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===TV series=== ====Australia==== For details see the PhD dissertation by Antony Stephenson (2019).<ref>Antony Stephenson, "Kinds of blue: The representation of Australian police and policing in television drama and reality television." (PhD dissertation, Charles Sturt University, Australia, 2019). [https://researchoutput.csu.edu.au/ws/portalfiles/portal/71301461/ online]</ref> * ''[[Bellamy (TV series)|Bellamy]]'' (Network Ten 1981) * ''[[Bluey (1976 TV series)|Bluey]]'' (Seven Network 1976–77) * ''[[Blue Heelers]]'' (Seven Network 1994–2006) 510 episodes set in the fictional rural town of [[Mount Thomas]], Victoria, was produced by [[Southern Star Entertainment]] for the [[Seven Network]]. * ''[[City Homicide]]'' (Seven Network 2007–11) Set in [[Melbourne]], [[Victoria (Australia)|Victoria]]. Follows the investigations of six detectives and their two superior officers in the homicide squad of the [[Victoria Police]]. * ''[[Cop Shop]]'' (Seven Network, 1977–84) * ''[[Division 4]]'' (Nine Network 1969–75) made by Crawford Productions, ran on the Nine Network for 301 episodes. * ''[[The Feds (miniseries)|The Feds]]'' (Nine Network 1993–96) * ''[[Homicide (Australian TV series)|Homicide]]'' (Seven Network 1964–76) was an Australian police procedural television series made by Crawford Productions for the Seven Network. One of the first commercial TV series produced especially for Australian TV, and the first to depict the operations of a modern-day Australian police force, its historical significance in Australian television is analogous to the importance of ''Dragnet'' in the United States. * ''[[The Link Men]]'' (Nine Network 1970) * ''[[The Long Arm (TV series)|The Long Arm]]'' (Network Ten 1970) * ''[[Matlock Police]]'' (Network Ten 1971–75) was set in a rural town and lasted 229 episodes. * ''[[Murder Call]]'' (Nine Network 1997–99) * ''[[The Phoenix (1985 TV series)|Phoenix]]'' (ABC 1992–93) * ''[[Police Rescue]]'' (ABC 1991–96) * ''[[Rush (2008 TV series)|Rush]]'' (Network Ten 2008–11) follows the stories of a tactical police unit in Melbourne, Victoria. * ''[[Skirts (TV series)]]'' (Seven Network 1990) * ''[[Small Claims]]'' (Network Ten 2005–06) * ''[[Solo One]]'' (Seven Network 1976) a short-lived spin-off from ''Matlock Police'' * ''[[Special Squad (1984)|Special Squad]]'' (Network Ten 1984) * ''[[Stingers (TV series)|Stingers]]'' (Nine Network 1998–2004) * ''[[Water Rats (TV series)|Water Rats]]'' (Nine Network 1996–2001) 177 episodes set in Sydney Harbour, New South Wales, focusing on the Sydney Water Police. * ''[[White Collar Blue]]'' (Network Ten 2002–03) * ''[[Wildside (Australian TV series)|Wildside]]'' (ABC 1997–99) * ''[[Young Lions (TV series)|Young Lions]]'' (Nine Network 2002) ====Austria==== * ''[[Inspector Rex]]'' (1994–2003) is an Austrian homicide detective series a [[German Shepherd]] police dog named Rex and his owner, Detective-Inspector Richard Moser of the Vienna Criminal Police. Rex was a bomb squad dog whose handler was killed at a crime scene that Moser was investigating. Moser's team consisted of Ernst Stockinger (seasons 1 and 2), and Peter Hollerer (seasons 1 to 4), and Christian Bock (seasons 3 to 6). Dr Leo Graf served as [[forensic pathologist]]/coroner throughout the series, who often described autopsy scenes and procedures much to the disgust of the police staff. Moser was murdered by a psychotic serial killer halfway through season 4. Detective Inspector Alexander Brandtner took over Moser's role after his untimely death. :Rex frequently saved the team's necks during pursuits and catching criminals, sniffing out clues, rescuing child victims, as well as occasionally being a nuisance around the office or while interviewing suspects. The show mixes serious themes with occasional comedy, such as Rex's penchant for ham rolls (wurstsemmeln), demanding to buy many dog toys, and interfering with Moser's and Brandtner's erratic love lives. ==== Canada ==== * [[Allegiance (Canadian TV series)]] * [[The Detail]] * [[Flashpoint (TV series)]] * [[Law & Order Toronto: Criminal Intent]] * [[Rookie Blue]] ==== France ==== * ''{{Interlanguage link|Les dossiers secrets de l'inspecteur Lavardin|lt=|fr|Les dossiers secrets de l'inspecteur Lavardin|WD=}}'' (1988–1990) – a French TV series created by Dominique Roulet and ''[[Claude Chabrol]]'', broadcast on TF1. It follows the films ''[[Cop au Vin]]'' (1985) and ''[[Inspecteur Lavardin]]'' (1986) by ''[[Claude Chabrol]]'', who already feature ''[[Jean Poiret]]'' in the role of Lavardin. * ''[[Monster Buster Club]]'' (TF1: 2008–2009) * ''[[Les Petits Meurtres d'Agatha Christie]]'' (France