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Josef Ignacio "Joe" Cruz is a firefighter on Squad 3 and the former driver of Truck 81. He is portrayed by Joe Minoso.

Biography[]

Cruz grew up in a rough part of Chicago, with his brother, Leon. His father was in the Navy and described as strict by Joe.

His brother ended up in a street gang called the Insane Kings. He was also acquainted with Gianna Mackey and her brother Dex. After Dex got sick, Joe promised to look after his sister. True to his word after the death of Dex, Joe started to look after Gianna as a surrogate big Brother.

Season 1[]

The firehouse is called to an active shooting where two men have been injured. One of them is Leon, Cruz's brother and gang member. He helps him to the truck and they take him to the hospital. Although Cruz offers to pick him up when he's due to be released, Leon signs himself out of the hospital. (Two Families)

He later makes a deal with the gang leader, Flaco, to get Leon out of the gang, however Flaco wants a buyout of $10,000 which Cruz refuses to give to him. During an apartment building fire, Cruz finds Flaco in the building calling out for help. Cruz takes a minute, but leaves Flaco to die and tell everyone that the building is clear in order to save his brother from the gang. (It Ain't Easy, Merry Christmas, Etc.)

Wracked with guilt over the incident, Cruz tries to confess to what he did to Matthew Casey but Casey says that he doesn't want to hear about it. He says he can either go to the police about the incident or pretend that it never happened. (God Has Spoken)

Cruz takes massive risks in order to save people, even though it's against the orders of Casey and Boden. One such example left Cruz with an injury and almost caused Mouch to go through a burning floor. Casey tells him to hand himself into the police or that he'll do it for him. He goes to Church for help, crying through a lot of the priest's speech. Cruz comes back to hand in his badge to Casey, but Mouch forgives him and gets Casey to let him stay on. (Viral)

Season 2[]

Cruz develops a relationship with Zoya, Otis' cousin from Russia, and eventually asks her to marry him so that she can stay in the U.S. since her work visa was expiring. However, she decides that she's going to move back to Russia because Joe wanted to marry her for the wrong reasons. She leaves without telling Cruz. (Rhymes With Shout, You Will Hurt Him)

In Season 2, against Cruz's will, Leon later took an undercover mission to take down the new chief of the gang after a little girl was killed in a drive-by shooting in his neighborhood. Leon completed the mission but for his safety, he was sent out of town to his uncle's place.

Season 3[]

Seeing the success of the bar Molly's owned by Dawson, Herrmann and Otis, Cruz decided alongside with Mouch to be part of the project for 'Molly's II'. Cruz came out with the idea of making "Molly's II" a truck. This project convinced Herrmann and was accepted. (Wow Me)

Finding a truck was difficult but Newhouse found one at the condition to have a 20% share in Molly's II. However, they suffer from continued problems trying to get Molly's II off of the ground. Firstly, due to the truck itself not being up to regulation standard and secondly due to Cruz's cooking skills -or lack therefore- despite him being the only manning the food side of the truck. (Just Drive the Truck, Apologies Are Dangerous)

Joe was the driver of Truck 81 and received a suspension from Deputy District Chief Joel Tiberg when 81 got involved in a t-bone collision with Truck 66 from Firehouse 105 in Austin since they were both en route to the same structure fire. The collision resulted in a number of serious injuries for both Truck crews. At first, he was accused of blowing a red light because he forgot the color of the traffic light and because he blew another red light 30 seconds before the accident, putting him at risk of manslaughter charges due to the seriousness of Molina's injuries. But when Molina woke up, he confessed that his Lieutenant, Tommy Welch, ordered him to beat Truck 81 so they could take command of operations at the scene. Despite being deemed not at fault for the accident, he received a three month suspension from driving the truck and was replaced by Otis. Chief Boden managed to get his suspension reduced following excellent work on the job. (Just Drive the Truck, The Nuclear Option)

Sylvie Brett decides to go to a Zumba class, choosing the highest rated one on Yelp which happens to be taught by Cruz. Cruz confronts her in the class, asking what it would take for her to stay silent and she said that she'll be quiet if Cruz allows her to teach him how to cook for Molly's II. Cruz thinks of it as a weird deal but accepts the offer, working with her to make oven fried ravioli for the Molly's II menu. (Nobody Touches Anything)

Since Cruz regularly went to talk to her about the class, Casey became suspicious and went to talk to Brett about romantic relationships inside the firehouse. To clear up the misunderstanding, she revealed to him that Cruz is actually her Zumba instructor. The rumor is then spread through the entire firehouse until everyone finds out about it, while laughing it behind the unsuspecting Cruz's back. During one of his classes, he finds half of everyone from the firehouse appearing at his class to see it for themselves. Cruz is shocked, nearly canceling the lessons but Casey stops and encourages him in embracing the attention. Cruz then commences the class, with his co-workers enjoying the fun. (Chopper)

They finally managed to get Molly's II the permits required to open under the condition that they sell energy water -a pyramid scheme which Herrmann was involved in and said that the money was guaranteed- at the stand at the Christmas market. However, things don't go well as the truck ends up rolling down the hill and into other stands. In the end, they decide to close down Molly's II, giving the soup kitchen the truck. (Santa Bites)

In Spartacus, after Scott Rice is given the boot, Chief Boden announces that Cruz received his squad certification just before the shift started and he is subsequently given Rice's spot just as a call comes in. At first, Otis is pissed Cruz did not tell him first due to the recent tensions between Truck and Squad but later congratulates him at Molly's.

