The Rookies

Harrelson is the head of the Special Weapons and Tactics team, a unit trained to handle unusually volatile situations. His hard-nosed attitude about police work irks rookie Terry Webster. (This Rookies episode served as the pilot for the S.W.A.T. series).

The rookies are involved in a case of mistaken identity when they charge the wrong man with the murder of a policeman.

The rookies must find ample evidence to arrest Tommy, who introduces young girls into unsavory careers for monetary gain.

A woman's son is kidnapped in a supermarket parking lot but when questioned by the rookies she denies the entire incident. Her and her husband are afraid because they adopted the boy illegally and the kidnappers are the natural parents.

Mike's eager new partner proves to be a little too eager when he is found spending his off hours hunting for pushers because his younger brother died of an overdose.

The dangers of owning a gun are explored when the rookies have to avenge the accidental shooting of a man who bought a gun to protect his family.

After a syndicate boss is arrested, the rest of the gang plot to take over and continue their work. They are intent on killing Lt. Ryker. The rookies must put the rest of this gang behind bars.

It's Christmas Eve and after settling a number of routine disturbances around town, the rookies enjoy a Christmas dinner at the home of Jill and Mike Danko. Jill and Mike are also entertaining their niece who is upset over her parents' separation.

A photographer friend of Chris' accidentally catches a hired assassin in one of her shots. The rookies must protect the girl and at the same time figure out who this man is trying to assassinate.

The Rookies must find those responsible for holding up gun shops throughout the city.

Lt. Ryker steps from behind his desk to investigate a protection racket in the neighborhood where he grew up.

A policeman who was injured in a market holdup returns to the force after a ten year recovery, in pursuit of the man he thinks is responsible for shooting him.

The rookies befriend the girlfriend of a robber after Terry delivers her baby and in return becomes the criminal's target. Unless the rookies can catch this man, the girl will be charged with the robbery.

Mike is alarmed to find out from his wife and fellow rookies that an old Air Force friend of his is a heroin pusher.

The son and daughter of a man who recently died in prison are determined to kill the judge who sentenced him. The rookies must guard the judge and find the criminals. Terry becomes their next target when he prevents their plans for the judge.

Two law students, seeking revenge for the death of a girl, frame Terry Webster, whom they hold responsible for the murder of a store guard.

Four young people out for excitement in a stolen pickup become fugitives from the law when their fun turns into murder and robbery. Rookie Chris Owens is on the case after his partner is killed, but Chris wonders whether the dangers of police life are worth it.

Chris is partnered with a patrolman who gets involved in suicidal situations so that he might be killed in the line of duty and his family would be secure with financial compensation.

The murder of a construction company owner is witnessed by a woman and her married boyfriend, a doctor. Because of the possibility of a scandal, the doctor will not allow the girl to give information to the rookies. They do not know that the killers are now after the witnesses.

Terry Webster breaks in his new partner, junior rookie Chris Owens, searching for an arsonist. Someone is responsible for the murder of several firemen, all young, dark-haired and moustached.

A young man with a Jekyll - Hyde personality becomes a puzzle for Terry and Willie when he gives them a description of a suspected cop-killer. But for Mike and Ryker he poses a different problem: extreme danger.

The rookies must contend with 'The Teacher' an ex-convict who masterminds several well executed robberies using the young boys who are in the city looking for excitement.

Mike and Jill Danko's marriage is strained by Mike's protective interest in the widow of a man Mike was forced to kill in the line of duty.

A college girl from Jamaica witnesses the murder of a notorious drug pusher and Terry Webster is assigned to get her testimony in the days that follow, they fall in love, but the girl is tracked down by the murderer and killed. Terry uses himself as a decoy to trap the killers.

Willie Gillis is assigned to ride with an older officer and, while on patrol, the man is killed. When the murderer is captured, the other policemen are inclined to take the law into their own hands. Falsely accused of incompetence, Willie is forced to search his soul to arrive at justice.

One of Willie's young female friends is desperately afraid when she discovers that she is afflicted with diabetes. After she makes the realization, the young woman flees to a drug rehabilitation center, to be around the other young people whom she trusts. However, she neglects to bring her insulin.

A retired police lieutenant interferes in the investigation of an aggravated assault involving his best friend.

