Ep 29. The Joy Riders

The Joy Riders is the 29th episode of the second season of the crime drama series, Dragnet. It originally aired on April 27, 1968, on NBC. The episode opens with Sergeant Joe Friday (Jack Webb) and Officer Bill Gannon (Harry Morgan) investigating a rash of joyriding incidents in the city. The detectives are concerned about the safety of the public and are determined to apprehend those responsible.

The case becomes personal for Friday when a friend of his daughter's, a teenage girl named Laura (Judy Pace), is killed by a group of joyriders. Friday realizes that the danger of joyriding is much more than just property damage and sets out to bring those responsible to justice.

Friday and Gannon begin to investigate the case, interviewing witnesses and gathering evidence. They soon discover that the joyriders are a group of wealthy teenagers who are bored with their privileged lives and are seeking thrills by stealing cars and joyriding through the city.

The detectives track down the leader of the joyriders, a young man named Eddie (David Cassidy), and try to convince him to turn himself in. Eddie is resistant at first, but he eventually agrees to cooperate with the investigation and reveal the identities of the other joyriders.

As the investigation progresses, Friday and Gannon discover that the joyriders are more dangerous than they initially thought. They have been involved in a series of crimes, including robberies and assaults, and are not afraid to use violence to get what they want.

Friday and Gannon work tirelessly to bring the joyriders to justice, and with the help of Eddie and other witnesses, they are able to build a strong case against the group. In the end, justice is served, and the joyriders are held accountable for their actions.

The Joy Riders is a compelling episode of Dragnet that highlights the dangers of thrill-seeking behavior and the importance of holding criminals accountable for their actions. The episode is expertly written and well-acted, with strong performances from the cast. It is a must-watch for fans of crime dramas and classic television.