Police procedurals have been on television for decades and delight fans with dramatic storylines. Many police shows take on modern-day social issues, which helps make them more realistic for viewers who are seeing the same topics in the news. Even police shows of the past used hot-button topics to propel their storylines, even though the issues were different.
Police procedurals often break fans' hearts with characters being killed off or leaving the shows in a fashion that makes fans want to stop watching the show but can't because they are invested in the characters. Much to the delight of fans, the best police shows often run for multiple seasons before they are pulled from the air.
Updated by Fawzia Khan on 20th September, 2023: High stakes chases, character subplots, and sharp detective work are the markers of the best cop shows, and viewers love the rush of adrenaline they get from this genre. There are plenty of police shows on TV, but the only some of them get critical acclaim as well as the ratings. This list has been expanded with more popular police shows for fans to catch up on, based on their IMDb scores.
15 S.W.A.T (2017–Present) – 7.1
Streaming On Paramount+
S.W.A.T follows a S.W.A.T team out of Los Angeles, California, that deals with the most stressful situations in the city. Variety reported that after 6 seasons, S.W.A.T was said to be canceled, but CBS decided to bring the show back for one more season.
S.W.A.T shows the struggle that the main character Hondo, played by Shemar Moore, faces as he tries to reconcile his feelings about growing up as a Black man in Los Angeles and being a leader in the LAPD. The show handles more dramatic cases than other shows, including potential bombings and high-powered drug cartels.
14 Blue Bloods (2010–Present) – 7.7
Streaming On Paramount+
Blue Bloods has received mixed reception throughout the show's 13 seasons. However, it remains one of CBS's most popular shows and there are no signs of it slowing down or canceling anytime soon. Blue Bloods follows the Reagan family as they serve in various law enforcement positions.
With each family member in a different role, fans get to see how various departments work against and with one another to ensure the safety of New York. The family aspect of Blue Bloods is the biggest draw, as no other current running police procedural puts high importance on family or shows family members working together.
13 Bones (2005–2017) – 7.8
Streaming On Hulu
Bones can be attributed with bringing forensic anthropology into the limelight, but at its core, the Fox drama is a police procedural through and through. It brings together science with detective work, as forensic expert Dr. Temperance Brennan is teamed up with unlikely FBI agent Seeley Booth to solve cases where the bodies are destroyed beyond recognition, sometimes reduced to just bones.
With the initial conflict between Brennan and Booth because of their different approaches, they still manage to solve cases in breathtaking fashion, using biological clues. With a romantic subplot between the leading pair based on their chemistry, Bones manages to be a heartwrenching, enlightening, and fun watch, all at once. It is also one of the longest-running crime shows.
12 Law & Order (1990–Present) – 7.8
Streaming On Peacock
Law & Order is one of the longest-running police shows on television. As the opening iconically states, Law & Order shows each case from two points of view, the police that catch the suspects and the lawyers who prosecute them in court. Fans of the show enjoy the "ripped from the headlines" cases that mirror a high-profile case going on in the real world and show how it could play out in court.
Law & Order has had many characters come and go throughout the years, but that hasn't stopped fans from watching. Law & Order is such a good show that fans have made several of the show's spin-off series major hits for NBC.
11 The Rookie (2018–Present) – 8
Streaming On Hulu
The Rookie became a hit for Fox as the show brought a new perspective to the usual formula of police procedurals. Instead of following seasoned cops, viewers follow John Nolan, the oldest rookie in LAPD history. John's life experiences outside his time as a police officer allowed him to approach calls differently than his more senior, more experienced partners.
While The Rookie is a drama, the show has lighter, humorous moments that viewers enjoy. The Rookie also shows the officers in the show in their home lives, which humanizes the characters and helps fans get more invested in the show.
10 Castle (2009–2016) – 8.1
Streaming On Hulu
Also starring Nathan Fillion along with Stana Katic, Castle takes an imaginative approach to police shows by weaving storybook-like elements into each case. It follows Richard Castle, known Casanova and a millionaire author of crime books, who gets called in to consult with the NYPD when a murderer starts killing people the way Castle does in his books.
Castle is instantly fascinated with Detective Kate Beckett in the police force, and his consultancy becomes a permanent one as he follows her for inspiration, and helps solve crimes using his intuition and Beckett's skills. Castle has episodic cases, as well as overarching plot lines and police procedural arcs related to the histories of each character.
9 Hill Street Blues (1981–1987) – 8.2
Streaming On Prime Video
Hill Street Blues was one of the best police procedurals in the '80s, as it pushed social constructs and took many risks during its six-year run on TV. Hill Street Blues showed police officers of varying races working together, which wasn't expected from a TV show at the time.
Showrunners wrote storylines that challenged the image of police officers by showing corruption within the Hill Street Blue police department. By not specifying where the show took place, audiences could see their towns and cities as the setting and relate to what the officers were dealing with.
