When the episode begins, some people are sneaking some illegal aliens across the US-Mexico border at night. Suddenly a shot rings out and one of the crooks is shot dead....and you see a Sheriff's Department car pull away from the scene of the crime. Soon the FBI is called in, as there are accusations that the local Sheriff did the shooting...and a policeman breaking the law like this is a civil rights violation and must be investigated by the FBI.
At first, it does appear very likely that the local Sheriff DID shoot the man, though it's not 100% certain. But there does seem to be enough evidence to pass the case on to the District Attorney and when he does it, Erskine is free to return to Washington. But the case isn't clear and he decides to keep digging in case there's concrete evidence either way.
This is a very good and tense episode of the show with some very good guest stars (James Olson and J.D. Cannon). Well written and very interesting, though it was pretty easy to tell that the policeman would turn out NOT to be guilty because the real FBI had veto power over scripts and guest stars...and I have a hard time imagining the department, and J. Edgar Hoover in particular, allowing the how to portray crooked law enforcers...whether the FBI or local police.
At first, it does appear very likely that the local Sheriff DID shoot the man, though it's not 100% certain. But there does seem to be enough evidence to pass the case on to the District Attorney and when he does it, Erskine is free to return to Washington. But the case isn't clear and he decides to keep digging in case there's concrete evidence either way.
This is a very good and tense episode of the show with some very good guest stars (James Olson and J.D. Cannon). Well written and very interesting, though it was pretty easy to tell that the policeman would turn out NOT to be guilty because the real FBI had veto power over scripts and guest stars...and I have a hard time imagining the department, and J. Edgar Hoover in particular, allowing the how to portray crooked law enforcers...whether the FBI or local police.