Image credit: CTV, BBC One, ABC, CBS, ITV1, A&E, Global, Circle, NBC, HBO, FX, TNT, Prime Video
A comprehensive tour of the finest in police drama.
Each series on this list has been handpicked for its ability to capture a similar balance of action-packed sequences, complex character arcs, and a portrayal of the law enforcement world that ranges from gritty realism to heartening camaraderie.
20. "19-2" (2014-2017) A Canadian series portraying the lives of several officers of the Montreal Police Department, exploring their struggles with personal and professional issues in a gripping and realistic manner.
19. "Memphis Beat" (2010-2011) Rotten Tomatoes score: 38% Centers around a Memphis police detective who moonlights as a blues musician, balancing his love for the city and its music with the demands and emotional experiences of his police work.
18. "Unforgettable" (2011-2016) Rotten Tomatoes score: 60% Carrie Wells is a former detective with a rare condition: she's able to remember every detail of her life, and it's way more of a curse than a blessing. She rejoins the police force and uses her extraordinary memory to help solve homicide cases, while also trying to unravel the unsolved murder of her sister, a personal tragedy that haunts her past.
17. "Major Crimes" (2012-2018) Rotten Tomatoes score: 78% This series centers on the Los Angeles Police Department's Major Crimes division, which tackles high-profile or particularly sensitive crimes. Led by Captain Sharon Raydor, the team faces complex cases ranging from political conspiracies to serial killers, while also dealing with internal team dynamics, including the transition after the departure of Brenda Leigh Johnson from "The Closer."
16. "Third Watch" (1999-2005) Rotten Tomatoes score: 81% This series focuses on the lives of New York City's police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, showcasing the challenges and emotional stress they face daily while responding to emergencies in their high-stress professions.
15. "Blue Bloods" (2010-present) Rotten Tomatoes score: 82% Centers on a multi-generational family of NYPD officers, exploring complex moral questions, family dynamics, and the challenges of law enforcement in New York City.
14. "The Closer" (2005-2012) Rotten Tomatoes score: 83% Follows a female police detective transferred to Los Angeles to head a special unit tasked with handling high-profile murder cases, dealing with complex investigations and departmental politics.
13. "NYPD Blue" (1993-2005) Rotten Tomatoes score: 83% A groundbreaking series known for its raw and realistic portrayal of the lives of New York City police detectives, exploring their personal struggles and the gritty realities of their work.
12. "Rookie Blue" (2010-2015) Rotten Tomatoes score: 84% The Canadian series follows five rookie cops from 15 Division who have just graduated from the academy. They must learn to deal with their duties as police officers along with the problems and expectation of their families and friends, all while working in a high-crime metropolitan environment, where split-second decisions can have life-or-death consequences.
11. "Longmire" (2012-2017) Rotten Tomatoes score: 88% A modern Western crime series about a Wyoming sheriff who returns to work after his wife's death, uncovering secrets about her passing while solving major crimes within his jurisdiction.
10. "Endeavour" (2012-present) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% A British series that serves as a prequel to the long-running "Inspector Morse," following the early career of Endeavour Morse, a detective whose deductive powers are offset by his struggles with personal and professional relationships.
9. "Southland" (2009-2013) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% A raw and authentic look into the lives and work of Los Angeles police officers and detectives, showcasing their personal and professional challenges in a high-pressure environment.
8. "Chicago P.D." (2014-present) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% Set in Chicago, this series focuses on the officers of the 21st District, balancing the demands of street patrol and intelligence work, facing personal and professional ethical dilemmas.
7. "The Shield" (2002-2008) Rotten Tomatoes score: 90% Set in Los Angeles, this gritty series follows an experimental division of the LAPD, centered around a corrupt cop and his unit, exploring the complex dynamics and ethical dilemmas in police work.
6. "Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993-1999) Rotten Tomatoes score: 91% Based on true stories, this series portrays the work and lives of a squad of Baltimore homicide detectives, delving into the psychological and social aspects of their work.
5. "Broadchurch" (2013-2017) Rotten Tomatoes score: 92% A British series set in a small coastal town, following two detectives as they investigate the murder of a young boy, uncovering secrets and lies within the community.
4. "The Wire" (2002-2008) Rotten Tomatoes score: 94% A critically acclaimed series that presents a detailed and unvarnished view of Baltimore, Maryland, exploring the interconnected worlds of law enforcement, drug trade, schools, and media.
3. "Line of Duty" (2012-present) Rotten Tomatoes score: 96% Centers on AC-12, a controversial police anti-corruption unit, uncovering layers of misconduct and betrayal within the police force.
2. "Justified" (2010-2015) Rotten Tomatoes score: 97% U.S. Marshal Raylan Givens, known for his old-fashioned, swift justice, is reassigned to his native Eastern Kentucky following a controversial Miami shootout, where he navigates criminal elements tied to his past, including battling wits and guns with an old mining buddy turned criminal kingpin.
1. "Bosch" (2014-2021) Rotten Tomatoes score: 97% Follows Harry Bosch, a relentless LAPD homicide detective, as he seeks justice for the victims of crimes while wrestling with his own demons and the bureaucratic challenges of the police force.
