What is the name of the special police unit formed in the first season?

The special police unit formed in the first season of The Wire was the Barksdale Detail. It was created to investigate Avon Barksdale’s drug organization and its network of murders, dealers, and street-level operations.

The detail emerges after Detective Jimmy McNulty brings Judge Daniel Phelan’s attention to the Barksdale case. Baltimore Police leadership initially treats the investigation as a political inconvenience and assembles a deliberately mixed team under Lieutenant Cedric Daniels. Detectives from Narcotics, Homicide, and other assignments are brought together, including McNulty, Kima Greggs, Ellis Carver, Thomas “Herc” Hauk, Roland “Prez” Pryzbylewski, and Lester Freamon.

A common mix-up is choosing “The Narcotics Unit” or “The Homicide Unit.” Those are established divisions whose detectives contribute personnel, but neither is the name of the newly created investigation. “Major Crimes Unit” is also incorrect for Season 1: that unit becomes prominent later, while the first season’s investigation is specifically known as the Barksdale Detail.

The detail’s work eventually centers on surveillance, cloned pagers, and a court-approved wiretap, reflecting the series’ focus on building a long-term case rather than making quick street arrests. Season 1 premiered on HBO on June 2, 2002.