20 TV cops you definitely want on the job

Jake Peralta dreamt of becoming a cop his whole life, and he hasn’t let anyone down since he finally got the job. He’s always committed to finding the perp, but he also has empathy for people in tough spots. 

Olivia Benson has been handling New York’s most sensitive cases for years, and everyone has watched her ascent. She’s got plenty of her own trauma, but she still does what she needs to do to protect the city and its citizens. 

The other half of one of Law & Order’s most famous duos, Elliot Stabler and Olivia Benson are an unstoppable duo. Stabler has his own issues to work through, too, but he’s still someone you want on your side. 

Columbo has a magical way of solving mysteries. It’s so magical, in fact, that his work inspired Charlie Cale of Poker Face. While she’s not a cop herself, she takes cues on how to find the pieces of the puzzle that aren’t quite fitting, just like Columbo. 

In one television world, you want Frank Pembleton of Homicide: Life on the Streets as your cop. Andre Braugher’s first stint as a TV cop was so good that he even played the character on an episode of Law & Order. 

In another world, you want Captain Holt of Brooklyn Nine Nine solving your case. Andre Braugher put a comedic spin on his TV detective work the second time around, and it was fantastic. No matter which world you’re in, you’re getting an ace detective.

Despite all of his quirks and everything in his life that’s gone wrong, Adrian Monk is one of the greatest detectives of all time. If someone has wronged you in the San Francisco area, you want Monk to be on the case. 

Sonny Crockett proved to the world that detectives can be dressed cool as hell and still get the job done. No TV cop has ever looked cooler than the Miami Vice star. 

Okay, if there’s one TV cop who’s looked cooler than Sonny Crockett, it was his partner, Rico Tubbs. Stylish and good at his job? There’s a reason Miami Vice had such a cultural impact. 

What role has William Shatner had that he hasn’t absolutely owned? T.J. Hooker has been off the air for decades, but the character is still recognized as one of the best TV cops of all time. 

Andy Sipowicz is a great example of a TV cop who had a significant arc. It’s easy for character development to get lost in procedural shows, especially police procedurals, but Sipowicz showed that it’s not only possible, but character development in that genre adds to the series. 

The number of male cops on TV still far outweighs the number of female cops, but the female cops who’ve been on TV have been outstanding. Christine Cagney of Cagney & Lacey was sharp and hard working, and she didn’t let anyone underestimate her because of her gender. 

Mary Beth Lacey of Cagney & Lacey was equally awesome. She didn’t let anything hold her back, and she and Cagney were a shining example of female friendship and females in male-dominated fields on TV at the time. 

Jimmy McNulty has been known to frustrate his bosses and fellow detectives, but as a viewer, he’s great to watch. And if you want someone to solve your case, you know that McNulty’s intelligence and hard work are going to lead to a positive outcome. 

David Starsky of Starsky & Hutch fame was brave in the line of duty and always on the hunt for justice. And if you value a cop who wears awesome jackets, Starsky is your guy. 

Only the best cops get nicknames. Kenneth Hutchinson, better known as Hutch, was the other half of Starsky & Hutch. He also wore cool jackets, though they were more famously of the leather variety. 

John Luther is such a detective that his show is named after him and only him. He’s a total bađass who will stop at nothing to bring the unjust to justice. He’s also played by Idris Elba, which automatically makes him cooler. 

You could argue that Law & Order wouldn’t be the success it is today without the influence of Lennie Briscoe. The cop did his job, and he did it well. Fans of police procedurals everywhere mourned the loss of Jerry Orbach. 

Theo Kojak is another cop who was cool enough to have an eponymous series. He walked around the streets of NYC with a lollipop and no hair, always repeating some ridiculous catchphrase, and people loved him for it.

Kaya Blanke of Elsbeth is new to the TV cop world, but she’s already making an impact. She’s trusting of and loyal to the right people, and she knows her worth and is willing to work hard to prove it to others.