Police Story: Stigma

Original title: Stigma

Episode aired Nov 9, 1977
1h 36m

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

YOUR RATING

Action Crime Drama Thriller

Manny Mandell, involved in a shootout with a fleeing felon in which his partner is fatally wounded, receives a Police Department medal as a result. The survivor's guilt is bad enough, but as... Read allManny Mandell, involved in a shootout with a fleeing felon in which his partner is fatally wounded, receives a Police Department medal as a result. The survivor's guilt is bad enough, but as a medal winner he finds the expectations overwhelming.Manny Mandell, involved in a shootout with a fleeing felon in which his partner is fatally wounded, receives a Police Department medal as a result. The survivor's guilt is bad enough, but as a medal winner he finds the expectations overwhelming.

See production info at IMDbPro

IMDb RATING

7.9/10

YOUR RATING

1User review

See production info at IMDbPro

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User reviews1

7.947

Featured reviews

10planktonrules

A wonderful and ground-breaking episode...but the ending could have been better.

I enjoyed seeing this episode for two reasons. First, familiar TV detective Mike Connors ("Mannix") and cop Martin Milner ("Adam-12") are stars of the show. Second, it's one of the earliest shows I've seen, if not the earliest, to deal with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder in policemen.

Early in this two-hour episode, Manny Mandell (Mike Connors) is nearly killed and he sees his partner (James Darren) killed right in front of him. He is able to kill one of the perpetrators and captures the other...but the psychological damage has been done. In addition, when Manny is treated like a hero and is given a medal, he can't help but wonder if he could have done something differently. After all, his best friend and partner is now dead...and folks keep congratulating him! As a result, he's falling apart inside but keeps up a brave face. He also has become hesitant...something potentially lethal to a street cop.

The show really gets the symptoms of PTSD right--the relationship problems, the anger, the fear, the drinking and, ultimately, the suicidal ideation. Unfortunately, the whole thing wraps itself up too neatly AND Manny never gets any therapy! Still, a very compelling and thought-provoking episode....well worth seeing.

Trivia
A number of cast members had played or would play TV cops or detectives for many seasons, and all of them played police officers here: Mike Connors played detective Joe Mannix for 9 years on Mannix (1967). His last appearance was just two years earlier. Martin Milner played LAPD Officer Pete Malloy for 8 years on Adam-12 (1968). In 1991, he reprised the role, albeit as a Captain, in Crack House (1991). Shelly Novack played a LAPD Sergeant for 2 years on Most Wanted (1976), which ran at the same time as many of his 7 Police Story appearances. Prior to that he played an FBI special agent for 2 years on The F.B.I. (1965). James Darren would go on to play Officer Jim Corrigan for 5 years on T.J. Hooker (1982). Michael Warren would go on to play Officer Bobby Hill for 7 years on Hill Street Blues (1981).

In addition, Eddie Egan was a real-life NYPD officer before going into acting. He appeared in this series a total of 6 times and was usually otherwise cast as a police officer or detective. This was his final original Police Story appearance.