Rafael Tubbs was a detective with the New York Police Department (NYPD), working in the Narcotics/Vice Division. His younger brother, Ricardo, idolized him and chose to become a cop because of him, being assigned to the Bronx Armed Robbery Division of NYPD. In 1984, Rafael was working a drug deal with the Colombian Esteban Calderone when he and his partner were "made" by Calderone's men, and both cops were killed. Ricardo, who had been watching over the deal and witnessed the shootings, held Rafael in his arms as he died. Ricardo then swore revenge for his brother's death, and used forged NYPD clearance documents to get down to Calderone's operation in Miami, assuming his brother's name, and teaming up with Metro-Dade Vice Detective James "Sonny" Crockett (who also was after Calderone for