TV's Toughest Cops
Back in the 1970s, TV cops were some of the biggest stars on television. Every week they chased crooks, solved impossible mysteries, and somehow wrapped everything up before the credits rolled. Long before DNA labs and smartphones, these lawmen relied on instinct, determination, and a really good hunch. Here are 20 classic TV cops who once ruled prime time—but would probably leave younger viewers scratching their heads today.
NBC Universal, Kojak (1973-1978)
#20. Bumper Morgan (The Blue Knight)
George Kennedy starred as veteran patrol officer Bumper Morgan in this gritty police drama that premiered in 1975. Rather than glamorous detective work, Morgan spent his days walking the beat and dealing with everyday crime, giving viewers a more realistic look at police work.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#19. Dan August (Dan August)
Burt Reynolds played Detective Dan August, a sharp California investigator who mixed charm with old-fashioned detective work. The series only ran from 1970 to 1971, but Reynolds' growing popularity helped make it one of the era's more memorable crime shows.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#18. Joe Forrester (Joe Forrester)
Lloyd Bridges starred as Sergeant Joe Forrester beginning in 1975. Unlike many television detectives, Forrester stayed on the streets, handling neighborhood problems and helping ordinary people just as often as chasing criminals.
Screenshot from Joe Forrester, Sony Pictures Entertainment (1975-1976), enhanced
#17. Tony Baretta (Baretta)
Robert Blake made Detective Tony Baretta one of television's coolest detectives. Along with his famous pet cockatoo Fred, Baretta relied on street smarts and quick thinking instead of flashy gadgets. The bird almost deserved its own paycheck.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#16. Pete Malloy (Adam-12)
Martin Milner's Officer Pete Malloy continued patrolling Los Angeles throughout the early 1970s after the series debuted in 1968. Calm, experienced, and endlessly patient, Malloy became the police officer everyone wished would show up after calling 911.
unknown (NBC), Wikimedia Commons
#15. Jim Reed (Adam-12)
Kent McCord played rookie Officer Jim Reed, learning the job from Pete Malloy while handling everything from traffic stops to dangerous emergencies. Together they became one of television's most respected police partnerships.
Universal Television, Wikimedia Commons
#14. Sam McCloud (McCloud)
Dennis Weaver's New Mexico marshal spent most of the series solving crimes in New York City while refusing to give up his cowboy hat or western manners. Watching city detectives react to McCloud never got old.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#13. Sgt. Dave Toma (Toma)
Tony Musante portrayed real-life undercover detective Dave Toma, whose incredible disguises helped him infiltrate criminal organizations. His true stories inspired countless undercover cop shows that followed.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#12. Pepper Anderson (Police Woman)
Angie Dickinson broke barriers as Sergeant Pepper Anderson, an undercover detective constantly taking on dangerous assignments. She became one of television's first truly iconic female police officers and proved she could outsmart almost anyone.
Columbia Pictures Television, Wikimedia Commons
#11. Mike Stone (The Streets of San Francisco)
Karl Malden played veteran Inspector Mike Stone, mentoring younger detectives while solving some of San Francisco's toughest cases. His calm leadership made him the kind of boss everyone hoped to work for.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#10. Steve Keller (The Streets of San Francisco)
Before becoming an Oscar-winning producer, Michael Douglas starred as Inspector Steve Keller. His energy perfectly balanced Karl Malden's experience, creating one of the decade's best detective partnerships.
#9. Sgt. Joe Friday (Dragnet)
Jack Webb's Sergeant Joe Friday was still solving crimes during the early 1970s in the final seasons of Dragnet. His no-nonsense style and famous demand for 'just the facts' never went out of fashion.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#8. Lt. Frank Marker (The Blue Knight)
Ed Bernard played Lieutenant Frank Marker, Bumper Morgan's commanding officer. Marker represented the experienced leadership side of policing and frequently found himself balancing department rules with the realities of life on the streets.
Columbia Pictures Television, Wikimedia Commons
#7. Det. Dave Starsky (Starsky & Hutch)
Paul Michael Glaser's David Starsky was the impulsive half of television's most famous detective duo. Whether chasing suspects or tearing around town in his bright red Ford Gran Torino, Starsky never believed in taking the slow route.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#6. Det. Ken "Hutch" Hutchinson (Starsky & Hutch)
David Soul balanced Starsky's reckless energy with a calmer, more thoughtful personality. Together they became one of television's greatest detective teams—and probably sold quite a few leather jackets along the way.
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#5. Frank Cannon (Cannon)
William Conrad starred as private detective Frank Cannon. Although technically no longer a police officer, Cannon used his years of law enforcement experience to solve cases with intelligence instead of speed. Criminals quickly learned not to underestimate him.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
#4. Ironside (Ironside)
Raymond Burr played former San Francisco Police Chief Robert T. Ironside, who continued solving crimes after being paralyzed by a sniper. His wheelchair never slowed him down, and neither did the criminals who underestimated him.
NBC Uploaded by We hope at en.wikipedia, Wikimedia Commons
#3. Thomas Banacek (Banacek)
George Peppard starred as Boston investigator Thomas Banacek, who specialized in solving impossible thefts that seemed to have no logical explanation. Every episode felt like a mystery puzzle waiting to be solved.
NBC Television, Wikimedia Commons
#2. Lt. Columbo (Columbo)
Peter Falk's rumpled raincoat, cigar, and famous 'Just one more thing...' made Lieutenant Columbo one of television's greatest detectives. He looked distracted most of the time, but criminals usually realized far too late that he had been paying attention all along.
Margie Korshak Associates-publicity agency, Wikimedia Commons
#1. Lt. Theo Kojak (Kojak)
No television cop defined the mid-1970s quite like Kojak. Telly Savalas turned the New York detective into a cultural icon with his quick wit, fearless attitude, and trademark lollipop. Even decades later, he's still one of television's coolest crime fighters.
CBS Television, Wikimedia Commons
How Many Did You Remember?
These TV cops proved you didn't need fancy computers or forensic labs to solve a case. Sharp instincts, memorable personalities, and plenty of determination were more than enough. While younger audiences may not recognize many of these names today, they helped define one of television's greatest decades for crime dramas.
Do you agree?
ABC Television, Wikimedia Commons
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