Télévisions: 2009–2012; 2013–present) – based on [[Agatha Christie]]'s detective fiction; Series One is set in France in the 1930s, Series Two in the mid-1950s to 1960s. Series Three, announced in 2019, is to be set in the 1970s. ====Germany==== * ''[[Derrick (TV series)|Derrick]]'' is a German TV crime series produced between 1974 and 1998. * ''[[Polizeiruf 110]]'' ("Police call 110") is a long-running German-language detective television series. * ''[[Tatort]]'' (Crime scene) is a German television series running since 1970 with Austria's and Switzerland's national broadcasters in a joined production pool. * ''[[The Old Fox]]'' (original German title "Der Alte", lit. "The Old One") is a German crime drama which premiered on April 11, 1977. ====Hong Kong==== * ''Police Cadet'' trilogy (TVB; 1984–88) consisting of ''[[Police Cadet '84]]'', ''[[Police Cadet '85]]'' and ''{{Interlanguage link|Police Cadet '88|lt=|zh|新紮師兄1988|WD=}}''. Starring [[Tony Leung Chiu-wai]], it center on his character, Cheung Wai Kit, rise from Cadet School to a working detective. ====India==== * ''[[C.I.D. (India TV series)|C.I.D.]]'' (1995–2018) – an Indian crime detective series that airs on Sony TV. It is about a team of detectives belonging to the Criminal Investigation Department in Mumbai. The protagonists of the show are played by [[Shivaji Satam]], [[Aditya Srivastava]], [[Dayanand Shetty]], [[Dinesh Phadnis]], [[Hrishikesh Pandey]], Vivek Mashru, [[Jasveer Kaur]], [[Ansha Saeed]]. The forensic experts are played by [[Narendra Gupta (actor)|Narendra Gupta]] and [[Shraddha Musale]] respectively. ====Ireland==== * ''[[Michael Feeney Callan|The Burke Enigma]]'' – [[RTÉ]] 1978. * ''[[DDU: District Detective Unit]]'', (1998–99) was made by RTÉ, set in Waterford City and starring [[Seán McGinley]]. * ''[[Single-Handed (TV series)|Single-Handed]]'' (2007–) is set in the west of Ireland. * ''[[Proof (2004 TV series)|Proof]]'' (2003–04) set in Dublin and starring [[Orla Brady]]. * ''Na Cloigne'' (The Heads) a 2010 three-part supernatural police procedural produced for [[TG4]]. ====Italy==== * ''[[Inspector Montalbano (TV series)|Il commissario Montalbano]]'' is an Italian television series produced and broadcast by RAI since 1999, based on the detective novels of Andrea Camilleri. * ''[[Donna Leon (TV series)|Commissario Guido Brunetti]]'' is a German television series based on the books of [[Donna Leon]]. It has been produced since 2000 by the [[ARD (broadcaster)|ARD]] in Germany. This TV series is also shown in Spain. Music: [[André Rieu]]. ====Japan==== *''[[Taiyō ni Hoero!]]'' (NTV 1972–1986) The longest series of Japan. *''[[Seibu Keisatsu]]'' (TV Asahi 1979–1984) *''[[Patlabor: The TV Series]]'' ([[Nippon TV]] 1989–1990) *[[You're Under Arrest (manga)|''You're Under Arrest'']] ([[Tokyo Broadcasting System|TBS]] 1996–1997) *''[[Bayside Shakedown]]'' (1997) *''[[AIBOU: Tokyo Detective Duo]]'' (TV Asahi 2003–) *''[[Galileo (Japanese TV series)|Galileo]]'' ([[Fuji TV]] 2007–2013) ====Malaysia==== *''[[Gerak Khas (TV series)|Gerak Khas]]'' (RTM; 1999–present) *''Roda-Roda Kuala Lumpur'' (RTM; 1998–99, 2008–13) *''Metro Skuad'' (RTM; 2012–13) similar to ''Gerak Khas'', ''Metro Skuad'' centers on various criminal cases including [[murder]]s, [[gangster]]isms, [[acid attack|acid throwing]], [[robbery|robberies]] and others. ====The Netherlands==== * ''[[Baantjer]]'' (1996–06) – set in Amsterdam and starring [[Piet Römer]]. The series is based on the novels of writer [[A. C. Baantjer]] * ''[[Flikken Maastricht]]'' (2007–present) – set in Maastricht and starring [[Angela Schijf]] and [[Victor Reinier]] ====New Zealand==== * ''[[Mortimer's Patch]]'' (1980–84) – set in provincial New Zealand and starring [[Terence Cooper]], [[Sean Duffy (actor)|Sean Duffy]], [[Don Selwyn]] and [[Jim Hickey (broadcaster)|Jim Hickey]] * ''[[Shark in the Park]]'' (1989–92) – set in Wellington and starring [[Jeffrey Thomas (actor)|Jeffrey Thomas]] * ''[[Duggan (TV series)|Duggan]]'' (1997–99) – set in New Zealand's Marlborough Sounds and starring [[John Bach]] * ''[[Plainclothes (TV series)|Plainclothes]]'' (1995) – set in Auckland and starring [[Alan Dale]] * ''[[The Brokenwood Mysteries]]'' (2014–) – set in a fictional small town in the north of New Zealand and starring [[Neill Rea]] ====Philippines==== * ''[[May Bukas Pa (2009 TV series)|May Bukas Pa]]'' ([[ABS-CBN]]; 2009–2010) * ''[[Pilyang Kerubin]]'' ([[GMA Network]]; 2010) * ''[[Noah (TV series)|Noah]]'' ([[ABS-CBN]]; 2010–2011) * ''[[Ikaw ay Pag-Ibig]]'' ([[ABS-CBN]]; 2011–2012) * ''[[Aso ni San Roque]]'' ([[GMA Network]]; 2012–2013) * ''[[Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw (TV