REALITY CHECK: Learn the true story behind 'Southland'

She was speeding south on the 405 freeway, straddling the edge of disaster. In her 2002 Toyota Corolla, she zoomed past exit after exit, without regard for safety or surroundings. The crime had been committed, and only destiny could stop her now.

That, or an army of police cars. 

This sounds dramatic, but for the officers of the Los Angeles Police Department, barricading the city's already congested freeways in the name of justice is all part of the job. But it's just one part. Every day, the LAPD responds to calls ranging from high-octane car chases to gang violence to domestic disputes. Often, L.A.'s boys (and women) in blue are commended for their efforts. Other times, though -- deservedly or not -- they've been given a pretty bad rap.

That's not the case on the NBC television series 'Southland,' which claims to "take a raw and authentic [but dramatized] look at Los Angeles and the lives of the officers who police it." Though the show's characters certainly have their flaws, it depicts the LAPD as a collection of brave, hard-working human beings who even have a sense of humor. They strive to help people -- and help themselves -- as best they can, but are often restricted by the city and have to settle with just doing their jobs. 

Sometimes lives are saved. Sometimes they aren't. 

Is this what happens in real life? For the most part, yes, says one mid-level LAPD patrolman, who we'll call "Officer Paul." (Because of the sensitivity of his position -- and department regulations -- he asked that we not reveal his real name. But since he watches 'Southland,' he wanted to comment.)

According to Officer Paul, while some aspects of the show are accurate, such as its personal stories and humorous cop banter, some specific police procedures are for entertainment value only. 

"They create the show for the audience," the officer says. "It's a good show, but it's just for entertainment."

For example, he explains, the cops on 'Southland' sometimes respond to calls outside of LAPD jurisdiction, areas where in real life, different police divisions would be called in to handle.

Additionally, says Officer Paul, chasing suspects on foot and getting into shoot-outs may be a regular occurrence on the show, as it makes for good TV. But in real life, when those life-or-death moments occur, you're rarely prepared for them. 

"Pursuit is the most dangerous thing I've done on the job," he adds.

There are other discrepancies on 'Southland,' too, according to the officer. On one episode, for instance, a detective who's recovering from a car accident realizes his gun is missing, but he doesn't report it.

"You don't do that," Officer Paul says. "If you lose your gun, you report it."

He also questions the "hot shot" attitude of one of the show's central characters, first-year cop Ben Sherman (actor Benjamin McKenzie). "When a rookie cop isn't paying attention to his commanding officer and acts like a hot shot, he most likely would be warned once and then terminated if it happened again," he says.

"Officer Jake," who wrote about 'Southland' on his wife's blog, LAPDwife.com, was also struck by certain characters' behavior, noting that in real life, it would "guarantee you a trip to internal affairs, a beef or losing your job." And he noticed right away that "details were wrong throughout" the show, some of them major. In his less-than-thrilled review, Officer Jake did grudgingly admit that the cop humor and generalizations were fairly right on, but much of the department language was clearly outdated or being used incorrectly. (Code 7, for example, is no longer used by the LAPD.) 

But if 'Southland' can get the heart of an LAPD officer right, how much do technical discrepancies matter -- especially to viewers who aren't directly involved in law enforcement? 

"Everybody has their own perceptions of what the LAPD is," says Officer Karen Rayner, LAPD Media Relations. Though she hasn't watched 'Southland' yet, Rayner says she enjoys cop shows and their portrayal of the police. "Shows like 'Dragnet' brought the department positive attention, and as long as they do that it's a wonderful thing," she says.

Despite 'Southland' having some unrealistic aspects, it does seem to contain the essence of what it means emotionally and personally to be a police officer. And ultimately, says Officer Paul, it's the humor between officers regarding unusual arrests, or wild events on the show that make the series work.

"Cops do drink and joke around a lot, like on the show," he says. "The best part of the job is the people you work with."

Still on the fence about 'Southland'? These suggestions should help:

          -- Go on a ride-along with the real-life cops. Many police departments allow residents to "ride along" with officers on their shifts, to encourage a better understanding of the risks and rewards of police work. Contact your city's police department for details.

          -- Check out the LAPD blog, LAPDwife.com or search the Web for other police-related sites. You'll likely find something that's actually enlightening -- or at least fun to read.

          -- Forget all this "dramatization" stuff: 'Cops' is on!

And there you have it. Now take aim and tune in to 'Southland'

-- Ted Goslin, Clear365 Blogger

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