Dragnet

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The show takes its name from the police term "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet is perhaps the most famous and influential police procedural drama in media history. The series gave audience members a feel for the danger and heroism of police work. Dragnet earned praise for improving the public opinion of police officers. Actor and producer Jack Webb's aims in Dragnet were for realism and unpretentious acting; he achieved both goals, and Dragnet remains a key influence on subsequent police dramas in many media..

In this episode, we walk step by step through a tense Dragnet case that begins with a routine pickup of burglary suspect George Richmond and quickly spirals into a citywide manhunt. Following leads from a hotel desk to a cab company, a nightclub cigarette girl, and a stakeout on a girlfriend’s apartment, we trace Richmond’s movements and his connection to the far more dangerous Hank Palmer. When a doorway confrontation turns deadly and Sergeant Al Panojis is critically wounded, the search intensifies across Los Angeles, culminating in a nighttime street gunfight where Richmond and Palmer are taken down while resisting arrest. I reflect on the procedural rhythms, the reliance on informants and inter-agency bulletins, and the stark aftermath: an officer down, a community on edge, and a coroner’s ruling of justifiable homicide. Along the way, we highlight the production’s trademark touches—the clipped narration, authentic LAPD coordination, and the unforgettable theme—while focusing on the people swept up in the case, from wary hotel staff to frightened bystanders, and the detectives who keep pushing until the job is done.



 

[00:00:04] Unknown:

Ladies and gentlemen, the story you're about to hear is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.   You're a detective sergeant. You're assigned to Bunco fugitive details.   We got a call from another city to pick up a burglary suspect.   You know the name he's using. You know where he's living.   Your job, pick him up.   Over. Dragnet.   The documented drama of an actual crime.   For the next thirty minutes in cooperation with the Los Angeles Police Department, you will travel step by step on the side of the law to an actual case transcribed from official police files.   From beginning to end, from crime to punishment,   Dragnet is the story of your police force in action.  



[00:01:05] Unknown:

It was Tuesday, June 4 at the apartment in Los Angeles. We were working the day watch out of Bunko fugitive detail. My partner is Frank Smith, the boss of cabin c. My name is Friday. We're on our way out from the office. It was 09:42AM   when we got to the corner of Snowman Fountain.   The other zone of Carlton Hotel. Guess we checked over there, Yeah. We got the mud. Yeah. Right here.   I'm awfully sorry, Mrs. Hartfield. Yeah. I know we say a room is air conditioned.   Well, yes, ma'am. But it is true. I I know, ma'am, but the air conditioning is on full now.   Alright, ma'am. Yes. I'll send him right up.  



[00:01:40] Unknown:

I'll be with you right away.  

[00:01:42] Unknown:

Friends, here, boy.   Get to my carter up to Mrs. Hockfield in 502 right away.   I'm sorry to keep you waiting. It's just what is it you wanted? Or police officer, sir. Here's our identification.   Now there's nothing wrong, is there? I don't know what I do if anything else went wrong. The air conditioning unit went out this morning making excuses. I don't know how much longer the ice water's gonna hold up. What what is it? What's wrong now? Do you have a mister George Richmond registered here? Probably gives his home address as Modesto.   Listen. Let's see here.  

Wait some minutes, sir.   How do I know your pussy's safe? Police department's always sending out circulars saying to be careful about this sort of thing. Respectable hotel, you know? How do I know? I heard your identification   again, sir. I've killed you before. Oh,   Friday.   How about yours? Yeah. Here you are.   Uh-huh. Alright.   Can't be too careful. Your own office says, heck, you know, careful. Anybody can come in here with a badge. Yes, sir. And would you just get your register for us, please? Yeah. Sure.   Oh, yes, sir. Mhmm. Here he is. Richmond, George.  

