Bob Cryer (The Bill)

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Bob Cryer
Eric Richard as Sergeant Bob Cryer
First appearance	Funny Ol' Business - Cops And Robbers (16/10/1984)
Last appearance	Hitting Home (24/04/2001)
Cause/Reason	Early Retirement (Ill Health)
Information
Occupation	Police Officer
Title	Sergeant
Call Sign	92
Portrayed by	Eric Richard

Sergeant Bob Cryer was a popular character in the long-running ITV drama, The Bill. Cryer first appeared in the show in 1984 as a veteran police officer with 15 years experience. Cryer was played by Eric Richard.

Cryer was considered the father figure of the sergeants. Until the series introduced the rank of Inspector, he was the second highest ranking uniform officer in the station. Cryer was considered by most fans to be an institution. He cared passionately about his job and hated what he considered the "touchy-feely" approach of modern policing arguing that the role of the police was to "uphold and enforce the law".

He was forced to retire in 2001 after being shot in the side by PC Dale Smith during a hostage situation. He has returned for guest spots three times since his departure - once for the memorial service of Inspector Andrew Monroe, once to help his niece Roberta, then the station's front desk officer, solve a case, and again alongside Sgt. Peters for DS Roach's funeral.

He was in the series for 17 years, making him the fifth longest-serving character in the show's history.