 Shawn Ryan (I) (qv) originally wrote Claudettes character as a  man. It took a call from CCH Pounder (qv)s agent to make him  appreciate a woman detective would offer a whole new slant to  proceedings. One thing that Ryan didnt change though was the  dialog, meaning that Claudette pulls no punches with her fellow  detectives and the criminals she encounters. This was at Pounders  request.