Modesto, California. Is he here now? No. Just out there before yesterday.   Okay. Excuse me, Jesse.   Registration   desk? Yes, missus Hartfield. Yes, ma'am. I know that's what we advertise.   Well, yes, ma'am. But it's on the way out.   No, ma'am. I sent the boy myself.   Yes, ma'am. I'm sure he'll be there.   Alright, missus Hartfield.   Yes, ma'am.   I may quit.   Now what was it you wanted with Mr. Richardson? Oh, you said that he moved out. Yes. Bag and bag it the day before yesterday. Did you leave any forwarding address? No. I talked to him when he left. Didn't say a word about where he's going. Uh-huh. Was there anyone in the hotel he was especially friendly with? Anybody you might know where we can reach him? No. He kinda kept to himself nice color.   Shit gets good. Kept to himself, though. Uh-huh. Is there anyone around the place who might know where he was going? Bell boys, maybe the waitress in the coffee shop? No. No. I hardly think so. He didn't eat here. Don't blame him. Well, thank you very much, sir. Here's our card. If you hear anything from mister Richmond, we'd sure appreciate a call. You bet. I'll give you a ring. Did he get any mail while he was staying here? No. No. Nothing. Not even a phone call. Didn't use the room for anything but sleep. Real quiet.  

Good, Tipper. Did he drive a car? Do you know?   No. I don't know if I know of. Hey. Come to think of it, you might check with Ernie. Ernie? Yeah. Yeah. He drives the cab. He's usually right out in front. He picked up Mr. Richland one night. Might be able to tell you something. I do. Thank you very much. Anything comes up. Appreciate that call. Okay. Hope you get what you're looking for.   Registration desk?   Yes, mister Hartfield. Let's go for it. Alright. I know, ma'am, but the ice water is on the way up.  

[00:04:22] Unknown:

I can't understand why it isn't there,  

[00:04:25] Unknown:

but I am pathetic. Come out there, my beam. Yes, sir.   Excuse me, Mike.   Yeah? You need money?   Pastor. What can I do for you? Police officers would like some information.   Well, I got a permit to park here. No. It's not bad. We'd like to know if you remember picking up a George Richmond here. Oh.   Richmond.   Yeah. That's right.   Richmond.  

[00:04:50] Unknown:

Well, name doesn't make any bell drink.  

[00:04:54] Unknown:

What's the guy look like? He got this light shot for you. Oh, yeah. There you go. You cut too? Yes, sir. I'm an off stick. Yeah.   You kinda look like one.   Are you the guy? Yes. Is that him? You never taken him up? Yeah. Seems I've seen him before.   Yeah. Yeah. Good tippers. Yeah. I picked him up. Let's see,   couple days ago. Drove him downtown.   Sure. Downtown. Remember where you took him? Yeah. It was a couple days ago, like I said. Yeah. Just I haven't got the slightest idea.   10:07AM.   We continue to talk to the cab driver. He was sure that he picked up George Richmond on Sunday night, but he was unable to tell if he'd taken the suspect.   We drove back downtown and checked with the cab company. On the driver's waybill, we found that he's made three pickups that night from the hotel on Fountain Avenue. The first stop listed was a large cafeteria in Downtown Los Angeles. We checked with a cashier. She was unable to identify the mugshots of Richmond.  

The second stop was a large apartment out on Wilshire Boulevard. We checked the manager of the place and she told us that she didn't recognize the name. We showed her the mugshots of Richmond. She said that she thought she'd seen the man two weeks before.   When she asked him what he wanted, he said that he was looking for a miss Norman.   Because of the way he'd acted, the landlady hadn't told him that there was a tenant by that name living in the place. He gave us the apartment number of the Norman woman and Frank and I went up to see her.   I wanna try it again. Yeah.  

Police officers.  

[00:06:29] Unknown:

What? Police officers. We'd like to talk to you. Just a minute.  

[00:06:37] Unknown:

And what's this all about? Miss Margaret and Norman.  

[00:06:40] Unknown:

Yeah. Sorry. What do you mean? Why don't we come in, please? Feel a little better than talking out here in the hall.  

[00:06:46] Unknown:

No. I guess so.  

[00:06:47] Unknown:

Come in. Thank you.   My name is Friday. This is my partner, Frank Smith. Pleased to meet you there. Yeah. Hi. You alone here, miss Norman?  

[00:06:56] Unknown:

Yeah. I just got up. I have to excuse the way the price looks kinda messy. Yes, ma'am. Mind if I put on some coffee? I'm not gonna be able to answer any questions before I have a cup of coffee. Let me go right ahead, ma'am.   What did you want to hear me about?  

[00:07:11] Unknown:

You know a man named Richmond?   Richmond? Yes, ma'am. George Richmond.  

[00:07:17] Unknown:

Why'd you ask her out what she done?  

