# Cop shows in which the main characters rarely or never fire a shot or throw a punch. **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [April 23, 2012, 6:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722 "2012-04-23T18:31:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![johnpost](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f17d59/32.png) [@johnpost](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johnpost)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/41 "2012-04-24T14:01:54Z")
i don’t believe the 3 main characters ever held a gun in the Mod Squad (USA). i’ve only seen clips of the show so not a thorough study. i don’t think they fought back much either. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/42 "2012-04-24T14:42:21Z")
> [@obfusciatrist](#): > > Though to be fair, the Law & Order show replaced officer involved shootings with courthouse step shootings. The drinking game for _SVU_ should have you take a sip every time someone gets shot in their own precinct house. ---
**Author:** ![WotNot](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/e19b73/32.png) [@WotNot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WotNot)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/43 "2012-04-24T15:27:16Z")
> [@Little\_Nemo](#): > > The British series _[Dixon of Dock Green](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dixon_of_Dock_Green)_ was another non-violent police series. It ran for twenty-one years (1955-1976) and I believe only one person was ever killed in the series. Of course, Dixon himself was shot dead five years before the series started – I dare say that put him off guns for life. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/44 "2012-04-24T16:38:00Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > And he fired blindly into the towers after he knocked that kids eye out and bottles started raining down. That’s right! I forgot about that. Good ol’ Prez. He wasn’t really cut out for on-the-street police work. ---
**Author:** ![Ura-Maru](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/51bf81/32.png) [@Ura-Maru](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ura-Maru)\ **Post date:** [April 24, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/45 "2012-04-24T22:34:25Z")
_You’re Under Arrest!_ had a few punches and tackles (and one memorable slap) but almost no gunplay. There was one bit with a bad guy with a gun in a hostage situation, (no shots fired) but I don’t think the good guys ever fired a gun when not on a shooting range. Paintball guns did see some use, do those count? – Course, there were an absurd number of crazy over-the-top car chases . . . ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/46 "2012-04-25T02:13:02Z")
I never saw Chief Robert Ironside fire a weapon, or engage in fisticuffs with a perp/suspect. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/47 "2012-04-25T02:15:43Z")
Well, that’s just not how he rolls. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/48 "2012-04-25T02:19:42Z")
> [@Doug\_K](#): > > Nearly every time they were going after a real criminal he would grab a sidearm or a rifle from the armory before leaving the courthouse. He also occasionally gave Barney a handful of bullets and told him to load up. I think one time Andy held a rifle or shotgun on someone, out of sight of Barney, who was screwing up an arrest. Andy also cleaned his guns at his desk on occasion. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 2:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/49 "2012-04-25T02:21:46Z")
I think Jim Rockford, (James Gardner) qualifies, He kept his gun in a coffee can (“I don’t shoot it, I just point it”). ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/50 "2012-04-25T03:03:33Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I think Jim Rockford, (James Gardner) qualifies, He kept his gun in a coffee can (“I don’t shoot it, I just point it”). A, not a cop. B, threw punches like the '19 White Sox threw games. ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/51 "2012-04-25T03:10:42Z")
> [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](#): > > The cops in CHIPS never fired a shot during the run of the show. There was a bit in Loaded Weapon I where Ponch and John were in a shootout, which I thought was that much funnier because they never used their sidearms in the actual show. I immediately thought of CHIPS too. The closest they ever got was one of the officers (not Ponch of Jon) gets beat up by Danny Bonaduce and finally draws his gun. When I watched the [clip of that scene](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XL7UCTBXjGw) on YouTube it was pretty much as I remembered it. ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 3:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/52 "2012-04-25T03:27:45Z")
