The story is based on the former Chicago police officer Chuck Adamson's pursuit during the 1960s of a criminal named McCauley, after whom De Niro's character is named.
Konflik pusat didasarkan pada pengalaman mantan polisi Chicago Chuck Adamson dan mengejar pada tahun 1960-an dari kriminal bernama McCauley, setelah siapa karakter De Niro dinamai.