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.
Episodes
Slow Boy (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.
Slow Boy (2)
A tough cop in charge of a special felony squad goes after the vicious son of a Mafia chief who is pulling a string of strong-arm robberies.
Dangerous Games
Undercover cop Charlie Czonka tries to catch the big man behind a ring of prostitution, dope and extortion
Requiem for an Informer
A down-and-out addict becomes an informer for the bank robbery detail and wins the friendship of a cop.
The Ten Year Honeymoon
Two partners on the police force start getting on each other's nerves after ten years together when one begins acting strange.
The Violent Homecoming
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.
The Ho Chi Minh Trail
An undercover cop nearly loses his life trying to crack a big-time drug-selling operation.
Collision Course
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.
Death on Credit
Sergeant Rick Calvelli works undercover in order to crack a phony credit card ring that plays dangerously.
The Big Walk
A beat cop has his newly established authority challenged when a wealthy girl he arrests avoids retribution in court.
Man on the Rack
An unauthodox cop accidentally kills a fellow officer and is put under investigation by Internal Affairs.
Line of Fire
A young police officer joins a special unit and must learn to cope with killing.
Chain of Command
The possibility of a conspiracy to murder cops creates a war between a black community and the police.
Countdown (1)
When policeman Joe LaFrieda kills a member of an underworld family during a robbery attempt; a contract is put out on his life.
Countdown (2)
The police clash head-on with the Mob when a contract is taken out on Officer Joe LaFrieda's life.
Cop in the Middle
A cop on the take devises a plan to save himself from disgrace.
The Ripper
Two officers from Robbery-Homicide attempt to track down a killer of homosexuals who mutilates the bodies of his victims.
Country Boy
A young recruit from a rural community attempts to defy his background by completing the tough Police Academy training to become a cop.
The Hunters
Two detectives become emotionally involved in a case when a friend is the victim of a robber/rapist/murderer.
Wyatt Earp Syndrome
As an officer tracks down a rapist, his marriage dissolves in favor of his badge.
Fingerprint
A police veteran in the Latent Prints Division is discouraged with his job until some unexpected combat gives him a new perspective.
Chief
A police chief must overcome an assissination plot and political games in order to speak at a local meeting of police-haters.
The Gamble
The transfer of desk officer Lisa Beaumont to the vice squad leads to a series of explosive developments.
