Lt. Anita Van Buren

Full Name & Title:

Lieutenant Anita Van Buren

Played by:

S. Epatha Merkerson

FILE STATUS: OPEN since 9/15/1993

Juvenile Records:

Grew up in Washington Heights

Current Marital/Family Status:

Married to Donald, who owns a hardware store; two sons, Ric and Stefan

Social Viewpoints:

Concerned about the rising tide of children involved in crime

Ambivalent about the death penalty

Prior Bad Acts:

Transferred to homicide from narcotics, where she worked with ADA Abbie Carmichael on at least one occasion

Known Associates:

Lisa Russo, forensics expert and friend

ADA Claire Kincaid

EADA Jack McCoy

ADA Jamie Ross

ADA Abbie Carmichael

ADA Serena Southerlyn

Det. Lennie Briscoe

Det. Mike Logan

Det. Rey Curtis

Det. Ed Green

Borough Commander Deitz, supervisor

Other facts:

A fan of Langston Hughes

Writes to her mother regularly

Takes an interest in breast cancer research

Notable Moments:

Cherished

"So you go back to the judge and tell her what...the Devil made them do it? She'll tell you you need an exorcist, not a warrant."

Shadow

(investigating a break-in and murder at a bail bond office)

Van Buren: "Any prints at the scene?"
Curtis: "Too many. Half the ones we've run have felony sheets."
Van Buren: "Let me guess... the other half are their mothers."

We Like Mike

"Tell you what... I'll call the first thousand Ricky Garcias in the phone book, you call the second thousand."

Click here to read about S. Epatha Merkerson.