Pittsburgh-filmed episode of ‘Cops’ to premiere tonight
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When the television show “Cops” calls, police listen and cooperate.
“They show the daily realities of what being a cop is,” Pittsburgh Public Safety spokesman Chris Togneri said. “They know how to not get in the way, how to let police do their job.”
The department didn’t hesitate when “Cops” asked to film in Pittsburgh last summer to gather footage. It will air in upcoming episodes starting at 10 p.m. Monday on the Paramount network.
“Pittsburgh is a beautiful city and we are thankful to have been able to showcase some of the great work the Pittsburgh officers do on a daily basis to connect with their community and keep their citizens safe,” said Pam Gollum, a spokeswoman for “Cops.” The long-running show features the exploits of police and accused criminals around the country.
The show’s producers get permission from the police officers filmed for use on the show, along with the people who interact with police during the filming, Togneri said.
Police can halt filming if they deal with a sensitive case that isn’t appropriate for broadcast, Togneri said.
The first episode with Pittsburgh-filmed footage is now being promoted on the Facebook page for “Cops,” where a trailer has been posted.
This is the sixth season that Pittsburgh’s officers have been a part of the show, according to Gollum.
Other new episodes featuring Pittsburgh police will air March 23 and 30, she said.
More were filmed and will air at some point later this year, she said.
Now in its 32nd season, “Cops” first featured Pittsburgh in 1991, when the show was in its third season. The department was also featured in seasons 4, 18, 19 and 20, according to Gollum.
Among the Pittsburgh calls that will be featured on the show include an officer responding to a kitten stuck in a vehicle’s motor, Togneri said.
The show doesn’t manipulate footage to create a story but instead spends time with departments to share stories about what police encounter on a daily basis, Togneri said, and that’s why police generally support the show.
It also is a chance for the department to promote itself, he said.
“We view ‘Cops’ as an opportunity to showcase the professionalism and skill of Pittsburgh police,” Togneri said.