Lieutenant Ray Calletano shares a one-to-one moment with a robot pressed into police service, from the episode Spotlight on Rico, first aired in early 1983.
One of a number of publicity images produced during a 1983 promotional photo shoot.
Jesus Martinez (played by the late Trinidad Silva) pleads his case while his defence attorney (played by Richard Daugherty) looks on in disbelief. Martinez has been arrested for the hijacking of a police payroll in the episode A Hill of Beans, broadcast in 1983.
Officer Renko, having rescued a wealthy socialite (played by Helen Shaver) from a street thug, strikes up a relationship with her. This publicity still is from Officer of the Year in 1983.
Renko basks in the television spotlight as he is interviewed by a TV reporter (played by Susan Walden) about a cattle-rustling caper in the episode Domestic Beef from 1983.
This press release promoted Michael Warren’s role as a social worker in Just a Little More Love, another NBC-TV production broadcast in September 1984.
Officer Hill tries to impress an attractive new female officer (played by Lynne Moody) during a police party at the tacky Club Como. From the episode A Hair of the Dog, broadcast in late 1982.
Officer Bobby Hill displays more than a professional interest in a young woman (played by Freddy Chapman) he meets during the course of his work. From Rites of Spring, broadcast in 1981.
Bobby Hill is deep in discussion with Vernon Lee (played by Kene Holiday) about his reasons for resigning as Vice-President of the BOC (Black Officers Coalition). From The Young, the Beautiful and the Degraded, first broadcast in early 1982.
Bobby on a roll — supported by Washington and Renko during an off-duty stag party at Club Como. From the episode Stan the Man, broadcast in late 1982.
Renko and Coffey take perhaps a little too much pleasure in arresting a disagreeable pimp (played by Mike Gomez) after discovering illegal substances on him while breaking up a fight. From Ratman and Bobbin, broadcast in early 1984.
Lucy Bates, now promoted to Sergeant following Sgt. Esterhaus’ death, finds herself conducting roll call on a day she would rather forget. From the emotional episode Parting Is Such Sweep Sorrow, in which Furillo breaks the law by honouring Esterhaus’ last wishes and scattering his ashes on the Hill.
Another publicity still from Parting Is Such Sweep Sorrow, showing Sgt. Bates irritated after pranksters steal her podium.
Officers Bates and Coffey pose for a cosy publicity photograph during the production of Jungle Madness in 1981.
An interesting publicity image promoting NBC-TV’s Police Woman Centerfold, in which Ed Marinaro plays Officer Nick Velano opposite Melody Anderson — remembered by many for playing Dale Arden in the 1980 film Flash Gordon. Broadcast in 1984, the film was partially inspired by the real-life story of patrolwoman Barbara Schantz.
Lieutenant Calletano looks somewhat unconvinced while holding a basket of fruit and crackers presented by the department after being named Hispanic Officer of the Year. From Officer of the Year, broadcast in late 1982.
Lieutenant Goldblume finds himself unexpectedly drawn to an apparently vulnerable call girl (played by Kay Lenz) while questioning her about the murder of a client. From The Other Side of Oneness, broadcast in early 1984.
Henry Goldblume on a Saturday night? Not quite — he is undercover working alongside two prostitutes (Charlene Jones left and July Pioli right). When I later sent this image to Joe Spano, he joked: “The photographer did not capture my best side!” From Freedom’s Last Stand, broadcast in 1982.
An awkward moment unfolds when Henry and Fay unexpectedly meet in a singles bar during the wonderfully titled Invasion of the Third World Mutant Body Snatchers, broadcast in 1982.
A working girl (played by Alexandra Johnson) talks with Sgt. Goldblume in the city’s underbelly. From the episode Some Like It Hot-Wired, broadcast in 1982.
A frustrated and angry Henry tries to deal with his ex-wife Rachel (played by Rosanna Huffman), who partially blames him following her recent sexual assault by a known suspect. From Watt a Way to Go, broadcast in 1984.
Henry and Neal put their heads together while attempting to trace a murder weapon in the episode Shooter, broadcast in 1982.
One of the funniest and most surreal episodes of the entire series saw Washington and LaRue launch a life-size replica alligator into the city sewer system while fellow officers investigated reports of amphibians living beneath the streets. From Gatorbait, broadcast in 1981.
Washington and LaRue go undercover as a pair of bums during an assignment in the episode Cranky Streets, broadcast in 1982.
“Booted and suited,” LaRue and Washington appear in night court hoping to secure a conviction, only to discover their evidence is inadmissible. From Fruits of the Poisonous Tree, broadcast in 1981.
Detective Mick Belker was one of the most photographed characters in the entire series. Here he stakes out a bank disguised as a Hasidic rabbi in Chipped Beef, broadcast in 1981.
This publicity image promoted Death of a Centerfold: The Dorothy Stratten Story. In sharp contrast to Belker, Bruce Weitz plays Paul Snider — Dorothy Stratten’s estranged husband, manager and suspected murderer — opposite Jamie Lee Curtis. Broadcast on NBC in late 1981.
A clean-shaven Belker is briefed by a prosecuting attorney (played by Essex Smith) before taking the witness stand. Was he instructed “no biting” or merely “try not to growl”? From Fruits of the Poisonous Tree, broadcast in 1981.
A filthy Mick Belker visits Joyce seeking advice on what to buy his mother for her birthday after returning from an undercover operation — a classic Belker moment. From Domestic Beef, broadcast in 1982.