series)|Kailangan Ko'y Ikaw]]'' ([[ABS-CBN]]; 2013) * ''[[Ang Probinsyano]]'' ([[ABS-CBN]]; 2015–2022) – based on the [[Ang Probinsyano (film)|1997 film of the same name]] starring [[Fernando Poe, Jr.]] * ''[[Flower of Evil (Philippine TV series)|Flower of Evil]]'' ([[Kapamilya Channel]]; 2022) – based on the [[Flower of Evil (South Korean TV series)|2020 South Korean drama series of the same name]]. * ''[[Mga Lihim ni Urduja]]'' ([[GMA Network]]; 2023) * ''Jack and Jill sa Diamond Hills'' ([[TV5 Network|TV5]]; 2023–present) * ''[[Walang Matigas na Pulis sa Matinik na Misis]]'' ([[GMA Network]]; 2023–present) – based on the 1994 film of the same name. * ''[[Pira-Pirasong Paraiso]]'' ([[TV5 Network|TV5]]/[[Kapamilya Channel]]; 2023–present) * ''[[Black Rider (TV series)|Black Rider]]'' ([[GMA Network]]; 2023–) ====Russia==== * ''[[Streets of Broken Lights]]'' (1995–2017) – Russian criminal drama-detective TV series anthology about police work in Saint-Petersburg. * ''[[Deadly Force (TV series)]]'' (2000–2006) – Russian TV series, which first appeared on television in 2000. It was released by ''[[Channel One Russia]]'' simultaneously as a spin-off series from ''[[Streets of Broken Lights]]'' and as its direct competitor. * ''[[Investigation Held by ZnaToKi]]'' – The popular Soviet detective series from 1971 to 1989 was continued in two Russian TV series (2002 and 2003). * ''{{Interlanguage link|Cop Wars|lt=|ru|Ментовские войны|WD=}}'' (2005–2018) – Russian television series based on scripts by retired police colonel Maxim Esaulov and criminal journalist Andrei Romanov. * ''{{Interlanguage link|Glukhar|lt=|ru|Глухарь (телесериал)|WD=}}'' (2008–2011) – The series tells about the employees of the fictional police department "Pyatnitsky" in Moscow. * ''{{Interlanguage link|Khrustalnyy|lt=|ru|Хрустальный (сериал)|WD=}}'' (2021) – The series tells about a Moscow detective investigating the case of the murder of children in the small mining town of Khrustalny. ====Singapore==== *''[[C.L.I.F.]]'' (MediaCorp Singapore 2011–16) *''[[Triple Nine (TV series)|Triple Nine]]'' (Television Corporation of Singapore 1995–99) ====South Korea==== *''[[Beyond Evil (TV series)|Beyond Evil]]'' (2021) – South Korean television series follows the story of two fearless policemen from the Manyang Police Substation. ====The Soviet Union==== * ''[[Investigation Held by ZnaToKi]]'' (1971–1989) – a popular Soviet series, the main characters are investigator Pavel Znamenski, detective Alexandr Tomin and laboratory analyst Zinaida Kibrit, who were acting together under a group name ZnaToKi (translated as "Experts"). ====United Kingdom==== * ''[[Fabian of the Yard]]'', (1954–55) – possibly the first police drama to be made for British TV, this series, based on the memoirs of real-life Scotland Yard detective Robert Fabian, had a lot in common with ''[[Dragnet (series)|Dragnet]]''. Just as ''Dragnet'' had been the first network drama series with continuing characters to be shot on film, so ''Fabian of the Yard'' was one of the first British series to be filmed. Both shows featured voice-over narration by the main character; both fictionalized stories derived from real-life cases; and both ended with an epilogue that revealed the ultimate fate of the criminals. On ''Fabian'', this took the form of a medium-shot of Bruce Seton, who played Fabian in the series, seated at a desk. The shot slowly dissolved into one of the real-life Fabian in the same pose at the same desk. At that point, the actual Fabian stood up and told the audience what happened to the criminal he'd caught in the real-life case that had just been dramatized. * ''[[Dixon of Dock Green]]'', (1955–76) – [[Jack Warner (actor)|Jack Warner]] reprised the role of [[Constable]] George Dixon, the uniformed beat cop he had played in ''[[The Blue Lamp]]'', despite the fact that the Dixon character had been tragically murdered in that film. During the course of this somewhat gentle series, Warner's character became, for many, the living embodiment of what every British "bobby" was supposed to be. As the series progressed, Dixon went through several promotions, eventually winding up as the [[Station Sergeant]] at his local division. By the final season, with Warner now over 80, Dixon retired and the focus shifted to the younger officers he'd trained up over the years. * ''[[No Hiding Place]]'', (1957–67) – Produced with the cooperation of Scotland Yard, this long-running series featured Raymond Francis as high-ranking Met detective Tom Lockhart. During its run, the series went through several title changes. When it began in 1957, it was known as ''Murder Bag'', referring to the [[murder