Across the Line

Sergeant Benton (Joseph Wainwright) is a cop who always seems to be where there is trouble. Every time he's on a stakeout, at least one of the suspects is shot...often more. Now it isn't because he's a bad cop...but he does have a habit of being in the center of all the action. So, the captain has had enough and he's transferred to another unit...one where he won't be in the news all the time. However, it turns out the narcotics unit is just as crazy a place and, once again, Benson is in the middle of things.

This is a rather violent episode for "Police Story". It's not gratuitous...but folks do get shot. The story, once it gets going, is not all action and gunfire and it's an enjoyable story about the unit's attempt to get a big time Mexican kinpin (Frank DeKova) on American territory so they can arrest him. Worth your time.

By the way, this episode was directed by Nick Colasanto...the actor famous for playing 'Coach' on "Cheers".

The opening scene, during the robbery, is so exciting, with a short but terrific shoot out between cops and robbers. The following is the usual ad predictable stuff, especially if you are used to the series and its topics. The two Chuck - Connors and Mac Graw - are in the run. I don't think Connors was already in the series, it is probably the first and only time. Anyway, he is at his place here. Well, don't expect anything exceptional in this efficient episode. Besides this point, I don't remember having watched rogue, rotten, corrupted cop stories in this TV show. Cops with many problems, yes, mostly, in the most realistic way, but not borderline heats.