Police Story is an anthology television crime drama. The show was the brainchild of author and former policeman Joseph Wambaugh and represented a major step forward in the realistic depiction of police work and violence on network TV. Although it was an anthology, there were certain things that all episodes had in common; for instance, the main character in each episode was a police officer. The setting was always Los Angeles and the characters always worked for some branch of the LAPD. Notwithstanding the anthology format, there were recurring characters. Scott Brady appeared in more than a dozen episodes as "Vinnie," a former cop who, upon retirement, had opened a bar catering to police officers, and who acted as a sort of Greek chorus during the run of the series, commenting on the characters and plots.
3.5 / 5
Episode 1
A special surveillance detail set up to catch criminals in the act finally nabs Slow Boy while he is robbing a supermarket. Complications arise when the robber takes a hostage before the police can detain him.
Episode 2
A special surveillance detail set up to catch criminals in the act finally nabs Slow Boy while he is robbing a supermarket. Complications arise when the robber takes a hostage before the police can detain him.
Episode 3
Undercover cop Charlie Czonka tries to catch the big man behind a ring of prostitution, dope and extortion
Episode 4
A down-and-out addict becomes an informer for the bank robbery detail and wins the friendship of a cop.
Episode 5
Two partners on the police force start getting on each other's nerves after ten years together when one begins acting strange.
Episode 6
A Mexican-American police sergeant who's been assigned to his original neighborhood leads the Juvenile Division in an attempt to head off a gang war.
Episode 7
An undercover cop nearly loses his life trying to crack a big-time drug-selling operation.
Episode 8
The question of whether or not policewomen should be assigned to ride in patrol cars is brought to the head in a gun battle with two killers.
Episode 9
Sergeant Rick Calvelli works undercover in order to crack a phony credit card ring that plays dangerously.
Episode 10
A beat cop has his newly established authority challenged when a wealthy girl he arrests avoids retribution in court.
Episode 11
An unauthodox cop accidentally kills a fellow officer and is put under investigation by Internal Affairs.
Episode 12
A young police officer joins a special unit and must learn to cope with killing.
Episode 13
The possibility of a conspiracy to murder cops creates a war between a black community and the police.
Episode 14
When policeman Joe LaFrieda kills a member of an underworld family during a robbery attempt; a contract is put out on his life.
Episode 15
The police clash head-on with the Mob when a contract is taken out on Officer Joe LaFrieda's life.
Episode 16
A cop on the take devises a plan to save himself from disgrace.
Episode 17
Two officers from Robbery-Homicide attempt to track down a killer of homosexuals who mutilates the bodies of his victims.
Episode 18
A young recruit from a rural community attempts to defy his background by completing the tough Police Academy training to become a cop.
Episode 19
Two detectives become emotionally involved in a case when a friend is the victim of a robber/rapist/murderer.
Episode 20
As an officer tracks down a rapist, his marriage dissolves in favor of his badge.
Episode 21
A police veteran in the Latent Prints Division is discouraged with his job until some unexpected combat gives him a new perspective.
Episode 22
A police chief must overcome an assissination plot and political games in order to speak at a local meeting of police-haters.
Episode 23
The transfer of desk officer Lisa Beaumont to the vice squad leads to a series of explosive developments.
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