Michael Echols Movies

The 15th precinct investigates the death of a young boy, who was murdered for his bicycle. Eventually a suspect is arrested, only to embarrass the cops by escaping out of the interview-room window. Meanwhile, Frank Colohan (Nicholas Lea), the abusive brother-in-law of detective Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross), manages to post bail, whereupon his wife, Michelle (Katherine La Nasa), forgives him and takes him back -- an act of kindness that has tragic and surprising consequences. The premature birth of Michelle's baby launches a story arc that will come to fruition at the end of NYPD Blue's tenth season. This episode was dedicated to Bruce Paltrow, the late father of director Jake Paltrow. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

When teenaged auxiliary officer Heather Peterson is murdered, she leaves behind a diary which details explicitly the sexual habits of the uniformed officers of the 15th precinct. These revelations result in a lot of suspicion and recriminations volleying back and forth between the uniforms and the detectives. Meanwhile, McDowell (Charlotte Ross) and Ortiz (Jacqueline Obradors) deal with an uncooperative stabbing victim; Jones (Henry Simmons) and Haywood (Garcelle Beauvais-Nilon) team up to trap a con artist specializing in phone-scamming senior citizens; and Andy's son Theo (Austin Majors) balks at sharing a room with baby Michelle. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Upon learning that his former partner Danny Sorenson is definitely dead, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) nearly falls off the wagon, only to be "rescued" by Connie McDowell (Charlotte Ross). After killing the man who shot his new partner, John Clark Jr. (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), Andy is a hero to everyone but Clark's resentful father (Joe Spano). Elsewhere, a multiple-murder investigation seems linked to activities at New York University. This episode originally aired in tandem with the previous installment "Lie Like a Rug" as the two-hour opener of NYPD Blue's ninth season. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Realizing that Danny (Rick Schroder) and Diane (Kim Delaney) are too tense and high-strung to continue working together, Fancy (James McDaniel) assigns each of them to a different case. While on assignment, Diane again runs into her old nemesis Denby (Scott Cohen), who may be using a courier service for an illegal operation. And after tracking down Sid Thompson (Phil LaMarr), a suspect in two brutal subway murders, Danny completely loses it and beats Thompson to a pulp -- thereby seriously damaging his case against the alleged perp. At this, Andy (Dennis Franz), who has tried to keep Danny on an even keel, angrily washes his hands of his partner. The episode comes to an explosive conclusion when Denby shows up at the precinct for a final showdown with the relentless Diane. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Danny Sorenson's (Rick Schroder) persistent nightmares about his family have a profoundly negative effect on his job and his relationship with Mary (Sheeri Rappaport). When the skeletal remains of a little girl are found, Andy Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) solicits the aid of retired detective Calvin Rowley (Eric Sait), who investigated the original missing-persons case -- and who is now in the first stages of Alzheimer's. And Baldwin Jones (Henry Simmons) acts as mediator when the owner of a wounded dog refuses to allow Greg Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) to remove the bullet. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A woman is killed and her rare coin collection is stolen; could her drugged-out son have had anything to do with it? In other cases, ex-cop turned private detective Mike Roberts (Michael Harney) tips off the squad to the upcoming robbery of a truck from the company which currently employs Mike. Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) makes no secret of his disdain for Roberts, who seems on the verge of telling him something important. It is up to John Irvin (Bill Brochtrup), still recovering from the death of Dolores Mayo, to figure out what Mike was trying to say -- and it may have some bearing on Dolores' demise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

A white youth is killed in a black neighborhood after a botched drug deal. The victim's racist father (Thomas G. Waites) arouses the ire of Lt. Fancy (James McDaniel), resulting in a controversial confrontation. Elsewhere, Greg (Gordon Clapp) and Jill (Andrea Thompson) investigate when an African-born youth finds his mother's butchered body in their refrigerator. And while taking sick leave, Diane (Kim Delaney) suffers a miscarriage. When originally telecast, this episode ended with a surprise musical rendition by the entire cast of "Stop in the Name of Love" (running during the end credits), as a promotion for an upcoming network special commemorating the 40th anniversary of Motown. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Lucy Liu guest stars as a babysitter suspected of shaking an infant to death. Assigned to this case are Diane (Kim Delaney) and Jill (Andrea Thompson), both of whom have dated Bobby Simone (Jimmy Smits) -- and at least one of whom wants Bobby to make a definite commitment. Elsewhere, Martinez (Nicholas Turturro) and Medavoy (Gordon Clapp) try using different approaches to get a confession from a likely murderer, and a would-be cop gets into trouble by helping an old friend (Jose Soto) -- a gang leader who killed one of the other members for trying to defect. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide

Abby (Paige Turco) has been shot, and her lover, Cathy, is dead. Much to his dismay, Medavoy (Gordon Clapp), the surrogate father of Abby's child, must handle her interrogation. Elsewhere, Simone (Jimmy Smits) and Sipowicz (Dennis Franz) investigate when the charred body of a murdered woman is found in an abandoned car; the suspect at first slips through their fingers, then offers an outrageous "excuse" for his gruesome act. And having finally announced her pregnancy, Gina (Lourdes Benedicto) must take time off when complications arise. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide