Is an American anthology crime-drama that explored the personal lives of those who serve in the Los Angeles Police Department with various characters in the spotlight.
It spawned spin offs: Police Woman, Joe Forrester, and David Cassidy Man Under Cover.
Guest stars included Robert Alda, Loni Anderson, Edward Asner, Desi Arnaz Jr., Danny Bonaduce, Lloyd Bridges, among others.
It aired from 1973 to 1978 on NBC, with follow-ups in 1979-1980, and 1987 on ABC.
Not to be confused with Police Story starring Jackie Chan.
Tropes for the series:
- Cop Killer: The third season episode "The Empty Weapon" has a juvenile criminal doing this while fleeing from a mugging that he did.
- Cut Phone Lines: Implied in at least one episode, "The Empty Weapon", where a mugging victim is being terrorized by two of her technicality-released juvenile assailants who found her home address.
- Disguised Hostage Gambit: A killer brings out his hostage and the commander orders his snipers to shoot the "hostage" because he sees a glint of chrome on the killer that he realizes are handcuffs meaning they have switched roles. Of course if the glint was from a handgun...but that is never mentioned.
- Drinking on Duty: In "The Long Ball", Sgt. R.C. Pickett (Claude Akins) is an alcoholic and drinks throughout the episode.
