Dragnet (1967)

The television series Dragnet 1967 was created by Jack Webb and depicted the cases of the Los Angeles Police Department. This crime drama series stars Jack Webb as the conservative Sergeant Joe Friday and Harry Morgan as his more light-hearted partner, Bill Gannon.

The show begins with the theme music titled Danger Ahead and the opening narration of The story you are about to see is true, the names have been changed to protect the innocent. In the series every aspect of real police work is followed, this include: patrol work, the crime scene, questioning witnesses, lab work, apprehending the suspect and paperwork.

As a creator, Jack Webb wanted to make the show as realistic and accurate as possible. Department officials names on the show such as police Chief Thad Brown was a real LAPD chief of detectives and KMA367 was the actual call letters for L.A.P.D. No uniform is worn but through every episode Joe Friday wears a blazer with slacks and Bill Gannon wears a two piece suit.

Throughout every episode Joe Friday is always portrayed as the by the book detective even off duty, with two of his favorite phrases being "All we want are the facts, ma'am" and "All we know are the facts, ma'am. Bill Gannon on the other hand is light-hearted yet business like while on duty but very sociable and care-free when he is off duty.

Jack Webb believed that there needed to be more unity between the police force and he wanted to change the reputation that was being portrayed of them. Many of the episodes focus on the younger generation and include cases that involve juvenile delinquency, substance abuse and student crimes. Other episodes include the hippie movement and crimes that were directly related to it.