The Bold Ones: The Protectors

- Season 1

(1969)

The murder of a journalist, coming shortly after the killings of a black teenager and a white cop, threatens to inflame passions in the city. To prevent a riot, Lieutenant Sam Danforth and District Attorney Leslie Washburn are determined to find the killer, even though they do not exactly get along with each other and disagree over procedure.

The murder of a City Commissioner on the take highlights corruption surrounding an urban renewal project. Washburn issues a stop work order for the project, an action with which Danforth disagrees.

Due to his writing, cocky convicted rapist/killer Martin Sitomer receives a new trial in which he acts as his own attorney, forcing Washburn and Danforth to re-examine the evidence.

A witness to a burglary gives information indicating that someone on the police force was involved, leaving Danforth in the uncomfortable position of trying to find out which of his men may be on the take.

Victor Bruno, dying from a highly contagious disease, escapes from prison to exact a promise of revenge from his brother on the man who framed him. Danforth desperately seeks both the brother and a boy who came in contact with Victor after his death.

Members of an Army deserter's company kidnap him from church sanctuary, badly beating a priest in the process. This causes a crisis of faith for a nun in the church, and gives Washburn and Danforth unappealing legal choices.

Washburn is displeased at the mass arrest of students at an upscale high school for possession. The students gave themselves up after the arrest of a classmate for drugs supplied by a dealer who last batch is lethal. Washburn and Danforth search now not only for the dealer but for a girl who's taken the lethal batch and is now wandering aimlessly.