Season 4[]

In 2112, Cruz is reunited with his old friend Freddie and is dismayed he is a gangster.

During Short and Fat, Cruz tells Freddie that he can't come by the firehouse anymore, as the latter is upset before Hermann and Otis generously offers Freddie a job at Molly's. Cruz is pleased when they tell Freddie that he'll be well paid and still get to hang out with them.

In The Beating Heart, he is dismayed to learn Freddie lost his temper and knifed Hermann before running away. However, Otis tells him that he is not to blame.

Season 5[]

Season 6[]

When Otis is in the hospital after getting shot in the neck, Cruz is really torn up about it and even calls him Brian like he had been asking people to do.

When his high school sweetheart Delia Cantor reconnects with him on Facebook, Cruz has a small crisis trying to decide if he should accept her advances, as she is married. Brett gets mad at him because he's better than that.

Season 8[]

Cruz married Chloe Allen in Light Things Up with Severide as his best man. The wedding is held in the "Firefighters' church" and it is attended by the whole firehouse.

Season 9[]

In Rattle Second City, Cruz is able to coerce his friend Gianna Mackey into remaining with the CFD. Cruz shows up late and says she could pretend not to know him for her first impression. However, she is dismayed by Casey saying that Joe already told them about their relationship. Gianna also shares a moment with Gallo, though Cruz forbids Gallo from trying to make a move. Afterwards, Gianna and Brett come back from a call, he worries about her but she tells that she is fine. Later, he notices Gianna tries to talk with Gallo again but noticed that he is nervous around the observing Cruz. Joe is annoyed when Gianna decides to make further drama for both of them by making a date on the weekend.

As of That Kind Of Heat, he finds Gianna blowing off her stress by exercising at the football stadium. She soon says she is unsure on whether to stay at the house or transferring but Cruz brings up his promise to her brother and reassures her. At Molly's, Cruz gives Gianna support and promises not to be too overprotective. Gianna didn’t bring serve her interest in Gallo who is not too far from the conversation and once again Cruz voices disapproval but she is not deterred.

During Smash Therapy, Joe unintentionally makes Mouch upset by being insensitive of him failing Casey. This caused Herrmann to criticize him as he apologizes.

In Funny What Things Remind Us, he is amused by the pranks of Mouch and his rival Rutledge. During a case of the construction yard, Gianna is nearly caught in an explosion but is saved when Gallo came to her aid. Cruz thanks Gallo for saving Gianna amazed by how he risked his life to save her. While he is grateful, he still forbids him from trying to pursue Gianna.

In My Lucky Day, Chloe told Joe that she is pregnant with their child. This news left Joe pondering before the squad was called in on a case.

During Blow This Up Somehow, Joe answers a call with the rest of the squad where the gas station caught a blaze. At the house Joe was amazed to hear Gallo state how he saved the life of a victim before watching us Casey suspends Gallo for recklessly endangering himself. Later at Molly's, Joe joins Brett and Gianna where they discuss missing drugs. Joe brought up a previous case where a person tried to steal drugs from the paramedics and ask if anyone try to do that. Although Gianna denies this it did not take long for Brett to realize the previous case happened where a woman was supposedly having a seizure and they went after her most likely giving her boyfriend time to steal the drugs.

In Dead of Winter, Chloe tells Joe it's a boy.

Season 10[]

In Two Hundred, Chloe gives birth to a son named Brian Leon "Otis” Cruz, named after his best friend Brian “Otis” Zvonecek. Brian Leon "Otis" Cruz is born without any complications.

