Sergeant Daniel Goodfellow is the police sergeant in Kembleford. A local man whose knowledge of the village, its inhabitants and its history has been of help to Father Brown. Goodfellow has appeared regularly since his first appearance and is credited in the main credits from Season Five.
Biography
Background
Goodfellow was born in Kembleford and attended Sunday school under Miss Kipley at St. Mary's. He likely joined the police in the late 1920's or early 30's. He served in the Second World War and was in France, the Low Countries or Germany between D-day and the end of the war. He received the 1939-1945 Star, the France and Germany Star, the Defence Medal and the War Medal 1939-1945. He is married with children.
1950's
He replaced Sergeant Allbright and first appeared in "The Shadow of the Scaffold". During “The Sacrifice of Tantalus” he is shot and spent some time in hospital in a coma. This reveals he is allergic to penicillin when he is nearly poisoned by it. By Season 8 he had received the Police Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. During Season 10 he was in preparation for his Inspector exams, and was successful, becoming an Inspector in the last episode of the season. He passed the test with 97/100, a distinction and received the results between the 24th and 31st of August 1954. He did not immediately seem to apply for any Inspector's positions, possibly to stay in Kembleford, and concluded, after briefly filling in for an ill Chief Inspector Sullivan, that he prefered the quieter life he has.
Inspector's Exam Result letter from The Serpent Within
Relationships
Father Brown
He frequently assists the Father, mainly by informing him of the police's progress or allowing him access to a crime scene under his Inspector's nose. When Goodfellow has been the only police presence, he was highly willing to collaborate completely with the Father.
Inspector Mallory
He is a particular 'concern' to Mallory who suspects his sergeant is often more of a help to Father Brown than to him. Goodfellow's enthusiasm for local life (such as when they play the Ugly Stepsisters in the Christmas Panto) clashes with Mallory's own attitude. Mallory frequently treats Goodfellow as less intelligent than is true, and has told him he should be promoted to the BO department with BO standing for "the bleeding obvious" on several occasions, Despite this outward disdain, when Goodfellow is in a coma after being shot as a direct consequence of the Inspector's actions, the Inspector shows he cares rather deeply about his Sergeant.