Jill is confronted by her past when a former lover of hers appears at her home. Mike is currently out of town. The unanticipated visitor gives the impression that he is fatally ill, thereby luring Jill into becoming involved with him, despite her uncertainty. Only after a period of time does Jill realize the great lengths this former lover will go to try to get her back and claim her as his own.

A telethon featuring an extremely famous country western singer requests of the police department extra protection. The rookies are assigned to the event. Their placement on this assignment results in their protecting the singer from a couple of bitter and unforgiving country folk from Tennessee. The hillbillies hold the singer responsible for the death of their sister, who died while she was giving birth.

Lieutenant Ryker is selected to be personally in charge of an important investigation. A priest is murdered and a nun is badly beaten in a destitute neighborhood, and the community worries that religious restlessness with arise. As the investigation progresses, the rookies uncover a completely different motive.

A young nurse suffers a terrifying ordeal when she is raped in the underground garage of Memorial Hospital. The rookies attempt to help the woman by offering support. They offer encouragement and assistance as the woman proceeds through the legal formalities which often are unsympathetic to the rape victim, and sometimes humiliate her.

Like many Vietnam veterans returning home after the war, Jimmy Webster is angry at society for treating him as if he was an outsider, and not openly accepting him. He is unable to find employment and is left with an important decision to make: either he can fall back on his cousin, Terry Webster, and turn to him for support, or he can join a robbery operation and make a large amount of money.

Jill Danko is seriously wounded by a seemingly demented gunman while dining with her husband Mike. Later, they find out that the gunman is unable to be prosecuted in court, because he is suffering from a brain tumor which appears to be the cause of his action. The rookies take it upon themselves to prove the man is dangerous and can place society in jeopardy.

A lonely lady who resides by the beach places a call into the police station for aid. Willie and Terry ignore this routine call, only to find out that the call was legitimate and the woman has been robbed and beaten. The rookies are then thrown into a peculiar series of robberies.

Jill, Danko's wife, is assigned to protect Lieutenant Ryker after he is wounded by a former prisoner who desires to take revenge. However, Ryker decides to take charge of the situation when Jill's life is at stake.

Juvenile detail is typically known to be a relatively easy tour. However, this is not the case for Willie. While on juvenile detail, Willie discovers that he is not as emotionally strong as he once thought. He is presented with pain and death, in amounts that are greater than he can manage.

Webster is asked to play the role of a prisoner at the State Prison. He disguises himself as an inmate, in an effort to aid the issue of prison reform. However, when the other prisoners discover that Webster is merely pretending to be a fellow inmate, pandemonium results.

While performing their routine patrol, Gillis and Danko unexpectedly stumble upon a robbery that is taking place. They radio for additional support and a veteran police team arrive at the crime scene. One of the veteran policeman is killed in the midst of the robbery, and his partner places fault on Danko. The veteran policeman makes the suggestion that Danko be appointed to ride with him, a suggestion that turns out to have almost catastrophic results.

Willie and Terry are kidnapped by a disturbed criminal who is dying. The criminal leaves the two rookies in the desert, abandoned, with no food source and little hope of being rescued. Willie, in this situation, struggles to saves Terry's life.

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 Mike Danko's wife, Jill.

Terry investigates an old friend's apparently purposeless attack on a cop.

Country, a small time hood with a cocaine addiction, learns that police HQ is storing a large amount of drugs. He becomes involved to steal the cache before it's destroyed. Webster is taken hostage trying to help Country beat his problem.

Webster teams with a jaded and cynical veteran African-American police officer, RC Taylor. Mark Culpepper claims to have seen a crime but Taylor doesn't believe him. At a camp for troubled youth, Mark is targeted by the real perpetrators.

Gills arrests a washed up fighter (Lou Antonio) who's still connected enough to get bailed out in hours. The bitter drunk decides to fire bomb Gills for revenge.

A shady man claims to be the father of a runaway teen who's recently crossed the path of Gills. The rookies set out to find her for him unaware he has lied to them from the start.

Danko's veteran partner (Earl Holliman) loses his family ranch and unborn son in a single day. Danko doesn't want to add to his woes by reporting on his growing rage on and off the job.

Investigating a shooting, the Rookies learn the victim Miller wore a police uniform as a costume. In the next attack, Webster loses his sight temporarily; despite this disability, he helps break the case.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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 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.

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.