(North Precinct Street Patrol) Officer Harry Jackson says this time of the year people come from all parts of the country, the Navy brings in a bunch of ships and prostitutes come from all across the country because business is up. He spots a young girl, Samantha Wilson, on the corner he knows and sees a guy pick her up. Harry asks where she's coming from and she says it was Union, doesn't know the cross street. He says she should know the cross street by now. It's Jessup, she remembers. He sees money in her bra and she says it's her boobs, then admits it's $65. She says she knows the guy, he was giving her a ride and has known him for 6-7 months. Then she admits he was giving her $25 for a BJ, he's a regular on Sundays. Today is Sunday, he's usually off, but is sneaky and is working today. He goes over and questions Mr. Larkin to see what he says. He mirandizes him and says he knows she's doing business. He says he has the right to remain silent and it's his mom's car. He's 26, still living at home and has no registration, so Harry will call his parents to see if they know what he's up to. Larkin says he's known her six months, they met in January. He hasn't arrested Sam before, but has given her a hard time though. Larkin has never taken her home because his parents are always there. Harry says he has no problem doing it on the streets and can't take a nice lady home. Then he tells Sam to tell him what she told him. Harry says he went to school 2 blocks from there, he's lived there 45 years and wants to clean up the community. Harry says he'll throw money at her, but won't take her home to mom. (9:15 AM) Multnomah Co. Narcotics Task Force Briefing - Sgt. John Bunnell says it's going to be a long day, search warrant for heroin , 4 cars, Pat will do photos, Danny will do evidence and to suit up. There is a calendar on the wall with women's butts in bathing suits. They run up to the house, John says they are too far away. The old woman asks what the hell are the doing there, where's the search warrant, it's not here. They tell her it is. John talks to Ron, he says he wants to make it easy, there is no heroin, just what he's using. He gets the heroin from Mike Williams. John says he knows where he gets it. He used to get it from Jerry, but he's in Las Vegas, on vacation. John calls Celeste in and arranges for Ron to call Mike to make a deal. He calls him from his car phone in the Camero to make a deal for 2 o'clock. (2:02 PM) Mike is an older white guy who walks up with his two kids, they bust him and he says not to scare his children. The boy says he goes to school half day, the girl says all day. Mike's been dealing 5-6 days, but never sold it before. He's shaking and John says they aren't playing games, answer the questions and sign the papers. Mike says he'll take them to it and give it to them. He lost his wife 2 years ago and wants them to tell the kids he's OK. He buys from Miguel in Hillsboro. They want him to call Miguel and set up a deal, but he doesn't want to lose his kids. The girl says her mom died when she was 33 and is up with the angels now. John says sometimes that's a better place. They are going to Mike's house to get the heroin and have him call Miguel and start the game all over again. (4:15 PM) John says they can take everything of Mike's - his cars, house, everything. The car doesn't interest them though, it doesn't meet their requirements. It's a nice old colonial house though. Mike limps around, says he lived there 11 years and is going to have to sell it. He takes him to the safe where the combo is right 3 times to 73. John opens it and asks, "it won't blow up in my face will it- There is a bunch of money, some rocks, not much. Mike calls Jose to make a deal. John says he has to make a decision to take his kids to a foster home and is it the best things for the kids? They just lost their mom, maybe they'll take the kids for a little while to wake him up. John is upset and can't even count the money. It's a tough call. It's not the normal house of a heroin dealer. John asks Max the neighbor to watch the children while Mike is in jail for a few hours. (8:09 PM) John draws a diagram of the house where the main dealer is. They want to get everyone secured fast and then search the place. There are a couple Mexican guys who don't speak English and they find 2balloons. They also find a .30 caliber rifle and aballoon under the mattress. The guy admits the dope is his and has a notebook with phone numbers and Mike is in it. They charge him with drugs, dealing and call immigration.
Called the original reality show, Cops is a gritty and unfiltered look at the seamier parts of our society as seen through the eyes of the men and women who struggle to keep the peace.
Since 1989, camera crews have traveled across the nation and into other countries providing an intimate look at police officers and the nuts and bolts of their day-to-day work.
Cops uses a modern adaptation of cin... ma v... rit?, a French documentary style of film making from the early 1920s, where life is shot as it happens, without script, narration or interference. Here, the police officer is narrator, guiding you through the shift and what happens within it, using his or her own words.