NYPD Blue Season 5 Episode 5 It Takes a Village

It Takes a Village is the fifth episode from the fifth season of the critically acclaimed television show NYPD Blue. The episode originally aired on November 11, 1997, and was directed by Mark Tinker and written by David Milch.

The episode begins with Detective Sipowicz and Detective Simone on the hunt for a missing elderly woman named Anna Lipton. They first follow a lead to a hospital she may have checked into but come up empty-handed. The detectives then visit her apartment and find one of her neighbors, a young boy named Rafael, who tells them he hasn't seen Anna recently but knows she helps care for his younger brother. From there, they follow the trail of clues as they try to piece together what happened to Anna.

Meanwhile, the rest of the Interdepartmental Felony Murders Unit (IFMU) is investigating the murder of another young boy named Tyler Johansen. Tyler's mother, Mrs. Johansen, is in shock as the detectives question her about the events leading up to her son's death. The detectives learn that Mrs. Johansen had left Tyler in the care of her boyfriend, who was supposed to be watching him while she was at work. However, the boyfriend had apparently fallen asleep on the job and Tyler was left unattended.

As the investigation continues, the detectives question several suspects, including Tyler's neighbor who had a history of abusing the boy, and a man seen lurking in the area around the time of the murder. The detectives are able to eliminate the neighbor as a suspect but can't seem to get any leads on the man seen in the area.

Back to the case of the missing Anna Lipton, Sipowicz and Simone finally find a lead that takes them outside the city limits. They report their findings to Lieutenant Fancy, who is concerned about the detectives' presence outside their jurisdiction. However, as they try to leave, they get pulled over by a local officer who recognizes Sipowicz as being from NYPD Blue. The encounter turns tense when the officer realizes they don't have a warrant to search the vehicle they're driving.

As the tension rises between the local officer and the NYPD detectives, they finally get a break in the case when they find Anna Lipton alive and well. The detectives are relieved to have found her and bring her back to New York City. Upon returning, they're confronted by Lieutenant Fancy, who not only reprimands them for leaving their jurisdiction but also for taking the wrong vehicle, as it was registered under the wrong name. Despite the scolding, Sipowicz and Simone are happy to have resolved the case, and Anna is reunited with Rafael's family.

Back with the investigation into Tyler Johansen's murder, after several false leads, the detectives finally get a suspect when they trace a lead back to his mother's boyfriend. The boyfriend had a history of violence and had been heard arguing with Tyler the morning of the murder. After questioning him, the detectives get enough evidence to arrest him.

Overall, the episode It Takes a Village is a high-stakes, intense episode with plenty of twists and turns. The detectives are faced with difficult obstacles and situations that push them to their limits. However, even with all the challenges, the detectives stay true to their duty to protect and serve the community. The show does an excellent job of illustrating the complexities of police work and how difficult it can be to find the truth in a sea of lies and deceit. So, the fans of the show are in for a treat with this episode.