User Reviews

You have here a tremendous performance pulled by Claude Akins; who - I just realize - I missed since the beginning of this TV show. Such old cops characters suit to him like a glove. He is here tough and poignant in the same time as this vet cop who has to struggle against his own demons, alcohol and relationship with his wife. One more typical line we already had in Dick Fleischer's THE NEW CENTURIONS also adapted from Joseph Wambaugh. I will never be tired of this TV series, the kind of show you don't see anymore. I don't think many of those episodes are available anymore. Such a shame. Claude Akins played in two other episodes of POLICE STORY, I hardly wait to see them.

The police have a tough, dangerous and nerve-wracking job. So it's no wonder they often suffer from a variety of problems, such as PTSD, depression and substance abuse. However, these topics are rarely covered in cop shows, where too often the life is glamorized and the downsides of being a policeman are ignored. So, when I saw "The Long Ball", I was impressed as "Police Story" actually talked about alcoholism and how it affects one cop, Sgt. Pickett (Claude Akins).

When the story begins, Pickett is a well respected and effective cop. He makes some pretty good busts and so it's not surprising that his request to join the Vice unit is approved. However, there are some signs that Pickett is not okay....as he seems to be drinking an awful lot. And, once he's with Vice, it becomes noticeably worse and it now begins directly impacting his job. Soon, he's barely functional...and yet he won't admit he has a problem. And old friend (Herb Edelman) is an alcoholic in recovery and he tries to help Pickett, but it all seems to be falling on deaf ears. Will any of this change after his family leaves him? Tune in to see for yourself.

Overall, this is a very brave and sad episode...mostly because many policemen and women suffer from alcohol abuse and dependence. Sure, it's a tough job and that's one way to cope...but it's a dead end in the long run. Congratulations to the writers and Akins for making this excellent episode possible.

Hard to find enough superlatives to describe Claude Akins' tour de force as the good cop with a bad problem. He's aided by a fine script that ages well (I had not seen it until today, in 2022). He's aided by a good supporting cast that includes Herb Edelman, another criminally underrated actor in a small role as Akins' former police partner.