I'd argue that Rawls more than anyone understands the true purpose of his unit and later the BPD. Ultimately, the BPD works for the mayor and its job is to make the mayor look good. You can see that in how he handles the bodies in the vacants or Hamsterdam. Same thing when he was in homicide. He fights to keep murders off the city's books and clear the ones he can't avoid.

Anyways, great show with IMHO some great lessons about dysfunctional organizations.