From Noir to Now: The Impact of Police Media on Culture and Policing – Part 1

You now that we LOVE sage television programming. Whether it’s from television, feature films, streaming media or whatever else is offered, we love telling you what’s REAL, and what’s a bunch of Hollywood Hogwash.

Today, we welcome two specialists who not only have been cops themselves, but have harvested some of  the BEST that television, movies and the internet have to offer across DECADES of entertainment history.

It’s time to take a detailed, comprehensive look at the media that impacts not just the worldwide audiences when it comes to policing, but what the people in law enforcement themselves think of it offcially.

Are YOU ready to learn more about the entertainment you take in when it comes to effective policing? Ready to learn more about the HUMANS behind the duty belt and badge?

It’s time for another episode of WhatCopsWatch on The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network.

Rate this Podcast on iTunes!

The ultimate success for every podcaster – is FEEDBACK! Be sure to take just a few minutes to tell the hosts of this podcast what YOU think over at iTunes! It takes only a few minutes but helps the hosts of this program pave the way to future greatness!

Not an iTunes user? No problem! Be sure to check out any of the other many growing podcast directories online to find this and many other podcasts on The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network!

Timestamps for This Episode:

1. Introduction and Podcast Purpose

• Explanation of “What Cops Watch” and the collaborative Episode focus 00:06
• Introductions of hosts and guests, including their backgrounds in law enforcement, psychology, and crisis negotiation 00:35
• Acknowledgement of the importance of crisis negotiation skills and teamwork 01:23

2. Collecting and Analyzing Law Enforcement Media

• Discussion of guests’ shared interest in true crime history, media depictions, and police wellness 02:04
• Genesis and goals of their presentation for the Officer Safety and Wellness Conference 02:53
• Examination of how media depictions influence public perception of police and potential effects on officer wellness 03:19
• Use of an informal survey to gauge favorite and most accurate police shows and movies among officers 04:17

3. The “What Cops Watch” Concept in Practice

• The podcast’s practice of inviting law enforcement to share favorite movies, often unrelated to policing 04:49
• Story of contrasting expectations on police officers’ movie preferences vs. reality 05:10
• Reflection on how entertainment and real-life policing differ 05:40

4. Media’s Tone: Seriousness vs. Levity in Police Portrayals

• Observations on increasing negativity in depictions of law enforcement in recent years 06:22
• Assertion that television often omits the humor and lightheartedness within police culture, favoring tension and drama 06:40

5. Crime Genre Dominance in Media Consumption

• Statistical insights: 20% of films, 20-30% of TV programming are crime dramas 06:57
• Consideration of audience interest in crime stories and their impact on perceptions of policing 07:23
• Academic approach in criminal justice education: demystifying fictional portrayals in class 07:45

6. Decade-by-Decade Exploration of Police Portrayals

1940s & 1950s: The Birth of Police Procedurals

• The influence of film noir (e.g., The Maltese Falcon) and the emergence of the police procedural 08:39
• The role of shows like Dragnet and Adam-12 in shaping public perceptions 09:04
• Reference to L.A. Confidential (film) and video games (L.A. Noire) as touchstones for the era 09:21
• Discussion of LAPD’s involvement in guiding media and establishing professional image 17:49
• Examination of officers being role models, e.g., Jack Webb’s expectations of Adam-12 actors 22:24
• Emphasis on accountability, professionalism, and sanitized portrayals of policing 22:51, 29:52

Influence and Limitations of Media in Early Decades

• Acknowledgement that sanitized, positive imagery influenced trust in police despite limited real-life interaction for many Americans 29:56
• Recognition that TV’s version often avoided “the good, bad, and ugly” for contemporary audiences 30:05
• Use of police procedurals as potential marketing tools for agencies (e.g., highlighting forensics advancements) 30:25

1960s & 1970s: Grit, Realism, and Social Change

• Shifting tones in film: more violence, realism, and political themes 37:02
• New focus on flawed, isolated, and sometimes morally ambiguous police characters (e.g., Dirty Harry) 39:03
• Influence of social upheaval and skepticism toward authority 38:47
• Storytelling moves from sanitized teams to rogue, individualistic officers, often set in gritty urban environments 42:21
• Contrast between TV’s continued team-oriented procedurals and the darker themes of cinema 45:16
• Reference to the origins of The Shield, Training Day, and similar modern works rooted in real-life corruption scandals 44:21
• Cultivation theory: heavy TV viewers, especially those lacking real-life experience with police, may develop skewed perceptions (mean world syndrome) 47:23

7. The Impact of Media Consumption Formats

• Discussion of modern tendencies toward consuming content as short clips vs. long-form episodes 50:01
• Observations on the challenges in getting audiences to engage deeply with nuanced or historic content 50:57
• Hope for resurgent appreciation of longer, more detailed storytelling drawn from analog-era nostalgia 51:43

8. The 1980s: Action, Personality, and Cultural Shifts

• Defining qualities of ’80s cop media: buddy cops, big action, explosions, and over-the-top antics 52:09
• The importance of shows like Hill Street Blues for realism and complex character development 53:01
• Iconic impact of Miami Vice and the stylistic focus on fashion and music 54:19
• Changing focus from procedural resolution to ongoing character arcs and wider storylines 54:41
• Greater inclusion of female officers and social commentary (Cagney & Lacey, Hunter, TJ Hooker) 56:22
• The influence of police media on youth, families, and childhood perceptions of policing—personal stories of watching shows with family 57:12, 59:42

9. The Power of Media to Shape Empathy and Normalcy

• A key theme that emerged was the ability of police TV dramas to help viewers (including children) process and normalize difficult real-life events 59:42
• Reflection on Hill Street Blues addressing themes like divorce and officer family life 59:46

10. Transition to the 1990s, 2000s, and Modern Eras (Preview)

• Introduction of the next section covering the “golden era” of cable police dramas, including The Wire, NYPD Blue, Heat, and LA Confidential 01:00:25
• Recognition of the abundance and quality of law enforcement content in more recent decades 01:01:01
• Plan to continue with Part 2, addressing newer shows and evolving perceptions 01:02:10

11. Conclusion and Guest Contact Information

• Closing thoughts and gratitude to participants 01:04:23
• Details for how to find and connect with the guests and their podcasts/content 01:03:11, 01:04:03
• Preview of upcoming topics and continuation in the next episode 01:04:38

Links from this Episode:

Mike Wilkerson:

Mike Wilkerson Is the PodFather of St. Louis, and has been hosting, producing, concepting and enhancing podcasts since 2005. As a professional content creator, Mike has been making and documenting every mistake in the Podcasting industry so you won’t have to when you’re ready to begin. With thousands of of hours of business, marketing and life experience behind and in front of the mic and keyboard, he has created a vibrant and always-growing business tapestry via The 2GuysTalking Podcast Network.

As a perpetual student, Mike continues to foster interests in Crisis Negotiator Training, Firearms Instruction and helping people to find the next step in their career with an active interest in hunting light bulb moments.

— Mike Wilkerson on Facebook
— Mike Wilkerson on LinkedIn
— Mike Wilkerson on X
— 2GuysTalking on LinkedIn