[00:07:18] Unknown:

Well, you're fighting off you know him, do you? Yeah. I know.   What do you guys want him for? Only life talk for him, miss Norman.  

[00:07:26] Unknown:

Uh-huh.  

[00:07:27] Unknown:

You wanna tell me what it's about, Well, it'll be better if we talk to him. Yeah.  

[00:07:33] Unknown:

You don't wanna do that with cigarettes?  

[00:07:34] Unknown:

Yes, ma'am. Here you go.   Match?   Thanks.   Thanks.  

[00:07:45] Unknown:

You know, there's no love lost between me and George. Is that right? I bet there isn't lousy but I'm gonna go out to a cowboy.   Come figure out for dinner one lousy night and a cheese dinner. Figured he owns it. You know where he is now? I haven't got the slightest idea. If I didn't know, I'd sure tell you that I would. If I could see him get his way he treated me. Do you know any of his friends? Anyone who might know where he is? I don't think he's got a friend. He said I never met any of them. Does he drive a car? Do you know? No. Nothing. Always took a cab. Used to kill me. I don't know why he wanted to take a cab. One lousy brat and he took a cab. Like to be a sport.   Always tipping big. Regular drugstore cowboy. Mhmm. When you see him where? Oh, a couple of weeks ago. Not much anyway.  

Last time I saw   him. Don't care if I never see him again where he acted. Oh, he's gonna kill me. Ma'am?   Went out to dinner when we got back here. He's been drinking a lot. Got real nasty.   I told him he'd be gone. You know, it was late and all. Yes, ma'am. Well, like I said, it was late and got real nasty. Started yelling at me. Called me all sorts of things. I'm not gonna let any man say things like that to me, so I told him to get up. I never wanna see him again. When was he dinner and he thought he yelled me?  

[00:08:50] Unknown:

Where did he go ahead, miss Tom? He called up and hit me. Right there in the hall.  

[00:08:55] Unknown:

Hit me as hard as he could on the surface of my jaw. And, you know, I let out a scream and he beat it. Cars had to come out and I had to move. So this didn't happen here, is that? No. I'm placed over on Vermont. I moved the next day. Mhmm. What'd you mean, Richmond?   At the club.   So you got another cigar? Yeah.  

[00:09:12] Unknown:

There you   go. That's  

[00:09:17] Unknown:

Thanks.   What club is that, ma'am? Well, I work in Green Line in downtown.   I'm a cigarette girl.   I met him there. Came in one night, asked the real big,   asking if I'd have dinner with him. As it happened, I didn't have an engagement that night, so I said yes.   Well, it kinda went together for a while. I see.   Sure hope you get him a real bad guy. The way he treats women, terrible.   You say, wait a minute. Yes, ma'am. I know someone who might be able to tell you where he is. Who's that man? Phone named Hank. He's staying around the club. I saw Judge talk to him as a bar once in a while. Well, do you know where he can find this fella, Hank? No. But I can tell you where his girlfriend lives. That help? Yes, ma'am. I will. Place over on Third out near Fairfax. Do you know his full name, ma'am?   Sure. I gotta think about that.  

Let's see. Gannette, that's the girl. Gannette introduced to miss Palmer. That that's it, Hank Palmer.   I don't know about him though. What's that, miss Palmer?   He's a real mean one. Kinda quiet. Not like George. George likes to soot his mouth off, but   Hank is quiet. He's a couple though. Ma'am? Oh, one night we went up to Gannett's for a couple of drinks.   I took off his coat. That's why I say he's rough. Yeah.   Carries a gun.  

[00:10:37] Unknown:

01:45PM.   We got the description of Hank Palmer, and then Frank and I drove back to the city hall. We ran the name and description through RNI, but we got no make. We sent the name to George Flaherty, c I I, up at Sacramento. We got a communication off to Washington asking him for information on Palmer. We also checked the name of Palmer's girlfriend through our records, but we got no information. We contacted captain Steve and arranged for a stakeout to be placed on the apartment of Palmer's girlfriend, Janet Allen.   Two days went by.  

