Reality television, at its core, is about unscripted moments of human drama. Police 24/7, The CW’s foray into the well-trodden ground of law enforcement docu-series, intends to deliver just that. This week’s episode, “Swift Justice,” doesn’t waste time with subtlety, throwing viewers directly into the deep end.
We’re not talking about parking tickets and noise complaints. The episode pivots from a motel overdose – a grimly familiar tableau in many American cities – to the considerably more kinetic challenge of a river rescue. One might wonder if the producers are deliberately juxtaposing the quiet desperation of addiction with the more visually arresting struggle against the current. It’s reality TV, after all; thematic resonance is a bonus, not a requirement.
Then, because a quiet moment would be ratings poison, we’re off on a high-speed motorcycle chase. This isn’t some staged Hollywood pursuit, but the real deal, complete with the eventual, and perhaps inevitable, emotional breakdown of the rider. The human element, it seems, is what Police 24/7 is banking on.
The broader question, of course, is whether this kind of television truly illuminates the realities of police work or simply exploits them for entertainment. While the series aims to present a cross-section of law enforcement across various US cities, the focus on the dramatic invariably raises concerns about editorial choices. Are we seeing a representative sample, or a carefully curated selection designed to maximize adrenaline? Probably the later. The pursuit of safety is, apparently, ratings gold.
Catch the action, and perhaps contemplate the ethical quandaries, on Police 24/7, airing Thursday, February 6, 2025, at 8/7c on The CW.
