Character Analysis
Captain McCluskey is a totally corrupt cop—tied up with drugs and rackets and, in this case, a murder attempt on Vito. Michael shoots him through the skull after they sit down to dinner at a restaurant in the Bronx, gaining his retribution.
Ironically, although Sterling Hayden (who acted the role) played tough guys and gangsters in movies, he was an author and a pretty astute dude. The Godfather marked a kind of career resurgence for him (he makes a pretty brief appearance—but it's a memorable one).