Ep 17. The Big Little Jesus

In Dragnet season 3 episode 17, titled "The Big Little Jesus," Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Bill Gannon investigate the theft of a statue from a church nativity scene. The statue in question is a small figurine of the baby Jesus, but it holds sentimental value for the church and its congregation. The detectives begin by questioning various suspects, including the director of the nativity play and a known troublemaker in the area. As they dig deeper, they uncover a web of lies and deceit that makes it difficult to discern who is telling the truth.

As the investigation progresses, Friday and Gannon start to suspect that a larger crime may be at play. They trace the stolen statue to a pawn shop and discover that it was sold by a young boy who claimed to have found it under a bridge. Further investigation reveals that the boy's father is a known criminal who may be using his son to carry out his illegal activities. The detectives track down the father and bring him in for questioning, but he denies any involvement in the theft.

Meanwhile, the church congregation is growing increasingly anxious about the missing statue. They hold a prayer vigil and put up flyers around the neighborhood, hoping that someone will come forward with information. One of the flyers catches the attention of a woman who believes she saw the statue in the possession of her son's friend. She contacts the police and leads them to the friend's house, where they find the stolen statue hidden in a closet.

With the statue returned to its rightful place, Friday and Gannon work to tie up the loose ends of their investigation. They discover that the boy who sold the statue was actually a member of the church choir and had stolen the statue as part of a misguided attempt to impress his friend. The father's involvement was limited to driving his son to the pawn shop, unaware of the stolen nature of the item. In the end, the detectives are able to bring closure to the church community and solve a seemingly small crime with a big impact.

"The Big Little Jesus" is a classic episode of Dragnet that showcases the show's ability to tackle complex moral issues through the lens of a police procedural. Through their investigation, Friday and Gannon are forced to confront the darker side of human nature, as well as the power of faith and community to bring people together in times of crisis. With its timely themes and gripping storyline, this episode stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Dragnet as a groundbreaking work of television drama.