# Did Officer Renko have to arrest his music idol? (Inspired by Hill Street Blues) **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 29, 2019, 2:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702 "2019-03-29T02:27:11Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/21 "2019-03-29T17:46:56Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Did they have an Irish youth gang with a guy dressed like a leprechaun? That part always cracked me up. The gang was called the Shamrocks, and David Caruso played their leader, Tommy Mann. ---
**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:** [March 29, 2019, 6:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/22 "2019-03-29T18:01:27Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The gang was called the Shamrocks, and David Caruso played their leader, Tommy Mann. Didn’t know it was Caruso. That makes it even funnier. ---
**Author:** ![gnoitall](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/bb73d2/32.png) [@gnoitall](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gnoitall)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/23 "2019-03-29T20:38:44Z")
> [@TriPolar](#): > > Didn’t know it was Caruso. That makes it even funnier. Yeah. The humor is (•_•) ( •_•)\>⌐■-■ (⌐■\_■), magically delicious. YEAAAAAAAAH ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [March 29, 2019, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/24 "2019-03-29T20:47:36Z")
_HSB_ was a great show. It was set in an unnamed Midwestern city, and there were occasional references to Pittsburgh landmarks, as noted above, but some exterior scenes were filmed in both LA and Chicago. I remember once clearly seeing some US interstate highway signs on a pole in a street scene. My dad and I got out the road atlas, and the only place those particular highways came together was Chicago. ISTR back in the Eighties that off-duty NYPD cops were required to have their badges and guns with them at all times, and were expected to intervene if a felony was committed in their presence. Don’t know if that’s still so, or if it is/was a matter of departmental policy or state law. As to Caruso and _CSI: Miami_: [- YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJSqkwyL1Zo) ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/25 "2019-03-30T15:32:09Z")
The officers on _HSB_ had varying levels of ethics. Renko was at a different level from [del]Sipowicz[/del], [del]Buntz[/del], Benedetto. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/26 "2019-03-30T15:45:21Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > If you happen to lose your handcuffs, you can’t take any action to stop a mass shooting event that is going on right in front of you? There is an exception for self defense/defense of others. But who the hell loses their handcuffs? You don’t really think that happens, do you? ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2019, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/27 "2019-03-30T15:54:45Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > But who the hell loses their handcuffs? You don’t really think that happens, do you? Dear Penthouse, ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/28 "2019-03-31T00:49:24Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > On a different note, I once convinced a rowdy group of horribly drunk guys (one of whom was a friend of mine) to finish their beers and head on home (in their cars). The owner of the bar thanked me profusely; the five guys were cops and the owner didn’t want to call 911. Wait?! You told them to drive drunk? ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2019, 5:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/29 "2019-03-31T05:40:55Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > Dear Penthouse, LOL. Except after 37+ years and 2 separate careers in law enforcement in a major metropolitan area I could tell you stories that even Larry Flynt wouldn’t publish. And only a small percentage of it involves cops (except for the 911 calls). You would not fucking believe what some of your neighbors are involved it. I’m not kidding. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/30 "2019-04-01T12:07:17Z")
> [@Saint\_Cad](#): > > Wait?! You told them to drive drunk? You would have to have been there to understand. It was years ago, they were all cops, they were all anabolic steroid muscle men, and the alternative would have been continued drinking, fighting, chasing off the other customers, _then_ driving home. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 1:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/31 "2019-04-01T13:35:41Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > There is an exception for self defense/defense of others. > > But who the hell loses their handcuffs? You don’t really think that happens, do you? I don’t know. Left them at the stripper’s house? 🙂 Aren’t almost all police actions in self defense/defense of others? ---
**Author:** ![Drum\_God](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/drum_god/32/44_2.png) [@Drum\_God](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Drum_God)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/32 "2019-04-01T15:57:58Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I don’t know. Left them at the stripper’s house? 🙂 > > Aren’t almost all police actions in self defense/defense of others? Officer Renko arresting a drug user wouldn’t be an action in defense of others. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/33 "2019-04-01T16:01:38Z")
> [@Drum\_God](#): > > Officer Renko arresting a drug user wouldn’t be an action in defense of others. That’s why I said “almost all” 🙂 I’m not trying to make trouble, just trying to understand that policy. If a cop was off-duty, and forgot to bring a spare magazine, he/she couldn’t arrest someone selling 10 kilos of Colombian Bam-Bam right in front of him/her? It just sounds strange to me. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/34 "2019-04-01T17:10:34Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > One of my cousins is a cop, and he’s urged all of his relatives to not discuss their marijuana usage in his presence (and certainly not actually partake), because he really, really doesn’t want to take action against any of them. Back in the 80’s, (about the same time Hill StreetBlues was on TV) I was involved with a sports club. A new guy joined us, who was a cop. The club members did a lot of partying together, and naturally asked the new guy to come along. He refused, because in his words “I’m a cop” --how are you going to have fun if I’m there? I’d have to put a stop to it." Heck of nice guy, actually. I don’t know what he would have done, but he always told us to wait till he went home after the sports, before the rest of us started having fun. ---
**Author:** ![doreen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/858c86/32.png) [@doreen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/doreen)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 5:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/35 "2019-04-01T17:44:43Z")
> [@pkbites](#): > > There is an exception for self defense/defense of others. > > But who the hell loses their handcuffs? You don’t really think that happens, do you? Sure , it does. Maybe police officers don’t , but the peace officers at my agency lose theirs all the time. (Even though they are required to have them on duty) It’s understandable when they get mixed up because more than one officer is involved\* - but sometimes they are actually lost. - I cuff someone and another officer end up lodging him at the jail and gives me the wrong cuffs back. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk ---
**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 1, 2019, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/36 "2019-04-01T17:47:43Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > That’s why I said “almost all” 🙂 > > I’m not trying to make trouble, just trying to understand that policy. If a cop was off-duty, and forgot to bring a spare magazine, he/she couldn’t arrest someone selling 10 kilos of Colombian Bam-Bam right in front of him/her? It just sounds strange to me. Whether or not they can, it’s not legally self defense or defense or others. And I’d suggest they’d want to call it in and get some backup in that situation. ---
**Author:** ![Slash1972](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slash1972/32/6461_2.png) [@Slash1972](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slash1972)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 7:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/37 "2019-04-01T19:00:28Z")
> [@doreen](#): > > Sure , it does. Maybe police officers don’t , but the peace officers at my agency lose theirs all the time. (Even though they are required to have them on duty) It’s understandable when they get mixed up because more than one officer is involved\* - but sometimes they are actually lost. > > - I cuff someone and another officer end up lodging him at the jail and gives me the wrong cuffs back. > Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk I know of Federal Agents that lose their guns, ballistic vests, computers, you name it. Handcuffs didn’t see that much of a stretch to me. ---
**Author:** ![pkbites](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pkbites/32/204_2.png) [@pkbites](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pkbites)\ **Post date:** [April 1, 2019, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702/38 "2019-04-01T23:29:51Z")
> [@Slash1972](#): > > I’m not trying to make trouble, just trying to understand that policy. If a cop was off-duty, and forgot to bring a spare magazine, he/she couldn’t arrest someone selling 10 kilos of Colombian Bam-Bam right in front of him/her? It just sounds strange to me. Hey, I didn’t write the policy. Doesn’t really affect me anyway as I almost never take action off duty. I do not see the advantage to it and a lot of the guys that do I’ve seen get tripped up by one thing or another. Now keep moving, there’s nothing to see here. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/did-officer-renko-have-to-arrest-his-music-idol-inspired-by-hill-street-blues/831702.md?page=1)