The Watch Commander

Written by
 Previous

## Briefing

While Jon happens to be temporarily partnered with Grossie because of Ponch being placed on restricted duty at the front desk after accidentally breaking his right wrist after crashing his patrol bike about two months ago while in pursuit of Donnie Joe King who happens to be an ex-convicted felon that committing a series robberies in front several jewelry stores, Lieutenant Harold A. Bates who happens to be their new substitute watch commander finally decides to visit Central after leaving his personnel job in Sacramento in which he begins hassling his colleagues for violating minor regulations, and Getraer doesn't agree with the reprimands because he sees the departments needs of flexibility besides going by the book. The CHP begins investigating Melvin Joe Harley along with Tyrone who happen to be a set of two ex-convicted felons that are renting semi-trucks in order steal trailers that are packed full of several different kinds of merchandise from the loading docks, and Bates wants to Jon and Grossie in front of the review board for several violations of the law since their patrol bikes were accidentally totaled after ran over by semi-trucks that were driven by their suspects. Harlan begins helping Grossie siphon the gas every day out of the fuel tank of Bates's patrol car, Jon decides to check out parachuting lessons after meeting Marie Coselli who happens to be the instructor, Bates accidentally crashes his patrol car into several crates of apples at the warehouse district, Ponch often needs rides to work because of his beloved Firebird was accidentally totaled during a demolition derby while trying apprehend Bones Bateman at Ascot Park about a month ago, and Bonnie demonstrates her Latin language skills. Bates finally demonstrates how to arrested Mel and Tyrone after letting the Ford C-Series crashes in passengers side fender of his patrol car, he manages to catch Grossie siphoned the gas out his fuel tank with the help of Harlan proving of the evidence, along with Ponch, including Jon, and Bonnie all give their colleague a dirty look.

## Report

While back on duty at central Monday morning, Getraer happens to be sitting at his desk when notices that Ponch who is actually now chasing the receptionist around the hallway because he finds being placed on restricted duty at the front desk boring after accidentally breaking his right wrist during a crash of his patrol bike in front of set of boxes with a parked semi-truck while in pursuit of Donnie Joe King who happens to be ex-convicted that now facing charges after robbing a series of jewelry stores while posing as the phantom about two months ago, and he decides to give his colleague another assignment that involves cleaning weapons in order to impress Lieutenant Harold A. Bates who happens to be their new substitute watch commander that is actually arriving from personnel office in Sacramento early tomorrow morning. Jon is actually parked on the side of Vanalden Avenue after hearing a rattling coming from his tail light bracket, he is unaware that Melvin Joe Harley along with his friend Tyrone who happen to be a set of two ex-convicted felons that were recently released from prison during the fall of last year, their suspects happen to be driving around in a Ford C-Series that was recently rented from a trucking company in order steal a trailer from the loading dock, and Baricza finally arrives in his patrol car in order to help his colleague fix a loose tail light bracket. Mel finally decides to pull into a loading dock across the street, Tyrone agrees to help hook up the trailer full of brand-new television sets that were recently imported into United States from Japan, Jon doesn't seem interested in taking parachuting lessons after he has just finished repairing the loose tail light bracket on his patrol bike, and Baricza drives away in his patrol while being unaware that their suspects have just gotten away with stealing a trailer at the same time.

While back on duty at central Tuesday morning, Bates finally arrives driving a Ford LTD Country Squire decides to park in his reserve spot in which is actually located in the back parking lot, he immediately starts noticing that all the patrol bikes are parked in a disorderly fashion, and he decides to check in for duty at the front desk after walking through the door carrying a spare uniform where he finally meets Ponch who happens to telephone call from a man at the nearest callbox about a recent car accident north on Harbor Freeway. After Getraer finishes this morning's roll call about Mel and Tyrone actually renting semi-trucks in order to steal trailers that are full of several different types of luxury items, he decides to introduce their colleagues to Bates who starts preaching about their personal appearances, he even notices that one button being undone on Baricza's uniform, including the conservation of fuel in their patrol cars and bikes, Bonnie and Grossie start realizing that their substitute lieutenant watch commander is actually dictator from the personnel office in Sacramento, and he continues to notice Ponch's uniform that was recently tailored because of accidentally breaking right wrist during a crash of his patrol bike about two month ago. After this morning's roll call which is actually about reforming the rules of regulations that starts makes the officers think about central becoming a full dictatorship, Getraer now decides to have a private meeting with Bates inside his office about having a good relationship with your colleagues towards the guidance of flexibility, properly addressing ranks, and he soon realizes about their differences in policies because of the lack of communication skills that is starting to happen while working in the same department together. Ponch now decides to have meeting with Jon in the attendance room about wanting to start a parachuting team by having their colleagues agree to take lessons, he now feels that his colleague doesn't show any interest because of a lack of communication skills about going over safety regulations with the instructor, and he soon realizes despite of broken right wrist being in a brace that his best effort to convince his colleague about wanting to raise money for California Highway Patrol. During lunchtime when Bates finally decides to stop at Arby's for a roast beef sandwich where he happens to unaware of his colleagues having a meeting about him after he finishes spotting a set of two patrol cars and bikes, Jon now feels that their lieutenant substitute watch commander has a lack of communication skills with little experience in patrolling the streets, Bonnie fears that central is actually becoming a full dictatorship because of the personnel office in Sacramento, Baricza happens to see their new colleague now walking over to them, and Grossie feels uncomfortable with being reprimanded over a lunch break violation when he persuades his colleague to leave by agreeing to throw away their sandwich wrappers into the trash can in order to go back on duty with their patrol bikes. While duty on duty at central Wednesday morning, Getraer now decides have another private meeting with Bates inside the lieutenant's office after getting a complaint about him hassling their colleagues over a lunch break violation Arby's yesterday afternoon from Bonnie who practically in tears about the whole situation, he soon realizes once again about their differences in policies regarding the rules of regulations especially with officers taking breaks together in large groups, and he's even more concerns about a large groups of female officers filing a harassment suit against the California Highway Patrol for turning into a full dictatorship. Harlan finally catches Grossie who still outside in the back parking lot now tampering with the fuel tank of Bates's patrol car by adding more gasoline from the spare can, he chooses not to stay out of the situation involving his personal issues with their substitute lieutenant watch commander, and he doesn't want to report his colleague for burglarizing property of the California Highway Patrol.

Jon happens to be patrolling west on Century freeway, he finally spots Mel who happens to be driving around in a Ford LN 7-00, including Tyrone who happens to be driving around in an International Harvester Cargostar, he decides to call into the dispatcher while following two unmarked trailers

out

south on Harbor freeway,

Out on the Jon and Grossie see two rigs, driven by Mel and (a.k.a. the "Rent-a-Crooks"), and to them. As Jon in, they both pull their trucks over. Grossie tries to call in with further information, but at Mel's suggestion, Tyrone backs his rig into Grossie's motor. Mel rolls over Jon's motor with his rig as well.

They stand their frustrated.

TheWatchCommander014.jpgTheWatchCommander015.jpgTheWatchCommander016.jpgTheWatchCommander017.jpgTheWatchCommander018.jpgTheWatchCommander019.jpg

## Notes

* This is actually one of Michelle Pfeiffer's earliest TV roles.
* Arby's is located at 19640 Nordhoff Street, Northridge, California, and is currently been rebuilt as a Burger King.

## Cast

### Main Cast

* Larry Wilcox: Jon Baker
* Erik Estrada: Frank Poncherello
* Robert Pine: Joe Getraer

### Recurring Cast

* Brodie Greer: Baricza
* Lou Wagner: Harlan Arliss
* Michael Dorn: Turner
* Paul Linke: Grossman
* Randi Oakes: Bonnie Clark

### Others

* Granville Van Dusen: Lieutenant Harold A. Bates
* Don Mitchell: Tyrone
* Lois Hamilton: Marie Coselli (as Lois Areno)
* Curis Credel: Melvin Joe Harley
* Gary Grubbs: Mechanic
* K.C. Winkler: Girl #1
* Michelle Pfeiffer: Jobina
* Myron Healey: Garage Owner
* Patti Davis: Receptionist
* Peggy Skomal: Girl #2