Billy Humm (Cliff Gorman) is a most unusual cop. While the average policeman never ends up shooting any suspects in the line of duty, when the show begins, he's already been involved in four such incidents. As a result, he's seen by some in the department as 'trigger happy'....though in the two additional incidents you see in the show, he is either operating in the line of duty or actually hesitates to use violence. What is going on with Humm and is he a danger to himself or the community?
Some may dislike this episode because there is no answer to the enigma of Billy Humm. No answers....just a portrait of a good cop who may or may not have a death wish. All in all, very good because it deals with PTSD and similar reactions in policemen...something rare for the 1970s where shootings were generally glamorized and the after-effects ignored.
By the way, I originally wanted to score this one an 8 but the more I thought about it, I decided on the 7. Why? Because the departmental psychotherapist (Milton Selzer) was poorly written and he was a horrible example of the profession. I know because I used to train therapists...and this guy asked questions and dealt with Humm as if he had no idea what he was doing.
Some may dislike this episode because there is no answer to the enigma of Billy Humm. No answers....just a portrait of a good cop who may or may not have a death wish. All in all, very good because it deals with PTSD and similar reactions in policemen...something rare for the 1970s where shootings were generally glamorized and the after-effects ignored.
By the way, I originally wanted to score this one an 8 but the more I thought about it, I decided on the 7. Why? Because the departmental psychotherapist (Milton Selzer) was poorly written and he was a horrible example of the profession. I know because I used to train therapists...and this guy asked questions and dealt with Humm as if he had no idea what he was doing.