8 White Collar (2009–2014) – 8.2
Streaming on Hulu
Besides breaking out the inimitable Matt Bomer, White Collar took viewers down a different path of art crimes, counterfeits, and heists when it was released. The show revolves around art thief Neil Caffrey, who manages to escape jail to seek out his girlfriend, Kate. When he's caught by FBI Special Agent Peter Burke, who is also his long-time nemesis, they work out a deal where Neil stays free as long as he helps Peter apprehend other criminals.
White Collar balances police work with the elaborate cons, and Caffrey's innate charm is enough to make audiences root for the criminal. His emotional arc with Kate is also worth a watch, making it one of the best cop shows around.
7 Crime Story (1986–1988) – 8.3
For Purchase On Amazon
Before the corrupt officers of Chicago PD were taking down crime rings in Chicago, there was Crime Story. Even though Crime Story aired in the '80s, the show occurred in the 1960s. Lieutenant Michael Torello heads the Major Crime Unit and tries to stop organized crime rings from running rampant in his city.
Unlike other police shows, most of Crime Story focuses on one villain trying to become Chicago's most powerful crime boss. Ray Luca proves to be Torello's most significant opponent. Fans of the show became invested in seeing Torello take down Luca, making Crime Story feel like an epic superhero story and a police show.
6 Brooklyn Nine-Nine (2013–2021) – 8.4
Streaming On Peacock
For those looking for good police shows that are also lighthearted, Brooklyn Nine-Nine is the series to tune into. Set in the NYPD's 99th Precinct, it hinges on the vibrant characters that form a part of this team: Quirky Jake Peralta, ambitious Amy Santiago, straitlaced Captain Holt, badass Rosa Diaz, bizarre Gina Linetti, and sweet Charles Boyle, amongst others. They solve everything from grand theft auto to serial murder, but in the most absurd and hilarious ways possible. Brooklyn Nine-Nine depicts the inner workings and shenanigans of the NYPD with keenness, and the characters and comedy stay central to the funny crime show.
5 Southland (2009–2013) – 8.5
For Purchase On Amazon
Southland was a short-lived police procedural that takes place in Los Angeles. While Southland was like many other police shows focusing on the lives and jobs of police officers, it was grittier and more realistic. Southland used a unique form of storytelling to show how a case unfolded.
Each case was told from different points of view. This showed that each officer experienced and remembered each situation differently, just as people do in real life. Viewers had to decide where the truth lay between the stories, making the show more immersive for fans.
4 Justified (2010–2015) – 8.6
Streaming On Hulu
Justified was one of the few neo-Western shows that focused on the traditional role of the Sheriff from Western movies. US Marshal Raylan Givens plays by his own rules and feels his responsibility is to bring justice to those who want to harm his town.
Justified revived a genre many television viewers had forgotten about and renewed interest in the Wild West setting. There are old-school shoot-outs and dangerous terrains in Justified that give the show a nostalgic feel that other shows have shied away from as technology becomes more prominent for real-life police officers.
3 The Shield (2002–2008) – 8.7
Streaming On Hulu
The Shield follows corrupt police officer Vic Mackey and the unit he leads, which is also corrupt. As part of the LAPD, Vic Makcey's corruption provides commentary on the LAPD's past of corruption and mishandling of cases.
The Shield was one of the first shows to depict police as corruptible and comment on the mishandling of police procedures in such an intense way. The characters on the show often break the law to serve their interests, creating a web of lies that the officers have to try and keep in order. As one of the most intense police show, The Shield has received praise for pushing the boundaries of what a police show can focus on and how cases end.
2 True Detective (2014–Present) – 8.9
Streaming On Max
Created by Nic Pizzolatto, True Detective is an anthology police drama that explores a new crime in each season, helmed by detectives of different regions. The first season revolves around two detectives from the Louisiana State Police and their hunt for an occult serial killer over nearly two decades, and the second shifts base to California where officers from Vinci Police Department, California Highway Patrol, and Ventura County Sheriff's Office cooperate to uncover the truth behind a corrupt city manager's murder.
The third installment investigates the gruesome and chilling case of two missing children in the Ozarks over different eras, with a pair of Arkansas State Police detectives. A fourth season is due soon, and fans of top-notch police procedurals can expect another treat in True Detective.
1 The Wire (2002–2008) – 9.3
Streaming On Max
Despite only running for 60 episodes, The Wire is one of the most talked about and ground-breaking shows about police procedures to air on television. The show covered a lot of ground and different points of view regarding the war on drugs in Baltimore, Maryland. The Wire did not shy away from critiquing American politics and its effects on America's inner cities.
When The Wire aired, the war on drugs was not critiqued on television, but The Wire brazenly commented on the controversial social topic. The Wire also discussed race in a way that other police shows shied away from making one of the most controversial yet unique shows on television.