Police Commission: DR-13 (17 Oct. 1968)

In this episode, Friday and Gannon are assigned to investigate complaints from motorists about a tow truck driver who takes advantage of those who are in trouble on the highway.

Director:

Jack Webb

Writer:

Robert I. Holt

Stars:

Jack Webb, Harry Morgan, Larry Pennell

Cast

Episode complete credited cast:
Jack Webb	...	Sergeant Joe Friday
Harry Morgan	...	Officer Bill Gannon
Larry Pennell	...	John Anzo
John Sebastian	...	Eddie Jones
Art Gilmore	...	Capt. George Milemore
Nydia Westman	...	Phoebe Kensington
John Dennis	...	Perry Chance
Eve McVeagh	...	Margaret Chance
Vince Williams	...	Gary Houston
Pilar Del Rey	...	Maria Arruba
Marco López	...	Danny Galindo (as Marco Antonio)

Storyline

Complaints are being received by the L.A.P.D. from people who are being made to pay inflated prices by a "Wildcat" tow truck driver (a "Wildcatter" is a tow company who is not endorsed by the LAPD and cruise the highways looking for people who are broken down hoping to make a quick buck). The tow company focused on has generated six complaints in one month. In one, the tow driver tows the car of a lady who speaks no English and makes her sign a blank contract. In another a driver runs into a telephone pole while driving drunk and so agrees to a 250.00 tow bill to get it towed before the police can show up. Friday and Gannon investigate further and find out the two owners are ex-convicts, and have been operating under a false permit. As a result of these complaints, the LAPD decides to start an official sanctioning body for tow companies.

---

Genres:

Crime | Drama | Mystery

---

Details

Language:

English

Release Date:

17 October 1968 (USA)

Filming Locations:

Universal Studios - 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, California, USA

Company Credits

Production Co:

Mark VII Ltd., Dragnet Productions, Universal TV

Technical Specs

Runtime:

30 min

Sound Mix:

Mono

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

User Reviews

Odd...but good.

The dialog when the episode sounded fake--real fake. Friday, Gannon and the Captain are talking about "wildcat" tow-trucks and their dialog is strictly to educate the viewer. I think they should have taken another tactic, as it just came off as a lecture--not a real conversation. The episode improves greatly after this--fortunately.

Much of the episode consists of Friday and Gannon tracking down complaints about one wildcat operator in particular. A guy named Anzo apparently is quite the chiseler--charging outrageous rates, fixes repairs not covered or preying on people who don't speak English. The problem is that Anzo is slick--always having an out in case there is a complaint. However, after a while, Anzo's towing service goes too far--beating up a rival tow driver AND towing a car where the driver was deceased!! John Sebastian, who had appeared previously on this show, was particularly good as one of the scum-bags working with Anzo.

Overall, an odd show, as the detectives are working on towing contracts--one of the more mundane services done by the police. Still, despite this it is interesting and worth seeing.