bag|bag of investigative tools]] that [[Superintendent (police)|Superintendent]] Lockhart carried with him whenever he was called to a case. In 1959, with Lockhart promoted to [[Chief Superintendent]], it became ''Crime Sheet''. Later in 1959, the series was given its final and best-remembered title, ''No Hiding Place'', which lasted until the series ended in 1967. * ''[[Z-Cars]]'', (1962–78) – a police drama about two teams of uniformed constables ([[Brian Blessed]], [[Joseph Brady (actor)|Joseph Brady]], [[James Ellis (actor)|James Ellis]], and [[Jeremy Kemp]]) assigned to "Crime Patrol" duties in a pair of powerful [[Ford Zephyr]]s, under the supervision of Detective Sergeant John Watt ([[Frank Windsor]]) and Detective [[Chief Inspector]] Charlie Barlow ([[Stratford Johns]]). A franker, and often less flattering portrait of police work than audience were used to seeing on ''Dixon of Dock Green'', the show was an immediate hit, its popularity generating spin-offs like ''[[Softly, Softly (TV series)|Softly, Softly]]'' (1966–76), ''[[Barlow at Large]]'' (1971–75), and ''[[Second Verdict]]'' (1976). * ''[[Gideon's Way]]'', (1965–66) – a crime series produced during 1964/65 and based on the novels by [[John Creasey]] (as J. J. Marric). The series was made at Elstree in twin production with [[The Saint (TV series)|The Saint]] TV series. It starred Liverpudlian [[John Gregson]] in the title role as Commander George [[George Gideon|Gideon of Scotland Yard]], with [[Alexander Davion]] as his assistant, Detective Chief Inspector David Keen, [[Reginald Jessup]] as Det. Superintendent LeMaitre (nicknamed Lemmy), [[Ian Rossiter]] as Detective Chief Superintendent Joe Bell and [[Basil Dignam]] as Commissioner Scott-Marle. * ''[[New Scotland Yard (TV series)|New Scotland Yard]]'', (1972–74) – a police drama series produced by [[London Weekend Television]] (LWT) for the [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]] network between 1972 and 1974. It features the activities of two officers from the [[Criminal Investigations Department]] (CID) in the [[Metropolitan Police]] force headquarters at [[New Scotland Yard]], as they dealt with the assorted villains of the day. * ''[[The Sweeney]]'', (1975–78) – a drama series focusing on the [[Flying Squad]] of the [[Metropolitan Police]] and their twenty-four-hour-a-day, seven-day-a-week job of catching some of the most dangerous and violent criminals in London. The [[television program]] featured [[Detective Inspector]] Jack Regan ([[John Thaw]]) and other tough-talking hard-drinking members of his elite unit, both on and off duty. With its high level of violence, location filming, bold frankness, and well written scripts, ''The Sweeney'' revolutionized the genre. The series was so phenomenally popular that two feature-length movies, ''Sweeney!'' (1976) and ''Sweeney 2'' (1978) were released to theatres during the show's original broadcast run. *''[[The Gentle Touch]]'', (1980–84) – a British police drama television series made by London Weekend Television for ITV. Commencing transmission on 11 April 1980, the series is notable for being the first British series to feature a female police detective as its leading character, ahead of the similarly themed BBC series Juliet Bravo by four months. *''[[Juliet Bravo]]'', (1980–85) – a British television series, which ran on BBC1. The theme of the series concerned a female police inspector who took over control of a police station in the fictional town of Hartley in Lancashire. * ''[[Taggart (series)|Taggart]]'' (1983–2010) * ''[[The Bill]]'', (1984–2010) – a drama series focusing on both the uniformed and plain-clothes police officers working out of a fictional inner-London police station. The original conception of this series was as purely procedural, with an almost fly-on-the-wall approach that survived to an extent throughout. * The ''[[Prime Suspect (UK TV series)|Prime Suspect]]'' series, (1991–2006) – featuring [[Helen Mirren]] as Detective Chief Inspector (later Chief Superintendent) Jane Tennison, which focused on the police investigations and on Tennison's conflicts with her fellow officers as a prominent female detective in a heavily male-dominated work environment, as well as her personal problems concerning her family and after-work life. * ''[[Cracker (UK TV series)|Cracker]]'' (1993–95) – hard-hitting drama series following dysfunctional criminal psychologist Dr Edward "Fitz" Fitzgerald, played by [[Robbie Coltrane]] * ''[[McCallum (TV series)|McCallum]]'' (1995–98) * ''[[Hamish Macbeth (TV series)|Hamish Macbeth]]'' (1995–97) – police drama-comedy set in the west coast Highlands of Scotland, starring [[Robert