3. Sgt. James Doakes - Seasons 1 & 2
It's a shame that Sergeant James Doakes was so good at his job, because it's what ultimately wound up killing him. He was arguably one of the most interesting, and likable characters in the entire series. We saw in season 1 that he got the creeps from Dexter, but he never acted on his suspicions about the blood spatter analyst until season 2. Unfortunately for Doakes, this leads him right into Dexter's hands, as he's captured and kept in a cage until his death. It's unfortunate that a man like Doakes will be remembered as the Bay Harbor Butcher, because he truly was the best cop at Miami Metro. What really makes his character so memorable isn't his memorable, badass use of expletives, but the honest conversations he has with Dexter towards the end of the season. Up until that point Dexter had no one to talk to about his inner demons, and if it weren't for Lila showing up to blow up the cabin, Dexter would have turned himself in.
Memorable Moment: "Surprise, MothaF*cka!"