Joseph Wambaugh, an influential police drama writer, died at 88 from esophageal cancer. Known for works like 'The Onion Field,' he transformed the genre by depicting the raw and often grim realities facing police officers, such as psychological struggles and moral dilemmas. His stories, reflecting the complexities of law enforcement, stood in stark contrast to earlier heroic portrayals like 'Dragnet.' Through his characters, Wambaugh brought to life the burdens of police work, showcasing the intertwining of duty and personal turmoil in a gritty world filled with violence and chaos.
In The Glitter Dome, Officers Gibson Hand and Buckmore Phipps consider it a joy to kill people and do other good police work.
Before Mr. Wambaugh's era as a writer, police dramas like the television series Dragnet were implausible stories about clean-cut heroes doing good.
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