DETECTIVE WEST – Late 40s to Early 50s – African American – Detective West is an honest, blue-collar cop who’s seen it all. A soulful, funny caring father to Iris, and a surrogate father to Barry, West came up through the foster system himself. He took in Barry after his mother’s murder and his father’s imprisonment. He believes in Barry and supports Barry’s efforts to prove his father’s innocence.

At about theof the Cross The Streams podcast (click here to listen) ' Ernie Hudson discussed his upcoming projects. "In the meantime there's a spin-off ofcalled," he said. "I'm meeting the creators next week. So, I have to prepare for that." When asked which role he was up for, Hudson replied "His adoptive dad,...or the dad of..."Before Hudson could disclose any further information, he decides to cut himself off as to not reveal too much. "His (Barry Allen) dad has a problem," is the final morsel of info that slips from his lips. And based on Barry Allen's (Grant Gustin) debut in CW'swe know that Barry's father was incarcerated for the murder of Barry's mother. So, if we take Ernie Hudson's information, and a casting call that Bludhaven Banter posted it's pretty safe to assume that Hudson is up for the role of Detective West, Iris' father.