The NYPD on TV

'Blue Bloods' (CBS) | Patrolling the airwaves since: 2010 | Made in New York? Yes | The case file: The Reagans, a mutli-generational family of cops (and one district attorney), protect and serve New York at levels ranging from rookie patrolman (Will Estes) to homicide detective (Donnie Wahlberg) all the way to police commissioner (Tom Selleck), who happens to be the son of another commissioner (Len Cariou). | Distinguishing characteristics: Scenes featuring the family's Sunday night dinners, in which the adults discuss morals and ethics with the next generation of Reagans.

'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (NBC) | Patrolling the airwaves since: 1999 | Made in New York? Yes, although the show shot its interiors in Ft. Lee, N.J., until Gov. Chris Christie canceled the tax credit program in 2010. |The case file: As the child of rape, Det. Olivia Benson (Emmy winner Mariska Hargitay) is uniquely qualified to investigate sexual crimes. She works in the Special Victims Unit, reflecting the actual name given to the sex crimes unit within the NYPD. | Distinguishing characteristics: Nicknamed "Law & Order: SUV," this one has an interesting cast. Star Hargitay is the daughter of a 1950s sex symbol; the captain (Dann Florek) was a cast member of the original 'L&O.' Former comic Richard Belzer plays John Munch, the same role he played on 'Homicide: Life on the Street,' and his partner is played by rapper Ice Cube, who has changed his tune since writing 'Cop Killer.'

'Elementary' (CBS) | Patrolling the airwaves since: 2012 | Made in New York? Yes | The case file: Sherlock Holmes (Jonny Lee Miller) is rebooted as a London crime-scene consultant who moves to New York for a fresh start after drug rehab. He assists New York precinct captain Tommy Gregson (Aidan Quinn), whom he knew through Scotland Yard. | Distinguishing characteristics: This Sherlock's Watson (Lucy Liu) has two X chromosomes, and medical insight into his cases.

'Person of Interest' (CBS) | Patrolling the airwaves since: 2011 |Made in New York? Yes |The case file: After building a computer system vigilant for clues to possible terrorism acts, software billionaire Harold Finch (Michael Emerson) is troubled by the personal crimes his machine is programmed to cast aside. He takes it upon himself to investigate, with the help of ex-CIA case officer John Reese (Jim Caviezel). They recruit two NYPD detectives (Taraji P. Henson and Kevin Chapman) to help from the inside. Distinguishing characteristics: 'Person of Interest' focuses on preventing the crime rather than solving it afterward.

'CSI: NY' with Gary Sinise, right, and Robert Joy, is a fan favorite.

'The Job' (ABC) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 2001-2002 | Made in New York? Completely |The case file: You might consider Denis Leary's Det. Mike McNeil in this ABC sitcom the template for his hard-drinking, womanizing fireman in 'Rescue Me.' Leary even recuited 'Job'-bers Adam Ferrara and Diane Farr to go with him when he created the critically acclaimed FX drama. | Distinguishing characteristics: Critics loved the dark sitcom's dialogue and McNeil's foibles.

'Law & Order' (NBC) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1990-2010 | Made in New York? You bet. The city even named a road leading to the show's Chelsea Piers studios Law & Order Way. | The case file: Creator Dick Wolf split the show in half, focusing on a case's police investigation in the first 30 minutes and its prosecution in the latter half. Also, because the stories were case-driven and didn't delve too deeply into characters' personal lives, cast turnover rarely hurt ratings in its peak years. | Distinguishing characteristics: NBC promoted the show's "ripped from the headlines" stories. The show was also the longest-running crime show on American TV, tying 'Gunsmoke' for second place for longest scripted prime-time series at 20 seasons. ('The Simpsons' holds the record with 24.)

'Law & Order: Criminal Intent' (NBC/USA) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 2001-2007 | Made in New York? Yes | The case file: The third member of the 'L&O' franchise concentrated on the Major Case Squad, which handled high-profile murders. Originally, it focused on detectives Robert Goren (Vincent D'Onofrio) and Alexandra Eames (Kathryn Erbe), their captain (Jamey Sheridan) and district attorney Ron Carver (Courtney B. Vance). | Distinguishing characteristics: When the grinding shooting schedule began to wear down D'Onofrio, the show tried a new format for Seasons 4 and 5. One week, the investigators would be Goren and Eames; the next, Mike Logan (Chris Noth, reprising his old 'L&O' character).

'Third Watch' | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1999-2005 |Made in New York? Yup. |The case file: 'Third Watch' told the stories of the cops, paramedics and firefighters working the later shift in "Camelot" (at the corner of King Blvd. and Arthur St.) | Distinguishing characteristics: The show managed to pull off the three-services-in-one-show format. Their post-Sept. 11, 2001, episode, "In Their own Words," featuring interviews with real-life World Trade Center responders, won a Peabody Award.

'NYPD Blue' (ABC) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1993-2005 | Made in New York? No, shot primarily in L.A. | The case file: David Caruso was the original star of Steven Bochco and David Milch's gritty crime show, but left for greener pastures after Season 1. From then on, the heart of 'Blue' was Dennis Franz's gruff Det. Andy Sipowicz. But if you'd gone through some of his travails -- a murdered spouse, prostate cancer and pretty-boy partners, to name a few -- you might be cranky, too. | Distinguishing characteristics: 'Blue' pushed the edge on nudity and language, so much so it inspired an episode of 'South Park' with an expletive counter. 

'Cagney & Lacey' (CBS) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1982-1988 | Made in New York? No, L.A.|The case file: Mary Beth Lacey (Tyne Daly), a married mother, and ambitious singleton Chris Cagney (Sharon Gless) are detectives partnered in the NYPD's 14th Precinct in Manhattan's Midtown South district. | Distinguishing characteristics: It was the first police show to feature two women as its lead characters, combating criminals and chauvinistic co-workers. And it was rewarded: Daly and Gless traded off the Emmy for dramatic actress six years in a row.

'Barney Miller' (ABC) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1975-1982 | Made in New York? No, L.A. But almost all of this three-camera sitcom's action took place inside the squad room. | The case file: Capt. Barney Miller (Hal Linden) did his best to manage the racial melting pot of detectives at the fictitious 12th Precinct in Greenwich Village. | Distinguishing characteristics: The theme song's thumping bass line; eternal hang-dog Sgt. Fish (Abe Vigoda). 'Miller' also contributed to TV history by offering two of the medium's earliest gay characters in Marty Morrison (Jack DeLeon) and Darryl Driscoll (Ray Stewart).

'Kojak' (CBS) |Patrolled the airwaves from: 1973-1978. |Made in New York? Partially. The production ramped up its use of New York starting with the 1976-77 season. | The case file: Chrome-domed Greek cop Lt. Theodore Kojak (Telly Savalas) worked out of the 13th precinct in Manhattan South and was not averse to breaking the rules to catch the criminal. | Distinguishing characteristics: The character's oral fixations (first cigarettes, later lollipops) and his catchphrase, "Who loves you, baby?" To this day, cops refer to the way he held his gun as the "Kojak carry."

'Car 54, Where Are You?' (NBC) | Patrolled the airwaves from: 1961-1963 | Made in New York? Yes | The case file: Officers Gunther Toody (Joe E. Ross) and Francis Muldoon (Fred Gwynne) patrol the Bronx's fictional 53rd precinct in this sitcom. | Distinguishing characteristics: Car 54 itself looked exactly like a real NYPD patrol car at the time -- but only because of the black-and-white format. In reality, the production had to paint their Plymouth Savoy sedans red and white so they wouldn't be mistaken for actual NYPD vehicles while shooting on city streets.