Francis Xavier Furillo is an Italian (on both sides - mother's maiden name is Zarelli) police captain in the tv drama Hill Street Blues . He was married to Faye for 12 years ; together they have a son, Frank Jr. Faye is self-centered and histronic and quite often busts into the middle of exacting police business to demand that Frank (his common moniker) do something about one of her own issues. There bust-up was related in part to Frank's involvement with an attorney from the assistant district attorney's office, Joyce Davenport, whom he marries in Season 3. Frank is a recovering alcoholic ; in addition, he is a very clean, disciplined man who lives by a code of personal ethics that influences every part of his life. The Catholic church of his childhood and infrequently of his adulthood is the moral backbone of such ; however, there is an episode, for example, where he takes the pro-choice side in a discussion.