It’s National Police Week-Matt’s 5 Favorite Cop Shows
This week, May 13-19, is National Police Week, a time to honor the men and women of law enforcement who put their lives on the line every day so that we may remain safe. President John F. Kennedy signed a proclamation in 1962 designating May 15 as Peace Officers Memorial Day and the week in which that date falls as Police Week. Over the past few years we have had several reminders of just how dangerous the job of keeping the peace can be with three local officers, Joseph Corr, Thomas Lindsey and Kurt Wyman having given their lives in the line of duty. Here are my 5 favorite TV police shows.
Miami Vice
Hot cars, sharp clothes and Sonny Crockett's perpetual 3 day growth beard. Crockett and Tibbs may have been pretty flashy but they always got their man and, usually, their women. A classic 80's cop show.
Cops
My guilty pleasure. Every week the show featured a different police department and followed the cops as they rounded up the usual suspects. Sometimes funny, sometimes gritty it shows a true-if decidedly not glamorous-side of police work.
Dragnet
Terse dialogue and black and white morality were featured in this 50's and 60's police drama. Jack Webb was the no nonsense Sgt. Joe Friday. Based on true cases it nonetheless reminded up every week that "the names have been changed to protect the innocent."
Hill Street Blues"
This long running 80's series chronicled the working and professional lives of a police force in an unnamed American city. Daniel J. Trevanti and Veronica Hamel were two of the major stars of the show which captured some 98 Emmy Award nominations.
CSI:Crime Scene Investigation
This series which is still running 12 years after its debut concentrates on the forensic end of police work rather than the shoe leather part and its Las Vegas locale provides added glamour. It has successfully spun off two other shows CSI:Miami and CSI:New York.
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