GCPD Spotlight

GCPD Spotlight
Owner	Gotham City Police Department
Users	James Gordon
Use	floodlight

"The world may seem dark..."
"...but there is light."

—Bruce Wayne and James Gordon on the symbolism of the GCPD Spotlight.^[src]

The GCPD Spotlight was a floodlight operated from the rooftop of GCPD Headquarters. After the Cataclysm, it was meant to be a symbol of hope to the good people left in Gotham City.

History

Shortly after the Wayne murder, the Gotham Chronicle reported that new floodlights were installed on top of the GCPD building.

One of the searchlights later illuminated an area of dark clouds at night when Bruce Wayne was standing on top of a rooftop after his fight against a robber, which was the first time he had ever stopped a criminal as a masked vigilante.

No Man's Land

During No Man's Land, Jim Gordon had Lucius Fox activate one of the GCPD searchlights because he intended to use it as a symbol of hope during these dark times. It was meant to show the residents of the Green Zone that even in darkness there will be light. Gordon later revealed that it also reminds himself to not lose hope.

When the spotlight was later turned off following the destruction of Haven, Barbara Kean joked that Gordon must have forgotten to pay the electric bill.

Reunification Era

"Oh, this old thing. I thought we mothballed this after reunification."
"I had 'em dig it out. For old times' sake"

—Harvey Bullock and James Gordon discussing the GCPD Spotlight.^[src]

The Spotlight was widely forgotten in the ten years following the Reunification after the war against Nyssa al Ghul and Bane. However, when Bruce Wayne finally returned to Gotham City, Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Bullock lighted up the spotlight once again when they prepared to meet him again atop the GCPD building. Jim had sent a note to the now rebuilt Wayne Manor in order to invite Bruce, believing he would want to be there when they light up the signal for old times sake. However, Alfred Pennyworth then arrived on top of the GCPD building and revealed to Gordon and Bullock that Bruce Wayne was otherwise engaged and could not attend their meeting.

The GCPD spotlight could be seen by Catwoman from far away, who was talking to Bruce on a rooftop. Having noticed the signal, the Dark Knight left to go to the GCPD building after his conversation with Selina. While Alfred was talking to Gordon and Bullock atop the GCPD, the Dark Knight suddenly emerged from the shadows and watched the three while standing on the rooftop of a building across the Police Department. When Bullock asked Jim who that man was, he simply responded "...a friend...", while the spotlight illuminated the scene.

Appearances

Season 3

• "Heroes Rise: Heavydirtysoul"

Season 4

• "A Dark Knight: No Man's Land"

Season 5

• "Legend of the Dark Knight: Year Zero"
• "Legend of the Dark Knight: Ruin" (mentioned)
• "Legend of the Dark Knight: 13 Stitches"
• "Legend of the Dark Knight: The Beginning..."

Gotham Chronicle

• "New Floodlights Installed Atop GCPD Building"

Notes

• In DC Comics, James Gordon would put on a spotlight with a bat-sign on it to summon Batman.
• According to the official promotional website Gotham Chronicle, an online newspaper reporting on recent events in Gotham City, the floodlights were installed atop the GCPD building around the time of the Wayne murder in Season 1. This establishes that the spotlight was used by the GCPD for other purposes before it later became the Bat-Signal.
• At the end of "Heroes Rise: Heavydirtysoul", the searchlight illuminates an area of dark clouds, making it look like a bat while Bruce Wayne is seen standing on top of a building overlooking Gotham City.
• Gotham marked the second time the Bat-Signal appeared in a live-action television series, the first being in the 1966 TV series Batman. A third live-action television version later appeared in the Arrowverse during the Elseworlds crossover and in the 2019 series Batwoman. The Bat-Signal also made an appearance in the 2018 TV series Titans. It also appeared in the 1966 Batman film, the original series of Batman movies, Christopher Nolan's Dark Knight Trilogy and in the DC Extended Universe.