Palmer and Richmond failed to make an appearance.   We talked to Janet Allen, but she couldn't supply us with any information as to the whereabouts of the two men.   Descriptions of the men were broadcast. Informants were questioned.   We contacted the Modesto Police Department, and they sent us all information on the places Richmond was known to frequent while he was in Los Angeles.   The kickback from Sacramento in Washington gave us no new information on Richmond, but Washington had him listed as having two arrests for armed robbery and ADW in the East.   Another week passed.  

The stakeout on Jeanette Allen's apartment continued. No sign of either of the men.   Sergeant Al Panojis are the Bunko fugitive detail worked with us in trying to trace their movements.   On Saturday, June 15, we got word from an informant that Richmond and Palmer had been seen in town. We checked with a stakeout at the apartment, but they've seen nothing of the two men.   Frank, Alpinogis, and I go about to relieve the stakeout. Hey, Fenerce.   Yeah, Frank? It's so hot in this room, and then Air just laying there. Yeah.   They just said that the house still Fifteenth on record. Hey, miss Allen. Yes, Franklin. And you haven't heard from Palmer at all since he got back, is there? No. Not a word. I don't really believe he's in town. I'm sure if he was, he'd look me up. Never done this before. Uh-huh. So would it be alright if I had a glass of water, miss? Sure. Help yourself right out in the kitchen. Alright. How about you, Joe? No. No thanks.  

Al? Yeah.   Joe? Yeah.   Ed's stopping out in front. Man getting out.   I see one of   you. Alright. Let him know what's going on. Daylight, sir? You come in here now? Yeah. That's how it's pulling away. Okay. I wanna see if that's fine at the door thing. Right.  

[00:12:45] Unknown:

You better go into the bedroom, miss Allen. You think there's gonna be some trouble? Well, it depends on the way he wants it. Oh, well, I guess you know best. I hope not. All I end is I have to move it to.  

[00:12:59] Unknown:

Somebody in the hall. Stop him.   All set. Right?   Who are you? You're Hank Palmer. Yeah. So what? Police officer. Louder. How much is Joey's gotta get?  

[00:13:14] Unknown:

Okay.   Alright. Hold it up, Palmer. Stop. We're all fired. Get away, police. Stop. Hold it up,  

[00:13:31] Unknown:

Get in the call, Frank. Ray Mercer's license number is 1S69105.   Right. Better call an ambulance too, but Panojis. You heard  

[00:13:40] Unknown:

that.  

[00:13:44] Unknown:

June 15, 08:40PM.   Sergeant Al Panojis was removed to Georgia City Receiving Hospital. His condition was listed as critical.   The bullet had entered his chest and was still embedded below the left lung.   His family was notified.   And after Frank and I got out the APB on Palmer, we drove by to pick up missus Panojci.   We dropped her off at the hospital and Frank stayed with her. Palmer's description was put out as was the description of the car he commandeered to get away.   I ran the number through our DMVs and found that it was registered to a William Evans, 1627   East Poinsettia, Hollywood.  

Along with Sergeant Ulrich, I checked out the address. Missus Evans told us that she hadn't seen her husband for several hours. But when he left the house, he had told her that he was going to a live meeting.   We got a description of him and got out a local and an APB on him. I called the hospital and found that they'd operated on Hinojis, but that they were unable to remove the bullet. His wife collapsed.   Frank had her taken home where she was cared for by their family doctor.   12:46AM.   A radio car out in Chatsworth picked up Evan. He told them that Palmer had forced him at gunpoint to drive him to the valley. There, he forced Evans from the car and driven off. Evans couldn't give the officers any idea of where the suspect might have been headed.   Two hours later, the car was found abandoned on Spring Street. It was placed under surveillance and a dragnet at the downtown area was started. Metro Division assigned 20 teams of men to make a block by block search of the vicinity. The details of the bus stations and the airports were alerted.  

04:12AM.   I got a call from Frank, and I drove over to Georgia's receiving hospital.   Alright. How's it going? Alright, Judge. Just saw the doctor. Well, how about you? Just  

[00:15:30] Unknown:

You are listening to Dragnet, the authentic story of your police force in action.  

[00:15:42] Unknown:

When an officer is first accepted by the police force, he spends thirteen weeks at the police academy. In that period, he learns the basic fundamentals of being a peace officer.   On graduation from the academy, he's assigned either to traffic or to a tour of duty in one of the city jails.   Then depending on his aptitude and the way he conducts himself in the field, he's checked on for possible transfer to one of the detective divisions as an investigator.   By the time a police officer gets his assignment to the detectives bureau, he's become a professional troubleshooter.   He knows how to handle himself and he knows how to treat the lawbreaker.  