Notes and Trivia[]

  • Joe runs a Zumba class in Pilsen. It's the best-rated Zumba class on Yelp. (Nobody Touches Anything)
  • He is one of the six members of the staff to be married.
  • His badge number is 6393.
  • Along with Mouch, Herrmann, and Boden to have kids.
  • He suffered from PTSD after the season 10 premiere but since overcame it.
  • Has an uncle Zoozie. (season 1 episode 21, retaliation hit)
  • He is revealed to be fluent in spanish.
  • In S6 E09 (@ 20:15) he mentions he has been a FF for "12 Years running".
    • Meaning he joined the CFD in 2006

Gallery[]

Appearances[]

Season 1
Pilot Mon Amour Professional Courtesy One Minute Hanging On
Rear View Mirror Two Families Leaving the Station It Ain't Easy Merry Christmas, Etc.
God Has Spoken Under the Knife Warm and Dead A Little Taste Nazdarovya!
Viral Better to Lie Fireworks A Coffin That Small Ambition
Retaliation Hit Leaders Lead Let Her Go A Hell of a Ride
Season 2
A Problem House Prove It Defcon 1 A Nuisance Call A Power Move
Joyriding No Regrets Rhymes with Shout You Will Hurt Him Not Like This
Shoved In My Face Out With a Bang Tonight’s the Night Virgin Skin Keep Your Mouth Shut
A Rocket Blasting Off When Things Got Rough Until Your Feet Leave the Ground A Heavy Weight A Dark Day
One More Shot Real Never Waits
Season 3
Always Wow Me Just Drive the Truck Apologies Are Dangerous The Nuclear Option
Madmen and Fools Nobody Touches Anything Chopper Arrest in Transit Santa Bites
Let Him Die Ambush Predator Three Bells Call It Paradise Headlong Toward Disaster
Red Rag the Bull Forgive You Anything Forgiving, Relentless, Unconditional I Am the Apocalypse You Know Where to Find Me
We Called Her Jellybean Category 5 Spartacus
Season 4
Let It Burn A Taste of Panama City I Walk Away Your Day Is Coming Regarding This Wedding
2112 Sharp Elbows When Tortoises Fly Short and Fat The Beating Heart
The Path of Destruction Not Everyone Makes It The Sky is Falling All Hard Parts Bad for the Soul
Two T's What Happened to Courtney? On the Warpath I Will Be Walking The Last One for Mom
Kind of a Crazy Idea Where the Collapse Started Superhero
Season 5
The Hose or the Animal A Real Wake-Up Call Scorched Earth Nobody Else Is Dying Today I Held Her Hand
That Day Lift Each Other One Hundred Some Make It, Some Don’t The People We Meet
Who Lives and Who Dies An Agent of the Machine Trading in Scuttlebutt Purgatory Deathtrap
Telling Her Goodbye Babies and Fools Take a Knee Carry Their Legacy Carry Me
Sixty Days My Miracle
Season 6
It Wasn't Enough Ignite on Contact An Even Bigger Surprise A Breaking Point Devil's Bargain
Down Is Better A Man's Legacy The Whole Point of Being Roommates Foul is Fair Slamigan
Law of the Jungle The F Is For Hiding Not Seeking Looking for a Lifeline The Chance to Forgive
The One That Matters Most Put White on Me When They See Us Coming Where I Want to Be The Strongest Among Us
The Unrivaled Standard One for the Ages The Grand Gesture
Season 7
A Closer Eye Going to War Thirty Percent Sleight of Hand This Isn't Charity A Volatile Mixture
All the Proof What Will Define You The Solution to Everything Always a Catch Inside These Walls
You Choose Make This Right The Plunge It Wasn't About Hockey What I Saw
Fault in Him Move a Wall No Such Thing as Bad Luck Until the Weather Breaks Try Like Hell
The White Whale I'm Not Leaving You
Season 8
Sacred Ground A Real Shot in the Arm Badlands Infection, Part I Buckle Up
What Went Wrong Welcome to Crazytown Seeing Is Believing Best Friend Magic Hold Our Ground
Where We End Up Then Nick Porter Happened A Chicago Welcome Shut It Down Off the Grid
The Tendency of a Drowning Victim Protect a Child I'll Cover You Light Things Up 51's Original Bell
Season 9
Rattle Second City That Kind Of Heat Smash Therapy Funny What Things Remind Us My Lucky Day
Blow This Up Somehow Dead of Winter Escape Route Double Red One Crazy Shift
A Couple Hundred Degrees Natural Born Firefighter Don't Hang Up What Comes Next A White-Knuckle Panic
No Survivors
Season 10
Mayday Head Count Counting Your Breaths The Right Thing Two Hundred
Dead Zone Whom Shall I Fear? What Happened at Whiskey Point? Winterfest Back with a Bang
Fog of War Show of Force Fire Cop An Officer With Grit The Missing Piece
Hot and Fast Keep You Safe What's Inside You Finish What You Started Halfway to the Moon
Last Chance The Magnificent City of Chicago
Season 11
Hold On Tight Every Scar Tells a Story Completely Shattered The Center of the Universe Haunted House
All-Out Mystery Angry Is Easier A Beautiful Life Nemesis Something for the Pain
A Guy I Used to Know How Does It End? The Man of the Moment Run Like Hell Damage Control
Acting Up The First Symptom Danger Is All Around Take a Shot at the King Never, Ever Make a Mistake
Change of Plans Red Waterfall

Crossover Appearances[]

Chicago Med[]

Chicago PD[]

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