Chet Wimberg

I have been in law enforcement for 30 years. To date, Hill Street Blues and Barney Miller are the only two "cop" shows that accurately portray what it is like be in this profession. Yes, that is what a normal police briefing is like. Yes, most Sgts do end briefing with a catch phrase. Mine is, "Let's go make someone's day." How do I expect the officers to do that? I expect them to help a stranded motorist change a tire, mediate a dispute between neighbors, treat the drunk you just arrested for DWI like he is your family, or spend as much time as needed listening to the lonely old war veteran complain about the noisy kids down the street and about how much he misses his wife who passed away 3 years ago. It is a profession made up of ordinary people that have ordinary problems just like everyone else. We entered this profession to make a positive difference in the world. We aren't always successful but neither are doctors or teachers; and yes, there are a few bad apples in the mix but they are few and far between. Both of these TV shows display what law enforcement is really about and the true nature of the job.