Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) - Once called the "most honest and efficient" police force in the world, the Los Angeles Police Department has been the focus of many police dramas.

• In the 1950s, actor Jack Webb as Sergeant Joe "Just the Facts" Friday showcased the LAPD homicide department on the police drama DRAGNET/NBC/1951-59/NBC/1967-70. Over the years, his partners were Barton Yarborough as Sergeant Ben Romero; Barney Phillips as Sergeant Ed Jacobs; Ben Alexander as Officer Frank Smith; and Harry Morgan as Officer Bill Gannon.
   

• In the 1960s, Jack Webb developed the successful police series ADAM-12/NBC/1968-75 that followed the day-to-day exploits of officer Pete Malloy (Martin Milner) and his rookie partner Jim Reed (Kent McCord) as they drove about the city of Los Angeles in their patrol car identified as Adam-12.

• In the 1970s, homicide detective Lt. Columbo (Peter Falk) on the police drama Columbo/NBC/1971-77/ABC/1989-1993 carried on the proud tradition of the LAPD questioning murderers and always getting his man despite his rumpled, unsophisticated demeanor.
   

• The police drama POLICE WOMAN/NBC/1974-78 starred Angie Dickenson as Sergeant Pepper Anderson, an attractive female undercover working for the criminal conspiracy division of the LAPD. She was ably assisted by Sergeant Bill Crowley (Earl Holliman), and Det. Pete Royster (Charles Dierkop), Det. Joe Styles (Ed Bernard).
   

• The 1980s offered up the police drama HUNTER/NBC/1984-91 with Sergeant Rick Hunter (Fred Dryer), a tough "Dirty Harry" type and son of a mobster who turned homicide detective for the LAPD. He kicked butt with the assistance of his partner Sergeant Dee Dee McCall (Stepfanie Kramer) who earned the nickname "The Brass Cupcake."
   

• In the 1990s, reality TV and the video-verite look of such police shows as COPS/FOX/1989+ brought a more gritty, in-your-face depiction of life and crime on the street into the living room of American households. On such Real TV moment put the spotlight on the LAPD when Caucasian uniformed police officers were videotaped beating black motorist Rodney King. The Rodney King verdict on April 29, 1992 sent a sobering message to the officers of LAPD when the courts ruled against the conduct of the arresting officers and accused them of excessive force and unprofessional conduct.