PIERCE COUNTY, Wash. — Pierce County deputies will have extra eyes on them for the next month.
The Pierce County Sheriff’s Department (PCSD) confirmed camera crews with the television show “COPS” are currently gathering content for an upcoming season.
The PCSD is no stranger to the limelight. Videos posted to their social media pages show their deputies running all forms of calls – many racking up hundreds of thousands of views along the way.
“The Sheriff's Department participates in a lot of TV shows," said Darren Moss, the department’s public information officer. "This one just happens to be a little more popular. It gets a lot more attention when they come around."
Moss confirmed his deputies are currently being shadowed by crews from the show COPS.
The program dates back to 1989 when it debuted on network television. In 2020, following the death of George Floyd, and subsequent protests the show was suddenly pulled off the air.
The series found new life in deep cable and on streaming platforms. Four years later not all are happy that COPS crews are back in Tacoma.
“It is utterly tone-deaf," said Lyle Quasim, Tacoma Pierce County Black Collective. "It's tone deaf to where we are at this time in our social and legal development as it relates to law enforcement and our criminal justice system."
Quasim argued that the fast-paced show is not a true reflection of modern-day policing.
“This community was traumatized by our police issues over the last several years,” Quasim said. “If this is the tool we use for recruitment we are recruiting the wrong people."
Yet the department argued the impact on recruitment is undeniable.
“Yeah, my father was on the show in the 90’s and people still see that and talk about it all the time,” Moss said. “We have deputies in our own department right now. That saw our department on TV and said ‘I want to work for them,’” he continued.
The PCSD said they have not given the production company carte blanche. The department will maintain some editorial control and can opt not to air certain calls. They also said no money has been exchanged in this deal.