inFANity Behind the Scenes of Cops

Off topic, but since we are in the middle of what is proving to be a standoff that undoubtedly will hurt millions of people (yes millions), I feel no regret in a brief rant of conscience.
First of all, this so-called writers strike is a mistake in title. The WGA has called for a work stoppage but the people who are out of work, canceling their family holiday trips and re-evaluating whether they will refinance or sell their homes far outnumber guild members. They are the camera operators, location scouts, drivers, hairdressers, set designers, production assistants, coffee shop employees, and even the workers on TV shows who cover the TV shows that are NOT SHOOTING.
The people toting picket signs are not showing up for their paying jobs, but they are paying for their jobs. With record gas prices and an economy precariously close to recession, this is an especially tough time for the employed to NOT have a job.
I'm not pretending to have an answer. All I can say, and I realize I was never asked, is for both parties to open their ears as well as their mouths. This isn't about who has got the bigger idea. What the writers are asking for isn't criminal, it isn't moronic, it's not even ill conceived. It's simple and there have been concessions. One more teeny tiny inch could be all that lies between the people who have a duty to deliver what advertisers already paid for and the people who want a happy holiday.
OK, where were we? Cops. The FOX show that pioneered reality TV. Love it or hate it, the show about criminals cast in law enforcement's glaring spotlight is 700 episodes old. The reason people have watched for so long: Real flawed characters, heroics, and the excitement of the unexpected. How often do you see a car chase end with a naked man flailing himself into a bay hoping to escape capture? Not often. THEN he signs a release form for the world to see him in all his glory! Now that's TV.
When we visited the landmark show, they were (shooting is not the right word, but then again neither is filming) they were shooting an episode with the Pomona, California police department. When I say "they," I mean the two of them. John and Hank have been videotaping and doing audio on Cops for more than a decade. Ready, set, aim, and shoot. At times being shot at themselves. They are always on call and at a moment's notice jump into the backseat of a cruiser being driven at record speeds. They arrive on scene with police carrying 30 pounds of equipment and an overhead light that quite often stuns its prey into submission. (Other times the illumination causes people to scurry like frightened rodents) Whatever the response, John and Hank are there trying to stay out of the way AND get the job done.
Their job is nothing obviously compared to the local police departments they cover. On our particular visit, Officers Michael Olivieri, Shelly McCrary and Shaun Diamond showed us what it is like to take care of themselves and the Cops camera crew at the same time they are taking care of business. Imagine being a moving target for the bad guys, watching your back, and a couple of guys shooting a TV show. On top of that, these men and women have ANOTHER television crew shooting a behind the scenes look at Cops. They do it and they make it look easy.
Asked what a typical day is, most police officers respond differently. Asked WHY they do it, it is always the same. To help.
Before we left, some police officers asked if they could take pictures with me. Of course I agreed although it wasn't my finest hair day. Then Police Chief Joe Romero presented the InFANity crew a Certificate of Appreciation and told us how much they admire what we do.
Yeah, we're the ones who should be thanked.
Watch InFANity: Cops on TV Guide Network