Carlyle]] * ''[[The Cops (British TV series)|The Cops]]'' (1998–2000) – perhaps the most realistic police drama series yet seen on British TV, noted for its documentary-style camerawork and uncompromising portrayal of the police force. * ''[[Heartbeat (UK TV series)|Heartbeat]]'' (1992–2010) is made by [[Yorkshire Television]] at [[The Leeds Studios]] for broadcast on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. It lasted 18 series. Set in 1960s [[Yorkshire]], in the fictional town of Ashfordly and the nearby village of Aidensfield in the [[North Riding of Yorkshire]], the motorcycle-riding Aidensfield village bobby was originally played by [[Nick Berry]]. * ''[[Rebus (2000 TV series)|Rebus]]'' (2000–2007) * ''[[Inspector George Gently]]'' (2007–2017) is an adaptation of [[Alan Hunter (author)|Alan Hunter's]] George Gently series of novels. Starring [[Martin Shaw]] as Gently, and set in the 1960s, it is a combination of police procedural and period drama. It was produced by [[Company Pictures]] for [[BBC One]]. * ''[[Law & Order: UK]]'' (2009–2014) is an adaptation of the [[Law & Order (franchise)|''Law & Order'' franchise]] for the British market. The programme is financed by [[Kudos Film and Television]], Wolf Films (a company owned by [[Dick Wolf]], the creator of the franchise) and [[NBC Universal]] and airs on [[ITV (TV network)|ITV]]. The show is adapted from scripts and episodes of the original [[Law & Order|American ''Law & Order'']]. * ''[[Suspects (TV series)|Suspects]]'' (2014–present) is an East London-based police procedural shot in a stripped-back documentary style using improvised dialogue,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.digitalspy.co.uk/tv/news/a549763/suspects-channel-5s-stripped-back-cop-drama-its-electrifying.html |title=Suspects – Channel 5's stripped back cop drama: "It's electrifying". |work=Digital Spy |first=Morgan |last=Jeffery |date=10 February 2014 |access-date=16 April 2014}}</ref> and follows DS Jack Weston ([[Damien Molony]]), DC Charlie Steele ([[Claire-Hope Ashitey]]) and their superior DI Martha Bellamy ([[Fay Ripley]]) as they investigate various crimes. * ''[[No Offence]]'' (2015–present) is a [[Manchester]]-based police procedural created by [[Paul Abbott]]. The show follows a team of detectives from Friday Street police station, a division of the Manchester Metropolitan Police (a fictionalised version of [[Greater Manchester Police]]), and stars [[Joanna Scanlan]] as Detective Inspector Viv Deering. * ''[[The Mallorca Files]]'' (2019–present) is set on the Spanish island of [[Mallorca]], starring [[Elen Rhys]] and {{ill|Julian Looman|de||nl}} as English and German detectives investigating crimes for the island's police force. ====United States==== * ''[[Dragnet (series)#Television|Dragnet]]'' (1951–59, 1967–70, 1989–91 and 2003–04) was a pioneering police procedural that began on radio in 1949 and then on television in 1951. ''Dragnet'' established the tone of many police dramas in subsequent decades, and the rigorously authentic depictions of such elements as organizational structure, professional jargon, legal issues, etc., set the standard for technical accuracy that became the most identifiable element of the police procedural in all media. The show was occasionally accused of presenting an overly idealized portrait of law enforcement in which the police (represented by Sgt. [[Joe Friday]]) were invariably presented as "good guys" and the criminals as "bad guys", with little moral flexibility or complexity between the two. However, many episodes depicted sympathetic perpetrators while others depicted unsympathetic or corrupt cops. Further, though Jack Webb may have seemed to go to extremes to depict the [[Los Angeles Police Department]] in a favorable light, most depictions of cops at the time of ''Dragnet'''s debut were both unsympathetic and unrealistic.{{Citation needed|date=March 2021}} Webb's depiction was meant to offer balance. Also, the show benefited from the unprecedented technical advice, involvement, and support of the LAPD, a first in TV, which may also have been an incentive to depict the Department favorably. After the success of ''Dragnet'', Webb produced other procedural shows like ''The DA's Man'', about an undercover investigator for the [[New York County District Attorney|Manhattan District Attorney]]'s Office, ''[[Adam-12]]'', about a pair of uniformed [[Los Angeles Police Department|LAPD]] officers patrolling their beat in a radio car, and ''[[O'Hara, U.S. Treasury]]'', with [[David Janssen]] as a trouble-shooting federal officer.<ref>R. Barton Palmer, "The Story You Are About to See Is True’: Dragnet, Film Noir and Postwar Realism." ''Television and criticism'' (2008): 61-74.