Barney Miller Season 7, Episode 20: The Vests

Homicide (1)

When the NYPD restructures its precincts as specialty squads, Luger pulls some strings and gets the 12th assigned as a homicide squad. Business is good; a man murders his barber, and a woman hires a hit man to kill her husband, and then changes her mind.

30 min

Homicide (2)

Harris woos the precinct's crime photographer, while Dietrich tracks down the hit man's intended target; Barney's frustration boils over when the new homicide-only edict results in the death of an old friend.

The Delegate

A drunk and disorderly turns out to be a delegate from the 1976 Democratic convention; Barney discovers a problem with the newly assigned Officer Nash - he's not a cop.

Dorsey

The new detective is convinced that his compatriots are on the take and asks to be dealt out.

Agent Orange

Another domestic dispute at the Brauer household occurs when their apartment building becomes ""clothing optional""; Wojo takes a personal interest in the plight of a fellow vet whose crime spree may be a result of the Agent Orange chemical.

Call Girl

Dorsey takes a protective stance to a young prostitute; Harris is getting stock tips from another one; and Dietrich is tempted by all of them as he experiments with celibacy.

Resignation

Dietrich, stricken with guilt when he shoots a felon, tenders his resignation; a playwright assaults an incompetent actor.

Field Associate

Someone is sending specific information on transgressions of the men to Internal Affairs; Harris sets up a reunion between an elderly cat burglar and the wife who reported him missing years ago.

Movie (1)

Harris is assigned to direct a pornographic movie; an old-time radio newsman assaults a vacuous television anchor.

Movie (2)

A blind mugging victim and an overzealous charity collector are among the disparate audience members at the screening of Harris' overbudget film.

The Psychic

An accused mugger claims that he was answering a psychic vision; a language professor takes vandalistic umbrage to a grammatically incorrect billboard.

Stormy Weather

A deaf woman is arrested for prostitution; Barney anxiously awaits news of Wojo, who dived into the Hudson River in pursuit of a looter.

30 min

The Librarian

A serious tone pervades this episode about a gypsy and his harassment of the owner of a novelty store; on the lighter side, a librarian takes extreme measures to ensure quiet amongst the stacks.

30 min

Rachel

Ripner is suing Harris over the lawyer's portrayal in the detective's novel; Wojo asks Barney's daughter out on a date; a sporting-goods storeowner takes the law in his own hands.

30 min

Contempt (1)

A restaurant may have refused a man service because of his appearance; Barney won't name an informant so he's charged with contempt of court.

Contempt (2)

When Barney spends the night in jail, the squad room is left in the natty hands of Sergeant Harris.

The Doll

An expensive doll is abducted for ransom; a man claims he was swindled in exchange for a ticket on the space shuttle; Luger informs Barney that he's in his will.

30 min

Lady and the Bomb

The verdict is in on the Harris/Ripner libel suit, and a woman threatens to blow up the squad room with a homemade bomb. What better time for Detective Fish to drop by for a visit?

30 min

Riot

Luger takes a small disturbance with the Hassidic community and turns it into a full-scale riot; the squad discovers a survivalist couple setting up housekeeping in the sewers.

30 min

The Rainmaker

The officers arrest a rainmaker, only discover that he was hired by the drought-ridden city; Wojo, Harris and Dietrich each consider a job opening in vice.

30 min

Liquidation

Harris is forced to liquidate his possessions to pay off his lawsuit.

30 min