NEW YORK ILLUSTRATED: THE UNSEEN ARM OF THE LAW (TV)
Summary
One in this public affairs series devoted to issues that concern the greater New York area. In this program, Edwin Newman examines the branches of the New York City Police Department, while essential in overall fight against crime, rarely confront criminals directly and rely mainly on technology to assist them in their work. Newman first interviews a serologist, who explains how the analysis of bodily fluids can be useful in identifying a suspect. Topics addressed in interviews with employees from several divisions of the NYPD include the following: the challenge of defusing bombs and the difficulties presented by the unique qualities of different explosive devices, demonstrated by Detectives Albert Gleason and Bill Schmidt of the bomb squad in a simulated emergency procedure; technological advances in police work, including the emissions spectograph and devices used to examine documents; the importance of fingerprinting; and the use of the zip gun and the starter's pistol. Also included is a segment in which a police artist creates a sketch based on Newman's description of a suspect. Among those interviewed are Gleason, Dr. James Manning, Det. Thomas Donovan, and Lt. Joseph Slattery. Commercials deleted. (This series occasionally runs under the title "New Jersey Illustrated" or "Connecticut Illustrated"; series dates unverified.)
Details
- NETWORK: WNBC-TV
- DATE: March 4, 1967 6:00 PM
- RUNNING TIME: 0:24:23
- COLOR/B&W: B&W
- CATALOG ID: T90:0104
- GENRE: Public affairs/Documentaries
- SUBJECT HEADING: New York City - Police
- SERIES RUN: WNBC (New York, NY) - TV series, 1964-1976
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Jack Reynolds … Executive Producer
- Bernard Morris … Producer, Writer
- Don Luftig … Director
- Phebe Haas … Composer
- Edwin Newman … Narrator
- Cenzio Matisse
- Albert Gleason
- Bill Schmidt
- James Manning
- Thomas Donovan
- Joseph Slattery