He's on call 24 a day, seven days a week, and he wears a gun.   When a hoodlum shoots a police officer,   he's showing society that he has no regard for the law. And at the same time, he is announcing that he will not hesitate to kill an unarmed citizen.   Sergeant Alfred Panoce has been a policeman fourteen years.   He'd begun in traffic and then had been transferred to the juvenile division.   From there, he went to homicide detail and then to Bongo Fugitive Division.   He was a professional peace officer and he's been murdered.   He gave his life to protect the people who paid his salary, the tax   payers. His killer was still at large and we had to find him.  

The search of the downtown area was intensified, but it netted us nothing. Frank and I checked the immediate area around the abandoned car. In talking to the people in the vicinity, we found a newsboy who had seen Palmer parts the car. He said he was unable to tell us where the man had gone, but he said that he thought he might have gone into a bar near the corner.   We checked the place, but the bartender was unable to give us any information.   Two days passed. We rechecked the known hangouts of the two men. Neither of them had been seen.   Tuesday, June 18. We got word that Palmer had been seen entering an apartment house on South Alvarado.  

10:14AM.   Frank and I drove over to talk to the landlady. Palmer and Richmond.   No. No. I don't think I know them. What if you take a look at these pictures of this whole book, see if you recognize them? Sure. Yeah.  

[00:17:38] Unknown:

He's a mean one. Haven't seen him, though. This one. Ma'am?   This one. I know him. Which one's he?  

[00:17:45] Unknown:

Wes Richman?  

[00:17:46] Unknown:

No. That's not his name. Told me it was Reisman. Said it was John Reisman. Lived up in 206. That's in front. Do you know, ma'am? No. We went out this morning early. First time in a couple of days, we went out early. You expect me back soon?   Oh, I don't know right off. Might be. I don't generally know when they're coming back. Don't keep tabbing on me now. Them?   Yeah. Tenants.   A nice bunch. Most of them quiet. Had a full place last two years. Uh-huh. How long has this, Reisman? Yeah. That's it, John Reisman. How long has he been here? Oh, he's kinda new. He took over the room from a friend of yours. Yes, ma'am. Do you have any friends in the building, anyone that he sees quite a bit of? Well, now there's a girl in 306 that sees quite a bit of her. Oh, who's that, miss Holbrook? That'd be Barbara McIntyre. Nice girl. Dance her. Works downtown at one of the clubs. She in now, would you know? Oh, she should be. Yes. Hardly ever gets up much before noon. Hardly ever. She works late, you know. Yes, ma'am. Does, Richmond drive a car?   Richmond?  

Oh, dear. Now, well, I don't know. I don't think so.   Seems like he's always coming home in a cab. He comes in at all hours.   I don't think he's gonna last here. Why say that, ma'am? Because I don't think he will. That's all. Played the radio late, makes noise, you know. Then there was a fight. The girl didn't wanna do anything about it, but I certainly think she should have. Oh, what's that about, ma'am? Oh, one night, let's see, it must have been about,   a week ago, Rifeman or or Richmond or whatever his name is came home and he was   well, he's been drinking quite a bit. You know? Yes, ma'am. Well, he went up to the girl's apartment and they had an awful brawl   screaming and yelling an awful brawl. I went up and asked if there was something I could do, but she yelled through the door and said no, that everything was all right. Of course it wasn't.  

Ma'am? Well, the next day, the poor thing had a black eye that just wouldn't stop, all bruised up. Had a bandage right here in the forehead, must have hit her awful hard.   No? Sir, I don't think he's gonna laugh. Okay. And you're pretty sure that you haven't seen this other man though. Right? Well, let me see that picture again. Mhmm.   Which one? No. No. No. I'm positive. I never saw him. Of course, I don't mean he wasn't here. Ma'am? Well, like I said, I don't pay much attention to them. They pay their rent and I don't bother them. They come and go as they please. Say, what do you want them for? Is it about that, mister? My friend? Yeah. Is it about him beating up that poor girl? No, ma'am. I should have known about him.   No, sir. He ain't gonna last long around here. I wonder if we could see his room, is it over? Well, I guess it's all right.  



