Detective Sal Benedetto (Dennis Franz, 'NYPD Blue') is brought back. Last seen roughing up Andy and getting roughed up by Bobby, the sleazy detective is currently on loan to Hill Street Station to get the goods on a loan shark (Michael Lerner, "Barton Fink") who may also be dabbling in drugs. Leo (Robert Hirschfeld) is helping the addict Rico (Marco Rodriguez, "The Crow") get clean. A cutting edge robot to be used as part of law enforcement gets introduced to the Hill, and figures in moments both comical and poignant. Adding a *lot* of potential unrest is the fact that the men & women of the station may have to do without their paychecks for a while, due to a snafu with payroll.
Franz adds some real pizzazz to this episode as the kind of lawman who resorts to highly unorthodox - one would also say *nasty* - methods in the name of getting his man. The character is slimy, but not entirely one-dimensional: he *does* save Neals' life when lowlife Sonny Crockett (Dennis Burkley, marking his final appearance in the role) attempts to shoot Neal. Sal also shows Bobby that there are no hard feelings by helping to get Bobby's car out of the impound lot. Howard figures in some very touching moments, and you do feel genuinely bad for him when his nurse girlfriend Linda (Kathleen Lloyd, "The Missouri Breaks") dumps him. Rodriguez does some of his best acting on the series as Rico gets clean, but what gives 'Spotlight on Rico' some real gravitas is the performance by guest star Jonathan Banks (of 'Breaking Bad' and 'Better Call Saul' fame), playing a man with multiple personality disorder; one of these personalities may very well be a murderer. It's amusing watching J. D. and Mick being forced to work together since obviously neither man can stand the other.
Top direction, by Rick Wallace, and great writing help to make this another winning third season episode.
Eight out of 10.