</ref> * ''[[Adam-12]]'' (1968–1975) is a television police procedural drama that follows Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) officers Pete Malloy and Jim Reed as they ride the streets of Los Angeles in their patrol unit, 1-Adam-12. The series was created by Robert A. Cinader and Jack Webb, the latter of whom also created Dragnet. It starred Martin Milner and Kent McCord and purported to realistically capture a typical day in the life of police officers. The show ran from September 21, 1968, through May 20, 1975, and helped to introduce police procedures and jargon to the general public in the United States. * ''[[The Untouchables (1959 TV series)|The Untouchables]]'' (1959–63) fictionalized real-life Federal Agent [[Eliot Ness]]'s ongoing fight with prohibition-era gangs in [[Chicago]] and elsewhere. Originally a two-part presentation on the anthology series ''[[Desilu Playhouse]]'', it made such a splash that a series was launched the following fall. That two-part pilot, later released to theaters under the title ''The Scarface Mob'', stuck comparatively close to the actual events, with Ness, as played by [[Robert Stack]], recruiting a team of incorruptible investigators to help bring down [[Al Capone]]. Later episodes showed Ness and his squad, after Capone, going after just about every big name gangster of the era, and when the writers ran out of real-life figures to pit against Ness, they created new ones. [[Quinn Martin]], who would become closely associated with police and crime shows like this, produced the series during its first season, leaving to found his own company, QM Productions, which would go one to produce police procedural shows like ''[[The New Breed (TV series)|The New Breed]]'', ''[[The F.B.I. (TV series)|The F.B.I.]]'', ''[[Dan August]]'', and ''[[The Streets of San Francisco]]'' over the next twenty years. The success of the series led to an [[Academy Awards|Academy Award]]-winning [[The Untouchables (1987 film)|motion picture]] in 1987, and a new TV [[The Untouchables (1993 TV series)|series]] that was syndicated to local stations in 1993. * ''[[Police Story (1973 TV series)|Police Story]]'' (1973–78) was an anthology series set in Los Angeles created by [[LAPD]] Detective Sergeant Joseph Wambaugh. Hard-hitting and unflinchingly realistic, its anthology format made it possible to look at LAPD police work from many different perspectives, what it was like to be a woman in a male-dominated profession, an honest cop suspected of corruption, a rookie cop, an undercover narc, a veteran facing retirement, or a cop who had to adjust to crippling injuries incurred in the line of duty. Despite its anthology format, there were a number of characters who appeared in more than one episode, including Robbery/Homicide partners Tony Calabrese ([[Tony Lo Bianco]]) and Bert Jameson ([[Don Meredith]]), vice cop turned homicide detective Charlie Czonka ([[James Farentino]]), and stakeout-surveillance specialist Joe LaFrieda ([[Vic Morrow]]). Several series were spun off from the show, including ''[[Police Woman (TV series)|Police Woman]]'', ''Joe Forrester'', and ''[[David Cassidy: Man Under Cover|Man Undercover]]''. During its last two seasons, the show appeared as an irregular series of two-hour [[TV movies]] rather than a weekly one-hour program. The show was revived for a season in 1988, using old scripts reshot with new casts when a writers' strike made new material inaccessible. * ''[[Kojak]]'' (1973–78, 1989–90) created by [[Abby Mann]], focused on a veteran New York City detective-lieutenant played by [[Telly Savalas]]. Its exteriors were filmed at New York's Ninth Precinct, the same place where ''[[NYPD Blue]]'''s exteriors would be filmed. In 1989, Savalas returned to the role briefly for five two-hour episodes, in which Kojak had been promoted to [[inspector]] and placed in charge of the Major Crimes Squad. It rotated with three other detective shows on [[American Broadcasting Company|ABC]]. A 2005 remake for the [[USA Network]] starred [[Ving Rhames]]. Kojak's most memorable character trait was his signature lollipop. * ''[[Hill Street Blues]]'' (1981–87) featured a number of intertwined storylines in each episode, and pioneered depiction of the conflicts between the work and private lives of officers and detectives on which the police procedural was centered. The show had a deliberate "documentary" style, depicting officers who were flawed and human, and dealt openly with the gray areas of morality between right and wrong. It was set in an unidentified east coast or Midwestern US city. The show was written