Superintendent Adam Okaro    played by Cyril Nri

First appearance    # 060 (07/11/02)    

Adam Okaro, in his late forties, was a strong but caring leader who wasn't scared to take full responsibility for his actions. The antithesis of Chandler, Adam's commitment to the job and moral decency earned him the respect of the officers at Sun Hill in a relatively short time. He acted with efficient ruthlessness to ensure that the station functioned as it should and that results were achieved. He was not impulsive. His style was to fact find, digest and respond. He tackled problems like a game of poker - keep a straight face and don't show your hand until you know you've won. Consequently, colleagues didn't always understand what Adam's strategy had been until it had run its course and got the right result. His worldview had for a long time centered on the individual, not groups. Protection of individual rights became the foundations on which his character was built. He was a proactive rather than reactive policy maker, always anticipating the next potential problem to hit Sun Hill's streets. But he wasn't invincible - occasionally he got in wrong, sparking some soul searching and self-analysis. Adam demonstrated quickly that he enjoyed leading from the front and enjoyed doing so. He got involved in everything going on in the station, but not in a 'blood and thunder' way.

Adam joined the police after graduating with a first class honours in political history. His career choice was applauded by his family but greeted with less enthusiasm by his friends. He quickly earned the respect of those he was working around and moved through the ranks in uniform and CID. He was on front line duty at Brixton during the race riots (1981), which left a long lasting impression on him as to what bigotry and an unchecked breakdown in community relations can achieve. Adam had no great desire for high office but his aptitude for stepping back and assessing the bigger picture set him on an inevitable course towards the top. He became a Chief Inspector in the West End and after a brief spell as a Superintendent in Croydon, moved to Sun Hill.

Adam's rapid promotion was put down by envious peers to having more to do with his colour than his ability - but those detractors are only half right. He is exactly what the Met needs: strong leadership, commitment to the job and a real understanding of the community's needs and expectations. But his ethnicity is also a valuable marketing tool to a service still reeling from the Lawrence report.

After a spell of nearly four years as Superintendent at Sun Hill, Adam has now been promoted to Borough Commander. He makes occasional appearances at Sun Hill, but is currently on sabbatical.