> [@KneadToKnow](#): > > A, not a cop. > > B, threw punches like the '19 White Sox threw games. You are right, he was a private investigator, I think it was his contacts with the LAPD that threw me off. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 4:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/53 "2012-04-25T04:09:13Z")
> [@GIGObuster](#): > > I think Jim Rockford, (James Gardner) qualifies, He kept his gun in a coffee can (“I don’t shoot it, I just point it”). > [@KneadToKnow](#): > > A, not a cop. > > B, threw punches like the '19 White Sox threw games. C, kept his gun in a cookie jar. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 5:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/54 "2012-04-25T05:51:38Z")
I don’t know if Sledge Hammer should win or lose. He never shot to kill, but he did shoot his gun about as often as he could. He tried to shoot the light in his refrigerator out before it came on when the door opened. He once shot at a man on a ledge to get him to go back inside instead of jumping. ---
**Author:** ![Sage\_Rat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sage_rat/32/399_2.png) [@Sage\_Rat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sage_Rat)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 8:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/55 "2012-04-25T08:01:30Z")
> [@Ura-Maru](#): > > _You’re Under Arrest!_ had a few punches and tackles (and one memorable slap) but almost no gunplay. There was one bit with a bad guy with a gun in a hostage situation, (no shots fired) but I don’t think the good guys ever fired a gun when not on a shooting range. > > Paintball guns did see some use, do those count? > > – > Course, there were an absurd number of crazy over-the-top car chases . . . Wow, another You’re Under Arrest fan. Ditto this, and Homicide. Of course, the latter is slightly more realistic. ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/56 "2012-04-25T10:31:35Z")
In Dexter, the main character obviously does physically attack people every episode (with a small number of exceptions). Still, he’s never fired a gun and rarely punches anyone. The cops in the show hardly ever use their guns; when Debra shoots someone she has obligatory counselling because of it. ---
**Author:** ![Dave\_Hartwick](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/7feea3/32.png) [@Dave\_Hartwick](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dave_Hartwick)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/57 "2012-04-25T10:49:34Z")
If _Barney Miller_ counts, maybe _Car 54, Where Are You?_ would too. Never actually saw the show but [this guy](http://car54whereareyou.net/about.html) claims it was completely non-violent. ---
**Author:** ![TBG](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/c89c15/32.png) [@TBG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TBG)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/58 "2012-04-26T23:49:32Z")
> [@SnakeBabe](#): > > Batman never used a gun 🙂 > [@Joey\_P](#): > > I think he may have thrown a few punches though. 1. Batman’s not a cop, he’s a superhero/vigilante. 2. Batman has indeed used a gun. google image searching **batman using gun** turns up several examples, and not even the stuff from the first few years in the 30’s-40’s when they hadn’t come up with the “Batman hates guns” schtick yet when he used them more regularly. ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/59 "2012-04-27T06:21:33Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > …Not onscreen, but there is a first-season episode where Chano (Gregory Sierra) is forced to shoot a young man in self-defense. The episode mainly focuses on his (non)reaction until he’s alone in his apartment (this was early _Barney Miller_ that actually moved off the squadroom set) and he breaks down in tears… He kills two bank robbers, Near the end of the episode, Inspector Luger is pissed that instead of Chano getting a medal for heroism, it goes to some other cop who saved a kid’s life. I still remember how ridiculous he thought it was that a cop who saved a life could be a bigger hero than one who killed some. > [@Rick](#): > > American Police show: Halt, or I will shoot > _BLAM_ > _BLAM_ > _BLAM_ > _BLAM_ > … You got this backward. It’s _BLAM_ _BLAM_ _BLAM_ _BLAM_ Halt, or I will shoot ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722/60 "2012-04-27T20:50:31Z")
> [@SciFiSam](#): > > In Dexter, the main character obviously does physically attack people every episode (with a small number of exceptions). Still, he’s never fired a gun Actually, he has - in one episode he goes on an impromptu road trip, steals a gun from a convenience store and shoots it out the window of his car while driving. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/cop-shows-in-which-the-main-characters-rarely-or-never-fire-a-shot-or-throw-a-punch/619722.md?page=4)