21st Precinct – The Certified 600. ep10, 530908.

Badges. night sticks, police officers.
Police Officer Carrying Nightstick. "Used with permission from Microsoft."

You are listening to the nerve center of the 21st Precinct. A phone call comes in and we follow the case from beginning to end through the events that transpire. Captain Frank Cannelli guides us through the details of an auto accident and a burglary. In voiceover he sets the stage, and takes us to the scene of the crime. The business owner shares what he knows, and his concerns over the trauma of the robbery, and police involvement. Then something strange happens, a call comes in where the caller claims to hold the safe, and for a ransome, the safe will be returned.

In the squadroom, Captain Canelli discusses the odd case with his fellow uniformed police officers. In questioning a patrolman about the events on his beat, a timeline is established. Using resources at their grasp, Canelli and his men try tracing a phone call, and work with other precincts to close the gap on the safe robbers.

Crimes are often traced to someone close to the victim, and this one is one of those. Listen in to learn who the thief is, and why they did it.

Note: I know this series wasn’t on as long as Dragnet, but in a lot of ways I like it better. It can be a little campy at times, but it makes a decent try at realism as it presents a glimpse at the real routine of solving crime and keeping the peace.