"Transitions" is the fourth episode of the fifth season of the HBO original series The Wire. The episode was written by Ed Burns from a story by David Simon & Ed Burns and was directed by Dan Attias, who won the Directors Guild of America Award for Outstanding Directing – Drama Series for the episode. It first aired on January 27, 2008.

Buyer's market out there.

— Templeton

At Michael's corner, Kenard places a brown paper bag under a step. Officer Anthony Colicchio and his partner observe the scene from their patrol car nearby and decide to move in. Once Colicchio has handcuffed the crew and called in back-up, he puts his hand in the bag expecting to find drugs. When he withdraws it, he is holding dog excrement. As a furious Colicchio puts the crew into a transport van, a queue of traffic develops. One driver inflames Colicchio's anger by requesting that they move the cars, causing Colicchio to assault him. Sergeant Ellis Carver helps restrain Colicchio. Michael is later signed out of custody by his mother, and he refuses her request for money.

The following day, Carver informs Colicchio that his victim was a school teacher and that the incident is being looked into by Internal Affairs. When Colicchio shows no remorse over his actions, Carver decides that he will charge Colicchio himself. Later, Carver meets with his old partner Herc, who tries to argue Colicchio's case and insists that Carver cannot turn against his own men despite his closeness to making rank. Reminding Herc of their past experience with Randy Wagstaff, Carver explains that everything they do matters. Herc compares Colicchio's situation to his own and wonders if Carver thought that his own dismissal was fair. Carver doesn't answer and Herc admits that it probably was justified. Herc warns Carver that he will face a bad reputation, but encourages him to do the right thing.

Sydnor is frustrated when he discovers that an $80,000 withdrawal from Senator Davis' account was used to pay back his mother-in-law for a loan. Freamon learns that the loan was for a mortgage down payment, which means that Davis has broken federal law by lying on a mortgage application and claiming her money as his own. Freamon and Pearlman meet with Bond, who is hesitant to make the case federal. Speaking alone with Pearlman, Bond believes that with a ten-year penalty for each of the four lesser counts of theft, a conviction on local charges will be sufficient. Davis visits the courthouse for a secret grand jury hearing, where he denounces the enquiry and refuses to answer further questions. As he leaves the courthouse, Davis denies wrongdoing to a throng of reporters. Freamon realizes that Bond leaked the hearing to the press in order to raise his own profile.

Daniels meets with Commissioner Burrell and denies any role in Burrell's firing, offering to decline his planned promotion; Burrell simply gives him the silent treatment. Meanwhile, Mayor Carcetti holds a meeting in his office with his senior staff and is forced to make concessions to the ministers to smooth Daniels' transition to commissioner. During a meeting with Campbell, Burrell reveals that the FBI investigated Daniels for skimming drug money, and threatens to expose Daniels if forced to resign. Campbell warns Burrell against this and promises a lucrative job if he leaves quietly. Campbell takes and peruses the FBI file. She urges Carcetti to secure her job offer to Burrell, arguing that it is necessary to ensure that Burrell does not damage the reputation of his former subordinates.

Prior to the press conference announcing Burrell's departure, Rawls visits Burrell's office. Burrell expresses bitterness towards the city's politicians, acknowledging that he may have been a bad commissioner but that his failings were the fault of schizophrenic policies from City Hall. Burrell warns Rawls to expect more of the same treatment as acting commissioner. At the press conference, Daniels again tries to reassure Burrell that he did not ask for the promotion. Burrell reminds Daniels that he once called his bluff about exposing his past and claims that he no longer remembers the details of the FBI file as it was so long ago.