Belker prepares to throw himself in front of an approaching automobile in order to fake an accident and expose a fraudulent personal-injury insurance scam. From Little Boil Blue, broadcast in late 1982.
Mick Belker goes undercover once again, preparing to give the signal to move while staking out a drug store. From The End of Logan’s Run, broadcast in 1984.
Another publicity still showing Detective Belker disguised as a rabbi in the episode Chipped Beef, broadcast in 1982.
Mick Belker finally collars a slippery quick-change artist (played by Michael O’Guinne) who has been targeting cab drivers while disguised in a variety of outfits. From Blood Money, broadcast in 1981. Incidentally, am I the only one who thinks the suspect looks suspiciously like Renko in drag?
A homicidal slasher is preying on vulnerable winos and homeless people on the city’s skid row. Pity him if he crosses paths with an undercover Belker. From Invasion of the Third-World Mutant Body Snatchers, broadcast in 1982.
Belker lies motionless on the ground while fellow undercover officer Virgil Brooks (played by Nathan Cook) keeps his cool with two hostile gang members. This haunting moment comes from The Last White Man on East Ferry Avenue, broadcast in 1982.
No comment needed.
“Hair bag with old bag!” Belker goes undercover yet again, posing as a bag lady and receiving some distinctly bizarre advice from the real thing. From Ratman and Robin, broadcast in the summer of 1984.
During the city-wide police bowling tournament, Mick struggles to keep his mind on the game knowing that Captain Furillo has been unfairly removed from command. From The Count of Monty Tasco, broadcast in 1984.
Lieutenant Hunter is left flabbergasted when Belker unexpectedly uses a direct and aggressive tactic to win a game of chess. Watching on are Coffey and new arrival Detective Garibaldi. From Hair Apparent, broadcast in 1984.
“Judas H. Priest!” exclaims Howard when his pedigree police dogs refuse to pick up the scent of a pack of marauding wild dogs. From The Spy Who Came in from Delgado, broadcast in 1982.
Only Howard! Hunter demonstrates to anyone willing to listen how to test the effectiveness of the cremation process by shaking the urn containing the remains of the precinct’s recently deceased phone repairman. From I Never Promised You a Rose Marvin, broadcast in 1981.
The very brief pairing of Grace and Howard begins after an exhausted Esterhaus ends his relationship with Grace — leaving Howard eager to step in. From Blood Money, broadcast in 1982.
Grace sensuously reclines across a roll-call table while attempting to tempt Esterhaus in a memorable scene from No Body’s Perfect, screened in 1982.
The big moment arrives when Phil asks Grace to marry him during the episode Phantom of the Hill, broadcast in 1982.
A rare still from the pilot episode Hill Street Station, first broadcast around 15 January 1981 — although some sources dispute the exact date. The image is captioned “Hill Street Powow.”
Another posed publicity still featuring Phil, Frank and Joyce together in the office.
After Frank and Joyce decide to separate, Joyce is seen publicly with another gentleman (played by Michael Irving), much to Frank’s annoyance. From Blood Money, broadcast in 1981.
From the fifth-season premiere Mayo Hold the Pickle, Joyce Davenport attempts to help condemned prisoner Celestine Grey (played by Juney Smith). Tragically she fails, leading to the moving closing sequence showing Goldblume outside the prison praying for his soul. Broadcast in 1984.
A reflective Joyce reassesses her commitment to a legal system where she is often required to defend suspects she privately believes are guilty. From the episode Shooter, broadcast in 1982.
Again from Shooter, Joyce realises she can no longer defend a young suspect (played by Michael Carmine) once she becomes convinced of his guilt.
One of the first real public clues — at least to viewers not already “in the know” — to Frank and Joyce’s secret relationship appears in this publicity still from the second episode, Presidential Fever, broadcast in 1981.
Joyce firmly tells Frank exactly what she thinks of his coercive methods for bringing one of her clients to justice. From Trial by Fury, broadcast in 1982.
Joyce, Frank and Assistant District Attorney Bernstein share a reflective moment before the memorial service for Sgt. Esterhaus. From Parting Is Such Sweep Sorrow, broadcast in early 1984.
Joyce and Frank enjoy a rare light-hearted moment after lawyer Alan Wachtel is arrested for insurance fraud — although that would not prevent him later becoming a cross-dressing judge. From Requiem for a Hairbag, broadcast in 1982.
Frank reacts with shock and horror when Joyce tells him she may abandon her legal career during the episode The Young, screened in 1982.
A tender moment from The Last White Man on East Ferry Avenue, broadcast in 1981.
Despite the smiles, Frank is threatening Chief Daniels with exposing a politically sensitive police cover-up in Rain of Terror, broadcast in 1982.
New Sergeant Jablonski tries convincing Frank that he can coax distressed officer Rhonda Kimmel (played by Lois Foraker) out of the men’s restroom after Hunter inadvertently insults her. From Rookie Nookie, broadcast in late 1984.
A delighted Fay Furillo celebrates the birth of her daughter alongside an exhausted Henry Goldblume, who helped deliver the baby. From Death by Kiki, aired in 1984.
A bewildered Fay Furillo is arrested by an overeager police officer (played by Barry Tubb) who mistakenly believes she has propositioned him during a vice sweep targeting prostitutes. From Grace Under Pressure, broadcast in 1984.
To conclude this remarkable collection of publicity photographs, Steven Bochco and Barbara Bosson proudly display the medallion and citation for the programme’s prestigious George Foster Peabody Award in May 1982 — one of the many honours the series would receive during and long after its original run.