Inspector Palmu is depicted as an older officer who is only interested in facts. He also has a keen sense for when someone is lying, and is often frustrated by the bureaucracy of the police department. Though Palmu can be forward and even openly rude, he is shown being extremely sensitive around women, though he is irritated by a sexually promiscuous lady in "The Stars Will Tell, Inspector Palmu". Palmu can also sometimes act more jovially, and makes jokes to irritate suspects to take action, and reveal their motives. On occasion Palmu also has a stroke of luck, such as finding a cyanide bottle in a vase when he looks into it out of sheer curiosity in "Inspector Palmu's Mistake".