Cops, Meth for the Memories

A meth buyer won't exit his truck after being caught red-handed. Deputies find a trove of knives during a traffic stop. A hotdog-munching suspect is caught with drug-era keepsakes.

COPS follows police officers, constables, and sheriff's deputies during patrols and various police activities by embedding camera crews with their units. The show's formula adheres to a classic cinéma vérité ethos. With no narration or scripted dialog, it depends entirely on the commentary of the officers and on the actions of the people with whom they come into contact.