# NCIS: The Rules

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [June 27, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700 "2010-06-27T19:20:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700/1 "2010-06-27T19:20:10Z")

</div>

Gibbs’s Rules from _NCIS_:

1. Never let suspects stay together.
2. Always wear gloves at a crime scene.
3. Never believe what you’re told. Always double check. – **OR** – Never be unreachable.
4. Never say you’re sorry.
5. 
6. 
7. Always be specific when you lie.
8. Never take anything for granted.
9. Never go anywhere without a knife.
10. 
11. 
12. Never date a co-worker.
13. 
14. 
15. 
16. 
17. 
18. It’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission.
19. 
20. 
21. 
22. 
23. Never mess with a Marine’s coffee if you want to live.

Fill in the blanks?

Any others?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Alpha\_Twit](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alpha_twit/32/265_2.png) [@Alpha\_Twit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alpha_Twit)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700/2 "2010-06-27T19:30:58Z")

</div>

> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Gibbs’s Rules from _NCIS_:
> 
> 1. 
> 
> Fill in the blanks?
> 
> Any others?

#6 - \* There is **Nooooo** …rule 6\*

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 7:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700/3 "2010-06-27T19:42:05Z")

</div>

Nice one! 😃

Who knew Gibbs is a _Python_ fan? (I’d expect that from DiNozzo.)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![simster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/simster/32/1047_2.png) [@simster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/simster)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 11:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700/4 "2010-06-27T23:16:21Z")

</div>

Rule #1 is also - "Never Screw (over) your partner.

Rule #1: Never let suspects stay together. (Yankee White, 1.01)  
Rule #1: Never screw (over) your partner. (Blowback, 4.14)  
Rule #2: Always wear gloves at a crime scene. (Yankee White, 1.01)  
Rule #3: Don’t believe what you’re told. Double check. (Yankee White, 1.01)  
Rule #3: Never be unreachable. (Deception, 3.13)  
Rule #4: If you have a secret, the best thing is to keep it to yourself. The second-best is to tell one other person if you must. There is no third-best. (Blowback, 4.14)  
Rule #6: Never apologize. It’s a sign of weakness. (Flesh and Blood, 7.12)  
Rule #7: Always be specific when you lie. (Reveille, 1.23)

Rule #8: Never take anything for granted. (Probie, 3.10)  
Rule #9: Never go anywhere without a knife. (One Shot, One Kill, 1.13)

Rule #10: Never get personally involved in a case. (Obsession, 7.21)

Rule #11: When the job is done, walk away. (Semper Fidelis, 6.24)

Rule #12: Never date a co-worker. (Enigma, 1.15)  
Rule #13 Never, ever involve lawyers. (Collateral Damage, 6.07)  
Rule #15: Always work as a team. (Leap of Faith, 5.05)  
Rule #18: It’s better to seek forgiveness than ask permission. (Silver War, 3.04)  
Rule #22: Never, ever interrupt Gibbs in interrogation. (Smoked, 4.10)  
Rule #23: Never mess with a Marine’s coffee. (Forced Entry, 2.09)  
Rule #27: There are two ways to follow: 1st way they never notice you; 2nd way they only notice you. (Jack Knife, 7.15)  
Rule #38: Your case, your lead. (Bounce, 6.16)

Rule #39: There is no such thing as coincidence. (Obsession, 7.21)

Rule #40: If it seems like someone’s out to get you, they are. (Borderland, 7.22)

Rule #44: First things first, hide the women and children. (Rule Fifty-One, 7.24; first mentioned in Patriot Down, 7.23)  
Rule #45: Clean up your messes. (Rule Fifty-One, 7.24)  
Rule #51: Sometimes - You’re wrong. (Rule Fifty-One, 7.24)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![BrotherCadfael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/977dab/32.png) [@BrotherCadfael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrotherCadfael)\
**Post date:** [June 27, 2010, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/ncis-the-rules/544700/5 "2010-06-27T23:40:44Z")

</div>

> [@Johnny\_L.A](#):
>
> Who knew Gibbs is a _Python_ fan? (I’d expect that from DiNozzo.)

He probably got to know them through Shannon - who was also responsible for compiling personal rules.