Frauds: DR-28

The title of this Dragnet episode tells you there will be fraud involved - so there is no surprise in what kind of crime Officer Gannon and Sergeant Friday will be dealing with.

What might be interesting to present-day viewers is at the beginning of the episode, when the person suspicious of the crime gives Gannon and Friday a simple explanation of how computers of thirty years ago received and sorted information, with insight into what weak points in the system might have allowed the fraud to be perpetrated.

As always, vaguely familiar guest stars appear in minor roles, Bill Gannon looks mighty skeptical of those new-fangled inventions and Joe Friday has a chance to insert dry humor.

FRAUD, a '68 episode of DRAGNET, has Joe & Bill dealing with disability fraud.

As usual in, an 'expert' gives Joe & Bill (and, us the viewer) an explanation of the specific issue.

This one is cool, because we learn about the new-fangeled world of - drum-roll - computers!

About 5 minutes is dedicated to explaining how these machines - the size of a room - take the information on cards, and sorts it.

At each step, Harvey Peterson, the 'supervisor of data-processing,' gives a breakdown, as we follow the cards, from the card-reader, magnetic tape, the 'memory - the central processing,' to MORE magnetic tape, then to the 'high-speed printer.'

Just for this portion of the episode (at one point, 'Mike' requests information at the 'console typewriter,' is seen 'communicating' with the computer) is a cool retro look back at a device that has since re-shaped the world, and, what once was an exotic 'device' the size of a room, requiring many people to operate, is now -as we all know - a common, every-day device, that can fit in a pocket, or, well... you know.

After the tech-tour, Jack & Bill just shake their heads in disbelief at this 'stuff.'

The rest of the story is typical DRAGNET, in form, and style.

But, as a look into the 'wayback machine,' FRAUD is top drawer.

I let out that yell of delight because this episode represents a return to form during season 3. You see, while season 1 of "Dragnet" was great, starting in season 2 and increasing dramatically in season 3 they did episodes that were about a wide variety of rather mundane topics--showing the sorts of behind the scenes jobs detectives often do. So, all the great investigations in the field and apprehending criminals was rare by season 3. Instead, the shows took a turn towards propaganda (albeit, good propaganda)--with episodes about police morale, community relations, debates with drug users about legalization and the like.

This episode is great because Friday and Gannon are back in the field--investigating a theft. It seems that a computer with the local government has just discovered a case where a dead person has just begun receiving social security benefits! And, when they dig deeper, a pattern emerges--and there are LOTS of dead people who are getting checks! So, with a bit of investigating and attending a meeting of local landlords, the men get their culprits.

Overall, an interesting idea for a show and well worth seeing.