by [[Steven Bochco]] and [[Michael Kozoll]]. * ''[[Cagney & Lacey]]'' (1982–88) revolved around two female NYPD detectives who led very different lives. Christine Cagney, played by [[Sharon Gless]], was a single-minded, witty, brash career woman. Mary Beth Lacey was a resourceful, sensitive working mom. [[Loretta Swit]] was the original choice for Cagney [she played the role in a TV movie]; however, she could not get out of her contract on ''[[M*A*S*H (TV series)|M*A*S*H]]''. During the first season, [[Meg Foster]] played the part of Cagney, while [[Tyne Daly]] played Lacey, the role she had originated in the pilot. [[CBS]] canceled the series claiming low ratings. It was brought back due both to a letter-writing campaign which drew millions of letters nationwide and because the ratings went ''up'' during summer reruns. A ''[[TV Guide]]'' magazine read "Welcome Back". Daly continued as Lacey, but Foster was replaced with Gless, who would become the actress most identified with the part. It had 36 nominations and 14 wins during its run. Four TV movies were broadcast after the series ended. * ''[[Miami Vice]]'' (1984–90) and ''[[21 Jump Street]]'' (1987–91) showed the MTV style of Police procedurals. * The [[Law & Order (franchise)|''Law & Order'' franchise]] which started with the long-running series ''[[Law & Order]]'' (1990–2010, 2022–present), focuses on the two 'halves' of a criminal proceeding in the New York City criminal justice system: the investigation of the crime by the [[New York City Police Department]] homicide detectives and the subsequent prosecution of the criminals by the [[New York County District Attorney]]'s office. The success of the original ''Law & Order'' inspired eleven other [[Spin-off (media)|spin-off]] series in five different countries: ** Six in the U.S.: ''[[Law & Order: Special Victims Unit]]'' (1999–present), which focuses on sex crimes such as rape and child molestation, ''[[Law & Order: Criminal Intent]]'' (2001–11), focusing on major crimes from the point of view of the criminal and capturing them from a psychological side, ''[[Law & Order: Trial by Jury]]'' (2005–06), which focuses more on the trial from both the prosecution and the defense teams' points of view, ''[[Conviction (2006 TV series)|Conviction]]'' (2006), ''[[Law & Order: LA]]'' (2010–11) and ''[[Law & Order: Organized Crime]]'' (2021–present). ''Special Victims Unit'', ''Criminal Intent'', ''LA'' and ''Organized Crime'' series focused more on the police procedurals than ''Trial by Jury'' and ''Conviction''. ** Two in [[Russia]]: Adaptations of ''Special Victims Unit'' (2007) and ''Criminal Intent'' (2007), both set in Moscow. ** ''[[Paris enquêtes criminelles]]'' (2007), a French adaptation of ''Criminal Intent'' set in Paris. ** ''[[Law & Order: UK]]'' (2009–2014), a British adaptation of the original ''Law & Order'' set in London. ** ''[[Code of Law]]'' (2012-2020), a Singaporean adaptation of the original ''Law & Order'' set in Singapore. :Aside from being its depiction of police investigation, this program also relates to the [[legal drama]] and "forensic pathology" subgenres, and has inspired such other programs as the ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation|CSI]]'' [[CSI (franchise)|series]].{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}} * ''[[Homicide: Life on the Street]]'' (1993–99; TV movie in 2000), a police procedural focusing on the homicide unit of the [[Baltimore]] city police department. Critically praised{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}} (although frequently struggling in the ratings), the show was more of an ensemble piece, focusing on the activities of the unit as a whole (although significant characters such as Detective [[Frank Pembleton]] and Detective [[John Munch]], who has also appeared on the various ''Law & Order'' shows, among others, became popular with viewers). The show (particularly in its first three seasons) used long-form arcs to depict ongoing criminal investigations, such as the investigation of a murdered child in the first season, which ran through 13 episodes but ended without an arrest or conviction, or even conclusive proof of who committed the crime. The show also heavily featured the complex internal politics of the police department, suggesting that rising through the ranks has more to do with personal connections, favors and opportunism than genuine ability.