The Underworld Police, formally known as the Coruscant underworld police, functioned as a special forces division within the Coruscant Security Force. Their primary responsibility was law enforcement in the lower levels of Coruscant, the capital planet of the Galactic Republic. Unlike the sleek GU-series Guardian police droids that maintained order in the upper echelons of Galactic City, underworld police officers were known for their toughness and imposing physiques. These officers were distinguished by their heavy leather and metal armor, complete with mechanical eye coverings, offering both enhanced protection and anonymity, while simultaneously projecting an image of authority. For patrolling, Coruscant's police force used both foot patrols and police speeders. As the Clone Wars erupted between the Republic and the Separatist Alliance, they also deployed the patrol transport when the situation demanded it.
During the pursuit of fugitive Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano, after she evaded clone trooper forces, the Coruscant Security Force was informed of her last known location: the lower levels. The underworld police were promptly alerted, receiving wanted posters and detailed descriptions of Tano. Several officers spotted her at a transit station and initiated a chase, but she successfully eluded them. Later, the report of an explosion at a warehouse, investigated by two underworld officers, ultimately led to the capture of the wanted padawan. Following the establishment of the Galactic Empire, the Coruscant Security Force was reinforced with Imperial stormtroopers to ensure order in the lower levels. These stormtroopers frequently patrolled alongside the underworld police, jointly enforcing Imperial policies, suppressing rebellions, and carrying out the forced relocation or detention of "undesirable" aliens and suspected rebel sympathizers.
In contrast to the refined GU-series Guardian police droids primarily responsible for law enforcement in the upper districts of Galactic City, the Coruscant Security Force employed a distinct type of police officers within the underworld of Coruscant. These Coruscant cops, operating in the planet's dangerous lower levels, were renowned for their ruggedness and resilience. Their attire consisted of heavy leather and metal armor, completely concealing their heads, and mechanical eye coverings that provided protection from the underworld's myriad hazards. This armor not only offered protection but also projected an aura of anonymity and authority, contributing to a mystique that obscured their true nature – were they humanoid, droids, or something else entirely? Equipped with heavy blaster pistols, they utilized the patrol transport and the Panther police interceptor for patrol and pursuit. Known for their rigorous training, a black market version of the Coruscant underworld police test was illegally circulated throughout the galaxy.
During the Clone Wars, a conflict between the Galactic Republic and the Separatist Alliance, Jedi Padawan Ahsoka Tano faced arrest by the Coruscant Guard for the murder of Letta Turmond, the suspected instigator of the bombing at the Jedi Temple hangar. However, Tano managed to escape, unknowingly aided by the rogue Jedi Barriss Offee, who was, in reality, responsible for Turmond's death and the bombing.
In the course of the escape, several Coruscant Guards were killed by a lightsaber, leading the pursuing troopers to mistakenly believe Tano was responsible. Consequently, the Jedi Council issued an order for Tano's arrest. The Coruscant Security Force received information that she was last seen fleeing to the lower levels, prompting a high alert among the underworld police officers. While the underworld cops shared wanted posters displaying Tano's image, she temporarily evaded detection by concealing her identity with a cloak. However, two officers boarded a train carrying Tano and began checking passengers' identifications. As Tano attempted to disembark at the next station, she encountered three more officers on the platform. Recognizing Tano, the cops moved to apprehend her. Tano used the Force to push the officers away, sending one tumbling back onto the platform. He signaled ahead to other units as the train departed, and the remaining four officers initiated a pursuit.
Evading passengers, Tano fled through the train cars, pursued by the underworld cops. A passenger attempted to restrain her, and the police officers briefly gained the upper hand. However, she fought them off during the scuffle and opened a door of the train. She then jumped onto the adjacent platform as the train passed and, believing herself safe, Tano began walking away. Three officers standing on the platform noticed her and ordered her to stop. Tano fled from the station and towards an open turbolift door. The cops, seeing they were about to loose their quarry, opened fire on her with their blasters, but Tano had already entered a lift by that time had escaped the officers' shots. The search continued and shortly thereafter, two police officers on Level 1315 spotted an explosion at a warehouse. They gave an alert to a search group composed of Jedi Knight Anakin Skywalker, Jedi Master Plo Koon, and Coruscant Guard shock troopers, all of whom responded and were able to capture Tano at the warehouse. Tano was placed on trial but vindicated by Skywalker who discovered the true traitor was Barriss Offee.
Following the transformation of the Republic into the Galactic Empire, the Coruscant underworld police continued their duties, supporting the new regime.
In 9 BBY, members of the Stinger Mantis crew adopted disguises as Coruscant underworld police officers to escort Jedi Knight Cal Kestis to Imperial Senator Daho Sejan. Kestis feigned capture to ensure his allies would bring him to Sejan and his starship, which held Imperial military information intended for delivery to Saw Gerrera and his Partisans.
After the formation of the Rebel Alliance to fight for the restoration of the Republic's ideals, Imperial forces were deployed to Coruscant's lower levels to enforce the relocation of species affiliated with the Alliance, such as the Mon Calamari. The Coruscant Security underworld officers assisted the Imperial stormtroopers with the relocation efforts, specifically in the [Old Market Sector](/article/old_market_sector]; however, the Mon Calamari resisted. The resulting riots were brutally suppressed by the underworld police and stormtroopers.
Years later, following the destruction of Alderaan by the Death Star, rumors of the event began to circulate among the Alderaanian population, primarily residing on Level 3204. Vigils were organized, soon escalating into heated and angry demonstrations as images confirming Alderaan's destruction surfaced. These vigils transformed into rioting that persisted for several days until the Coruscant police and Imperial stormtroopers were dispatched to restore order. As the troopers and underworld officers entered the streets, the stormtroopers initiated blaster fire. Among the casualties was Reffe, who perished during his denunciation of the Empire. The crowds, frightened, dispersed. The following day, the underworld police arrested anyone found in the streets. Subsequently, stormtroopers began conducting door-to-door searches, claiming that Rebel spies had recruited local residents and that Alderaanians were required for questioning.
Following the relocation of the Alderaanians, an underworld police officer was patrolling with a stormtrooper when they entered a cantina on Level 1997. The stormtrooper, recognizing two Alderaanian juveniles, Santiago and Anandra Milon, from his facial recognition display, pursued them alone, leaving the underworld cop behind. The stormtrooper caught up with Anandra and attempted to arrest her. However, during the struggle, a Herglic intervened, overpowering the stormtrooper and throwing him over the level's railing, resulting in his death.
The Coruscant underworld police made their debut in the Star Wars: The Clone Wars television series, specifically in the episode "To Catch a Jedi," which aired on February 24, 2013. George Lucas conceived them to enrich the atmosphere of the underworld. They were also included in the online StarWars.com Encyclopedia and its successor, the Databank. The underworld police were later featured in One Thousand Levels Down, a short story published in Star Wars Insider 151 on July 22, 2014.