined by other cops and reacted with horror and disgust after seeing the corpse. Ezekiel waited outside of the room for a few minutes and when he went back into it, he asked a forensic about evidence. The forensic told him that they have been analyzing the tape recording and they were able to find out not only that Benny was skinned but also how the body was scored in order to remove the pieces in larger strips first and that the defensive wounds mean he tried to fight back, explaining the deeper gashes. After hearing all of this, Ezekiel was close to cry, due to not believing the fate allegedly his new partner and friend met. This upset Banks more then he anticipated, though he begins to piece together clues from the investigation that he doesn't share with the other detectives. (Spiral)
Angie Garza's Death[]
O'Brien arguing with Zeke after Angie's death
Officer Barrett was at a shop he was attacked by a Figure in a Pig mask and was stabbed in the arm. He was later found by fellow officers and informed Detective Ezekiel Banks. Barrett's attack was used as a distraction to get the officers out of the precinct so that the killer could capture Captain Angie Garza. Banks realizes she's been abducted and is next on the copycats kill order and tries to find her. He doesn't arrive in time and discovers her corpse; her face is covered in wax, while her spinal cord is severed. Her death devastates Banks, but also gives him a lead. He realizes that the killer must know intimate knowledge of the police station to pull off the abduction. Banks also learns that his father, Marcus Banks, is officially missing as no one can locate him. Detective O'Brien suspects that Marcus is working with the copycat killer. O’Brien suspects the former police chief Marcus Banks to be the killer, causing Zeke to flip out, Zeke later gets held back by the other officers. (Spiral)
Personality[]
Tim O'Brien was a man who worked under Article 8 but after Zeke turned Peter Dunleavy in for shooting a man, O'Brien turned on Zeke like almost every other cop in the department. O'Brien was a very responsible detective who didn't question Angie Garza allowed Zeke to take lead on the case. He was also respected by his other colleagues as he tried to figure out who the jigsaw copycat was.
Trivia[]
- After the death of Captain Angie Garza, it can be presumed he is the acting head of the homicide department in the South Metro Precinct.
Appearances and References[]
| Films | |||||||||
| Saw | Saw II | Saw III | Saw IV | Saw V | Saw VI | Saw 3D | Jigsaw | Spiral | Saw X |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Appears | Absent |
| Other Media | |||||
| "Saw" (2003 Short) |
Saw: Rebirth (2005 Comic) |
Full Disclosure Report | The Scott Tibbs Documentary | Saw: The Video Game | Saw II: Flesh & Blood |
| Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent | Absent |