I think that Volker was a prototype of RJ, the way that he had followers, protectors, and people to do his bidding. And perhaps a way for Lisbon to understand the obsession and plans for revenge that Jane has.
Wow! You expressed a lit of my thoughts
My husband thought Walter was RJ. He even wore red shirts. Walter was probably used as a red herring. Lol. And fun how he got along with Jane.
The sheriff has a creepy vibe from the start. He had utter coldness in his eyes while playing Rock, Paper, Scissors. I shudder to think what would happened to Van Pelt as well. I think the producers had plans for the small town sheriff to be RJ. It was interesting to place him in the 2nd episode. And interesting to foreshadow by having other small town cops be guilty of murder. Several of them being associated with RJ.
Since Patrick Jane is compared to Sherlock Holmes, I see Erica Flynn as Jane's "Irene Adler."
It's on ROKU right now and I'm watching it for the first time. Middle of season 5