Best Episodes
COPS is one of the first (and only) true and UNSCRIPTED reality shows, it follows the activities of police officers by embedding camera crews with police units.The show’s formula follows the Cinéma vérité convention, with no narration or scripted dialog, depending entirely on the commentary of the officers and on the actions of the people with whom they come into contact.COPS has followed officers in 140 different cities in the United States and also has been shot in Hong Kong, London, and the former Soviet Union. Each episode is approximately 22 minutes in length and typically consists of three segments, with each segment being one or two self-contained police incidents.
Written by Sophie and last updated on feb 10, 2023.
PS: The following content contains spoilers!
PPS: I will admit that parts of this page was written with the help of AI - it makes my work so much easier to not start from a blank page!
A half-naked cyclist takes officers on a frantic run through the neighborhood; a suspicious man makes a series of wrong moves in front of his girlfriend; things get weird when police find a woman hiding in a cupboard.
The episode was rated 7.35 from 114 votes.
A wanted man makes a desperate decision after he flees on foot; an overprotective girlfriend questions the cops and finds herself in cuffs; a jealous man loses more than his girlfriend after he picks a fight with her son.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 270 votes.
A precarious foot pursuit ends with the suspect in an embarrassing position; a motorist calls the cops when a pedestrian loses his cool; a relationship becomes jeopardized when a man resorts to old habits.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 212 votes.
A repeat offender runs when officers catch him somewhere he’s not supposed to be. Two teens are slow to stop a bike thief, so police are called to assist. Tensions rise after a questionable roommate situation takes a dark turn.
The episode was rated 7.36 from 154 votes.
A chatty motorist becomes agitated when officers start asking questions. Police are shocked when a fleeing driver calls his wife in the middle of a pursuit. Deputies catch a man lying and give him a test to prove his innocence.
The episode was rated 7.37 from 185 votes.
Officers use stun guns after an erratic suspect attempts to outsmart them; a lawbreaker tries to convince detectives that they didn't just see him commit a crime; an officer responds to a call to supervise a ridiculous business transaction.
The episode was rated 7.37 from 181 votes.
An unruly man tries to give police officers the slip. Witnesses call the cops when a well-dressed driver plows through multiple barricades. Even deputies are surprised when a domestic call takes an unexpected turn.
The episode was rated 7.40 from 154 votes.
A traffic stop takes an unexpected turn when the suspect decides to go off-roading. A woman refuses to cover for her son’s friend. Security cameras catch a man trying to conceal some items in a not-so-nice hiding place.
The episode was rated 7.41 from 88 votes.
A vigilant neighbor calls the cops when he sees the downstairs liquor store being robbed; a driver burns bridges with a new friend after he steals her truck; deputies urge a young man to be a better role model for his brother.
The episode was rated 7.41 from 94 votes.
A repeat offender takes the police on a bumpy ride; a deputy schools a couple of teens after he discovers them in a parked car; a woman is shocked when deputies reveal her brother's secret.
The episode was rated 7.42 from 249 votes.
A wanted man makes a break for it with deputies hot on his trail; police find themselves in a vehicle pursuit when a driver's fears get the better of him; a traffic stop exposes a car full of people who have a lot to hide.
The episode was rated 7.43 from 141 votes.
Detectives catch a man in a sting, but he still won't admit to his crime.
The episode was rated 7.44 from 142 votes.
A fleeing suspect tries every lame excuse to get out of going to jail. A sleepy driver asks deputies to hide the truth from his angry wife. Police hear everyone’s story when a trespassing call becomes a neighborhood-wide ordeal.
The episode was rated 7.47 from 165 votes.
Officers step in when a man tries to start a fight with everyone in his neighborhood; a wanted suspect is convinced police told him to take off on his bike; a young, troubled mom gets a second chance to turn her life around.
The episode was rated 7.52 from 88 votes.
It’s off to the races when an injured suspect spots his window of opportunity. A man bosses officers around after he’s caught with some unsavory items. Detectives catch a man in a sting, but he still won’t admit to his crime.
The episode was rated 7.53 from 164 votes.
