Washington, D.C. cop Paul gets a rude welcome to Bakersfield when his new partner commandeers his car.
Paul and Wade search for a con artist -- not helped by a police sketch artist who'd rather be drawing celebrities -- while the rest of the force prepare for their annual psychiatric evaluation.
Wade falls madly in love with the girlfriend of a burglary suspects; Chief Stiles is reluctant to participate in the annual blood drive.
Sgt. Hampton's out of town, so an indecisive Capt. Stiles decides to make Paul his right-hand man -- and decision -maker.
When Paul finally gets invited to the gang's regular poker night, he winds up the big winner -- or does he?
Paul tells Wade the very personal reason he had for moving his family to Bakersfield, and it doesn't take much detective work for the other officers to learn the secret.
Wade is jealous when Paul's former partner comes to town, and Capt. Stiles ponder the future amid rumours that Sgt. Hampton may retire.
During a sting, Capt. Stiles hides in a restroom rather than deal with a madam's black book containing the names of several influential johns.
Capt. Stiles and Sgt. Hampton are taken hostage by an unhappy cable employee; Wade tries to get Paul to loosen up.
Wade is overwhelmed when one of his crimeshow heroes ( Joe Santos of The Rockford Files) visits the station to r eport the theft of his car radio, and persuades him to participate in the real-life investigation; meanwhile, Paul feels the strain of his long distance marriage.
Most of the department is left out of the loop when Secret Service agents arrive to protect the Presidential motorcade as it passes through town.
A thief is released from prison and comes to Bakersfield to exact revenge on Capt. Stiles, the man who caught him 10 years earlier.
Inadequacy strikes Stiles; Wade and Paul fall for a missing cow's owner; suspended Denny is forced to sell underwear from his car.
The city is up in arms, so to speak, when a severed limb is found in the civic water supply.
Paul wants to buy a house in Denny's neighborhood, to Denny's discomfort.
Paul and Wade seek a missing psychic; a secretary has cosmetic surgery.
The captain wants a spa in the men's locker room; Wade surprised Paul by revealing a caring side to his nature; Denny gets a surprise after he picks a fight with the fire department.