Dragnet has been one of my favorite TV programs. I was around age 10 when the old b&w episodes came out in the 1950's. I would sometimes put on a coat and hat, thinking that I was Sgt Friday. When this series was brought back in 1967, in color, I felt these Dragnet episodes were even better. This later series showed more law enforcement professionalism than the old b&w episodes. Actually, the old 1950's b&w episodes showed professionalism, except for the 1954 Dragnet movie where I thought both Friday and Smith showed unprofessional conduct. In any case, both the b&w and color episodes reflected a rather accurate rendition of the attitudes and conduct by law enforcement of both these genres, respectively.
My desire for detail and accuracy and seems to stem primarily from Jack Webb's (Sgt Joe Friday) style or signature. Don't forget, all Dragnet episodes are based on true stories.
In "The Shooting Board" episode, shots are fired. Very unusual for any Dragnet episode. Sgt Friday goes into a laundromat to buy a pack of cigarettes from a vending machine. At this point, Friday surprises a thief trying to slip-wire a coin changer. The surprised burglar fires first, missing Friday. Friday returns fire wounding this suspect who later dies. At first, there is no evidence that Friday fired in self-defense and a shooting board is assembled (routine). Only at the last minute does evidence clearing Friday come to pass in a VERY unusual way.
I believe this TV series has done an excellent job in portraying law enforcement in a positive light.