The Rookies (Season 1)

Concrete Valley, Neon Sky (Episode 1)

Writer: Larry Brody

Air date: 1972-09-11

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: In the introductory episode of the series, the presence of several street gangs contributes to a tension-filled atmosphere. The Rookies are assigned with the challenge of maintaining order amongst the rivaling street gangs, with Willie Gillis arising as the mediator between the gangs.

Dead, Like a Lost Dream (Episode 2)

Writer: Larry Brody

Air date: 1972-09-18

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The division is under investigation for misconduct, following several citizen complaints. When a complaint against African-American Officer Webster contains no racial references despite its strong wording, Webster suspects an impostor, and evidence begins to suggest a police academy washout in uniform.

The Informant (Episode 3)

Writer: Rance Howard

Air date: 1972-09-25

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Officer's Webster and Gillis try to help a young man break away from two thugs who are using him as their wheel-man for robberies they are committing. But when the thugs take his girlfriend hostage it complicates their efforts.

The Commitment (Episode 4)

Air date: 1972-10-02

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Gillis is severly injured during an armed robbery. The doctors inform him that further surgery could leave him paralyzed leaving the police officer not knowing what to do.

Covenant with Death (Episode 5)

Writer: William Blinn

Air date: 1972-10-09

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Against advice of their lieutenant, Webster and Gillis are charmed by Toby Jones (Louis Gossett Jr.) who leads an evangelical church fighting drug use. When Gillis spots Jones fleeing a heroin house bust he uncovers Jones' criminal history.

Time is the Fire (Episode 6)

Writer: William Blinn

Air date: 1972-10-16

Runtime: 46 min

Overview: A young woman, Andrea Sloan, is kidnapped and held for ransom. Complications ensue.

The Bear That Didn't Get Up (Episode 7)

Air date: 1972-10-23

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Willie struggles to cope with the death of a young man he shot during a break-in who appeared to be unarmed. That is until an unidentified caller gives reason to believe another person might be responsible for his death.

Dirge for Sunday (Episode 8)

Air date: 1972-10-30

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Assigned with the task of protecting a valuable witness, Danko and the Officers must exercise caution regarding visitors to the prison. When a professional killer disguises himself as a professor seeking to interview Sol (the witness), Danko denies him the opportunity. Nevertheless, Danko does agree to help the 'professor' by accompanying him to an aircraft hanger where he claims he is meeting a friend.

The Good Die Young (Episode 9)

Air date: 1972-11-13

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: After three woman are murdered, the Police Squad takes action. In order to solve the mysterious murders and prevent future ones, the Squad welcomes two women officers to the force, Dawson and Conway. A plan is created which places Dawson and Conway in an apartment complex together, with Webster and Gillis across the hall.

To Taste of Terror (Episode 10)

Air date: 1972-11-20

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: In an effort to prove he's no 'old man', Officer Danko chases down a fleeing criminal. While he succeeds in apprehending the thief, his partners Webster and Gillis fail to catch the criminal's brother, who is also running from the law. Danko testifies in court against the criminal he caught, thereby infuriating the brother who is unassumingly observing in the courtroom.

A Deadly Velocity (Episode 11)

Writer: William Blinn

Air date: 1972-11-27

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The rookies are given the task of protecting a controversial Army General who has recently returned to the country after serving in Vietnam. The rookies must deal with mob control, as well as actively track down a sniper who hits the General. The rookies most valuable clue is an old army rifle, used in the General's shooting, whose owner the rookies must uncover.

A Bloody Shade of Blue (Episode 12)

Air date: 1972-12-11

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Easy Wyatt is a cop with many years behind him on the force. His ranch has recently been the target of destruction in a new plan to build a freeway. Wyatt is becoming mentally unstable, and his instability is slowly spiraling deeper and deeper. Once the best officer in the squad, Wyatt's shaky state is evident when he attempts to prevent the bulldozers from digging by holding them at gunpoint.

A Very Special Piece of Ground (Episode 13)

Writer: William Blinn

Air date: 1972-12-18

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The rookies are on the hunt for a runaway girl. Their strongest clue to solving the case is a tattooed foot. However, the rookies are missing a vital piece of information: the man that claims to be the girl's father is actually the one who is out to murder her, and is the cause for her self-imposed disappearance.

Rabbits on the Runway (Episode 14)

Air date: 1972-12-25

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: Gillis enters a tough situation when he is presented with a boy who is trapped in a police car which is on fire. He chooses to shoot the boy, promptly catching the internal affairs division's attention. They launch an investigation into the event and Gillis to see if he has committed a mercy killing, and to try to get closure in the case.

Tarnished Idol (Episode 15)

Air date: 1973-01-08

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: In their off duty time, the rookies become involved in a camp for deviant, delinquent children and adolescents. Because of their involvement, the community's view regarding them, and the police force as a whole, is at risk.

Crossfire (Episode 16)

Air date: 1973-01-15

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A junkie addicted to dope sets his eye on swiping 82 million dollars worth of cocaine which has been confiscated. He will soon find that his plan is confronted with complications: the police have tagged the drugs for disposal in the ocean.

Snow Job (Episode 17)

Writer: William Douglas Lansford

Air date: 1973-01-29

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: An old friend of Terry Webster's unleashes an attack on a patrol car officer. Webster investigates further to try and discover the logic behind the seemingly nonsensical incident.

Point of Impact (Episode 18)

Air date: 1973-02-05

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: A daring plan is crafted by a convict's wife to release a prisoner from incarceration: an innocent and helpless police officer, who is undergoing surgery, is taken hostage. The rest of the medical staff in the operating room is also put at risk, including Jill Danko, Mike Danko's wife.

Three Hours to Kill (Episode 19)

Air date: 1973-02-12

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: An extremely ill young boy is desperately waiting for a suitable bone marrow donor; without a bone marrow transplant, he will die shortly. However, the biggest obstacle is that the boy's father, who has compatible marrow and is the only possible donor, is currently on the run. He is trying to evade the police as well as the syndicate.

The Wheel of Fortune (a.k.a.) The Wheel of Death (Episode 20)

Air date: 1973-02-19

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The rookies try to disengage a robbery network by leaving the undesirable city slums and working in the suburbs. They discover that the main suspect is a dear, old friend of Lieutenant Ryker's. The man is also a special security guard of the community.

Life Robbery (a.k.a.) Tribute to a Veteran (Episode 21)

Writer: William Blinn

Air date: 1973-02-26

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The rookies are presented with a ""difficult"" court case. While the case is essentially an open and shut, obvious manslaughter conviction, trouble arises: the most important element in the conviction, the only witness, is discovered to suffer from mental retardation.

A Farewell Tree from Marly (Episode 22)

Air date: 1973-03-05

Runtime: 60 min

Overview: The rookies may be confronted with a problem worse than the nurse who holds a grudge against all police officers: they discover that her younger brother is associating with thugs who are the organizers of a current neighborhood protection scandal.

Easy Money (Episode 23)

Air date: 1973-03-19

Runtime: 60 min