Detective Inspector Edmund John James Reid (Born 21 March, 1846) is a Detective Inspector of the Metropolitan Police's H Divison in Whitechapel. He oversaw investigations into the 'Jack the Ripper' killings of 1888 alongside Frederick Abberline. He is the primary protagonist of Ripper Street and works with Sergeant Bennet Drake and Captain Homer Jackson to solve the murders and other crimes of the area. Throughout season one he is obsessed with clearing Whitechapel's streets of criminals. He is frequently visited by Chief Inspector Frederick Abberline and harassed by 'The Star' editor Fred Best. He gives his wife, Emily Reid false hope by saying their daughter might be alive and she leaves him after he tells her she's not. In season two Reid falls into conflict with Inspector Jedediah Shine of K Division and hatches a scheme with Drake to kill him. After Drake leaves Reid dismisses Jackson and becomes even more obsessed with his work. In season three Reid, Drake and Jackson are brought back together to find who is responsible for the Leman Street locomotive crash. Reid finds his daughter, Mathilda Reid in the process and proceeds to leave Jane Cobden to look after her. He confronts Ronald Capshaw, who he believes is behind the crash but Susan shoots him before he can do anything. Reid recovers and finds a way to murder Theodore Swift with Susan as an accomplice. He leaves London for from Hampton-on-Sea in Kent, with his daughter for three years. Until he is persuaded to return in season four by Deborah Goren to help declare Issac Bloom innocent of being the Whitechapel Golem. Reid follows the case through the whole season and continues to undermine Drake's authority. Reid then pursues Nathaniel down into the tunnels with Drake and Jackson. He is last seen screaming in anguish over Drake's body.
