Ep 14. The Trial Board

Dragnet, the acclaimed police procedural drama that first captured audiences in the 1950s, experienced a revival with a new series that began in 1967, often referred to as Dragnet 1967 to distinguish it from its predecessor. The show traced the cases of Sergeant Joe Friday and his various partners as they navigated the complexities of law enforcement in Los Angeles. The episode in question, The Trial Board, is the fourteenth episode of the second season and dives into the internal workings of the police department, particularly the process involving the accountability of officers in the face of misconduct allegations.

In The Trial Board, viewers are taken behind the scenes of the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), into a segment of law enforcement not often explored in crime dramas—the police internal affairs. The episode provides a window into the highly structured and intense process of how a police officer is held to account within the department itself. It is a candid portrayal of the non-glamorous yet equally essential aspect of policing involving the mechanisms in place to ensure that those who enforce the law are also abiding by it.

Without revealing essential plot details, this episode revolves around a complaint levied against a police officer. In keeping with the series' commitment to verisimilitude, it depicts the due process that an officer accused of professional misconduct must undergo. This situation presents a complex picture of the moral and ethical implications officers face in maintaining the delicate balance between upholding their duties and navigating the procedural constraints of their occupation.

As is common in Dragnet episodes, Sergeant Joe Friday and his partner, Officer Bill Gannon, played by Harry Morgan, are involved in investigating the case. However, unlike their routine detective work on the streets, The Trial Board challenges both detectives as they confront the bureaucratic and administrative dimensions of their job. Their inquiry takes them on a journey of meticulous evidence collection, witness interviews, and legalities that are as crucial to the justice system as the apprehension of criminals.

Throughout The Trial Board, Dragnet portrays the grueling scrutiny some officers are subjected to when their actions while on duty are called into question. The process is underscored by an intensity that is both structural and dramatic, as the officers involved, as well as their colleagues and families, are affected by the proceedings. The episode doesn’t shy away from depicting the emotional and psychological toll such a situation can incur on all those involved.

Moreover, it is an opportunity for the audience to reflect on the importance of accountability within police departments, while also showcasing the various perspectives and competing narratives that are often present in such cases. There is a particular focus on the impartiality expected of the members of the so-called trial board, who are tasked with presiding over the hearing with fairness to both the department's standards and the accused officer's rights.

Dragnet’s protagonist, Joe Friday, is characterized by his by-the-book demeanor and relentless devotion to the facts. His iconic monologue deliveries often serve as a moral compass within the series, and The Trial Board utilizes this trait to full effect. As the proceedings unfold, Friday remains a steadfast figure, embodying the dedication and integrity essential in a process where reputations and careers hang in the balance.

As a show that prided itself on its accuracy and procedural detail, Dragnet's The Trial Board is not just formulaic fiction. It draws from real-life situations that police officers have faced and continue to face. It is a showpiece of Joseph Wambaugh's credo, a former police officer turned writer, that the police are not about how they appear in a ten-second shoot-out, but how they truly operate in the 24 hours of the policing clock.

The longevity and impact of Dragnet owe much to episodes like The Trial Board, which resonate with viewers because of their gritty realism and understated drama. It’s a series that eschews sensationalism for nuanced storytelling, examining human character under the lens of law enforcement. The episode stands as a testament to the ethos of Dragnet—a nuanced exploration of the justice system delivered through compact, realistic storytelling. It serves as a fulsome example of why the series has found enduring appeal across generations, by maintaining an unwavering commitment to depicting the daily realities of the men and women in blue.