Ep 6. Cherrypoppers

In The Shield season 1 episode 6, titled "Cherrypoppers," the Strike Team finds themselves investigating a case that hits close to home. The episode begins with the team investigating the death of a young girl who was found dead in a dumpster, and they quickly discover that she was a victim of sexual assault.

As they delve deeper into the case, they discover that several young girls in the area have been targeted by a group of older men known as "cherrypoppers," who lure the girls in with promises of drugs and alcohol and then sexually assault them. The Strike Team is determined to put a stop to this heinous crime, but they soon realize that the perpetrators are not just random individuals, but rather members of a larger organized group.

As the team starts to close in on the cherrypoppers, they soon find themselves in over their heads. They encounter resistance from both the victims, who are too scared to come forward, and the perpetrators themselves, who are willing to do anything to keep their secrets safe. The case becomes especially complicated when it's discovered that one of the members of the Strike Team has a personal connection to the case, which threatens to compromise the entire investigation.

Throughout the episode, the tension builds to a dramatic and violent confrontation between the Strike Team and the cherrypopper group. In the end, the team is forced to make difficult moral choices in order to bring justice to the victims and protect their own careers. "Cherrypoppers" is a powerful episode that tackles difficult subject matter with nuance and sensitivity, while also highlighting the intense pressure and ethical dilemmas faced by law enforcement officials.