[00:20:10] Unknown:

I'll get the key. Alright, ma'am. Thank you.  

[00:20:21] Unknown:

There you are. It's right up the stairs and into the front of the hall. So on the right at the far end of the hall. Well, we're glad you'd come up with us, ma'am. Oh, alright.   Glad to help.   That way, he must have beat that girl. I've seen that's what he is. Sure isn't gonna last long around here. Oh, ma'am. He sure is.  

[00:20:47] Unknown:

Before we looked at Richmond's apartment, we tried to check with his girlfriend. We found that she wasn't in. The manager let us into her apartment, but we found no indication where she might have gone. Then we went downstairs and searched Richmond's place. He wasn't there. The landerty stood by where we searched the place. In a closet, we found a small arsenal, a gas grenade, a sawed off shotgun, and two boxes of shells. There were also several revolvers along with over a 150 rounds of ammunition.   We called the office marines for a stake out on the building. Sergeant Ollie, Gerard, Gilmore, and Miller came out.  

Gerard and Gilmore covered the front entrance. Ollie and Miller were stationed at the back of the building, and Frank and I covered Litchman's room.   The residents of the apartment were warned to stay inside their rooms and to keep their doors locked.   10:30PM.   There was still no sign of the suspects. We waited. 11:00,   11:15,   midnight. Yeah. Yeah.   Looks like it might be them. Yeah. I'm pulling up the front. How about you riding Gilmore?   I can't see him from here.   Yeah.   It's like Palmer, Richard. Yeah. The girl was Where is she? She's walking between it. That's a tough one. I know.   I mean, we'll try to take him on the street this morning. Coming in the building.  

Uh-huh.   I should be here pretty quick. Yeah. I use it for coming here.   Upstairs.   Sales Apartment. Sounds like   it. Wanna say when in winter?   I just have to wait.   Wait a minute.   Somebody outside there in the hall upstairs. Hold.  

[00:22:22] Unknown:

I don't feel right. I'd tell you it's too quiet. Something's gonna hide. Look, you look older than me. Don't you wanna read it?  

[00:22:27] Unknown:

No.   I'd give it a heart.   I made the streets. No more cars could get it.   That card, Joe. Let's go.  

[00:22:42] Unknown:

What if I do it next door?  

[00:22:45] Unknown:

You wanna cover me while I try to get over there? Alright.   You alright, Frank? Right? Alright. I'm coming over. I'll tell you.  

[00:22:57] Unknown:

You see Gilmore in garage? Yeah. Behind the Buick over there.   Go on out of there.  

[00:23:03] Unknown:

Winston, Palmer, come on.   Okay.  

[00:23:38] Unknown:

Alright. I'll take a witness this time.  

[00:23:41] Unknown:

I have Scott. Scott, I'll give it to you. I'm a hurt. Can't you She's not a hurt thing.  

[00:23:47] Unknown:

I told Gilmore to call the ambulance fix instead. How about this one? So he said, I don't know how bad. I should have known not to kill a cop.  

[00:23:54] Unknown:

That would have been like this if I didn't kill that cop. I didn't mean to. I got scared. That's all scared. You can understand that, can't you? Yeah. You wanna shake them, Frank? Yeah. Watch it. Thanks. Got  

[00:24:07] Unknown:

it. Alright. Yeah. Alright.   Alright.   I'll check it.   Go by then.   What's your job? What's that?   I have these in his pocket.  

[00:24:40] Unknown:

The story you've just heard was true.   The names were changed to protect the innocent.   On July 26, an inquest was held in the coroner's office in and for the county of Los Angeles. In a moment, the results of that inquest.   Inquest. At the coroner's inquest, it was found that the deaths of George Thomas Richmond and Henry Donald Palmer were justifiable homicide.   It was found that they were armed and were killed while resisting arrest.   You have just heard Dragnet, a series of authentic cases from official files.   Technical advice comes from the office of chief of police WH Parker, Los Angeles Police Department.  

Technical advisers,   captain Jack Donahoe, sergeant Marty Wynn, sergeant Vance Glacier.   Heard tonight were Ben Alexander, Joyce McCluskey, Paul Richards.   Scripts by John Robinson. Music by Walter Schumann. Al Gibney speaking.