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}} * ''[[NYPD Blue]]'' (1993–2005) explored the internal and external struggles of the assorted investigators of the fictional 15th Precinct of Manhattan. The show gained notoriety for profanity and nudity never previously broadcast on American network television. ''NYPD Blue'' was created by genre veteran [[Steven Bochco]] and [[David Milch]]. The cast of ''NYPD Blue'' included actor Dennis Franz, who previously played Detective Buntz on ''Hill Street Blues'', as well as on a spin-off series, ''Beverly Hills Buntz''. Another cast member, David Caruso, would later play Lt. Horatio Caine on ''CSI: Miami''. * The [[CSI (franchise)|''CSI'' franchise]], which started with ''[[CSI: Crime Scene Investigation]]'' (2000–2015) and eventually spawned two spin-offs focused on solving ordinary crimes using forensics, ''[[CSI: Miami]]'' (2002–2012) and ''[[CSI: NY]]'' (2004–2013). Produced by [[Jerry Bruckheimer]], these three shows focus on three groups of forensic scientists in Las Vegas, Miami and New York City who investigate how and why a person has died and if it is a murder or not by investigating not only [[whodunit]] but also howdunit. A third spin-off, ''[[CSI: Cyber]]'' (2015–2016), focused on cybercrime and its impact on modern society. * The CSI franchise inspired other forensic shows such as ''[[Body of Proof]]'' (2011–2013), ''[[Bones (TV series)|Bones]]'' (2005–2017) and ''[[Crossing Jordan]]'' (2001–2007). * The CSI franchise also inspired other crime dramas involving teams solving crimes but not relying on forensics; these include victim and witness memory for cold cases and missing people in ''[[Cold Case (TV series)|Cold Case]]'' (2003–2010) and ''[[Without a Trace]]'' (2002–2009) respectively, psychological profiling in ''[[Criminal Minds]]'' (2005–2020), using [[mathematics]] in ''[[Numbers (TV series)|Numbers]]'' (2005–2010) and using deception in ''[[The Mentalist]]'' (2008–2015). * ''[[The Shield]]'' (2002–08) is about an experimental division of the Los Angeles Police Department set up in the fictional Farmington district ("the Farm") of Los Angeles, using a converted church ("the Barn") as their police station, and featuring a group of detectives called "The Strike Team", who will do anything to bring justice to the streets. Michael Chiklis (Chiklis previously played the title character in the TV series ''The Commish'') has top billing with his portrayal of Strike Team leader Detective Victor "Vic" Mackey. The show has an ensemble cast that will normally run a number of separate story lines through each episode. It was on the [[FX network]] and was known for its portrayal of police brutality and its realism. The show inspired other shows similar to ''The Shield'' such as ''[[Dark Blue (TV series)|Dark Blue]]'' and ''[[Southland (TV series)|Southland]]''. ''The Shield'' was created by writer/producer [[Shawn Ryan]]. * The [[NCIS (franchise)|''NCIS'' franchise]], which was spun off from the CBS series ''[[JAG (TV series)|JAG]]'' in 2003. The original series, ''[[NCIS (TV series)|NCIS]]'' (2003–present) follows the Major Case Response Team of the [[Naval Criminal Investigative Service]], as they investigate crimes related to the [[United States Navy]] and [[United States Marine Corps|Marine Corps]]. ''NCIS'' has been among the top scripted series on U.S. television, and has received five spin-offs; ''[[NCIS: Los Angeles]]'' (2009–2023) deals with an LA-based branch dealing in special undercover assignments, ''[[NCIS: New Orleans]]'' (2014–2021) focuses on a small group of agents who handle cases from the Mississippi River to the Texas Panhandle, ''[[NCIS: Hawaiʻi]]'' (2021–2024) which focuses on agents working out of the Pearl Harbor Field Office, ''[[NCIS: Sydney]]'' (2023–present) which focuses on a joint task force between NCIS and the [[Australian Federal Police]] that investigates incidents involving U.S. military personnel stationed in Australia, and ''[[NCIS: Origins]]'' (2024–present), a prequel series which follows the early career of ''NCIS'' lead character [[Leroy Jethro Gibbs]]. * ''[[Castle (TV series)|Castle]]'' (2009–2016), ''[[The Mentalist]]'' (2008–2015), ''[[Monk (TV series)|Monk]]'' (2002–2009) and ''[[Psych]]'' (2006–2014) feature quirky investigators with their own distinct methods of solving crimes and are equally comedic shows as they are police procedurals. * [[Chicago (franchise)|''Chicago'']] is a multi-genre franchise that focuses on the [[Chicago]] [[Chicago P.D. (TV series)|Police Department]], the [[Chicago Fire (TV series)|Fire Department]], the [[Chicago Med|Medical branch]] and [[Chicago Justice|Justice System]] respectively. * ''[[Brooklyn Nine-Nine]]'' (2013–2021) is a single-camera police sitcom focusing on detectives in the 99th precinct in Brooklyn. * The [[FBI (franchise)|''FBI'' franchise]] (2018–present)
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