To clarify, The Law Enforcers was one of the rotating shows featured on The Bold Ones. The Law Enforcers was also known as The Protectors, but I’m using the former title to keep it distinct from the spy show The Protectors.
THE LAW ENFORCERS (1969-1970) – Leslie Nielsen starred as Deputy Chief of Police Sam Danforth, a hard-nosed law enforcement veteran brought to a California city to help shape up the police department. Hari Rhodes co-starred as the much younger District Attorney William Washburn.
PILOT MOVIE: DEADLOCK (Feb 22nd, 1969) – This telefilm filled a 2-hour timeslot with commercials. Back when this was made, television cop shows didn’t bother trying to realistically depict the way law enforcement worked, unlike the countless police procedural programs of today. Think of McMillan and Wife, for instance. NO Police Commissioner (Rock Hudson’s role) personally investigates individual crimes, but the show’s gimmick had McMillan doing that with his wife (Susan St. James).
Similarly, Deadlock features the District Attorney character getting involved far too early in the investigative process just to spotlight the proposed series’ gimmick – the tension between Nielsen and Rhodes.
The story involves racial tensions in the unnamed city when the killing of a young black man is followed by the murder of a white newspaper man in a black neighborhood. Both killers are sought after as the city teeters on the edge of riots. The turbo-charged personalities of Danforth and Washburn (who plans to run for the Senate) are the best part of this production.
The guest cast included THE Ruby Dee, Aldo Ray, Beverly Todd, Dana Elcar, Max Julien, James McEachin and the legendary FRED WILLIAMSON. Continue reading
