Live PD is the ratings-winning law enforcement ride-along show that ordinarily airs fresh episodes on Friday and Saturday evenings at 9 p.m. Eastern time on the A&E television network.

Videographers embed in real time with officers on patrol from eight different police agencies. A Live PD recap follows below. Live PD has also spawned several spin-offs.

Given its often intense action, unpredictability, danger,  plus quirky and humorous, and sometimes mundane, interactions between cops and citizens, Live PD is perhaps the closest thing that even approaches appointment TV anymore in the fragmented entertainment space.

With 32 live feeds coming into the studio, most segments air on a reported five- to 20-minute tape delay. When nothing of interest is happening in real time, pretaped segments air, which Live PD describes as incidents that happened “earlier.”

For viewers, Live PD is addicting, which perhaps is an unfortunate choice of words in this context. While millions of Americans experiment — and more than experiment — with drugs when younger, Live PD reveals a self-destructive cohort hooked on narcotics (and/or booze) well into middle age and beyond.

Many thanks to Twitter user TG LivePD (@TLivepd) for compiling and sharing video clips on social media.

As the Live PD disclaimer indicates, not all outcomes are known or final, and criminal charges, if any, may have been reduced, dismissed, or never filed.

When alleged criminal activities are depicted on Live PD, all persons are presumed innocent unless convicted in a court of law.

Rules of the Road?

Many subjects who appear on the show in law enforcement interactions are covered with tattoos (as are the cops more often than not), love cigarettes, and often have warrants. They often carry contraband on their person and/or in their vehicles, the latter which are often unregistered and/or uninsured.

Transporting contraband such as controlled substances plus no valid license/registration is usually an ill-advised combination as is contraband plus vehicle equipment malfunctions.

Alleged drug traffickers who fail to abide by routine traffic laws or, as noted, lack working vehicle running lights or other related equipment, can also wind up in big trouble following a probable cause search.

Two Beers, Not My Pants

“I only had two beers” is a familiar mantra from motorists pulled over upon being asked by cops if they had anything to drink that evening.

Another mantra is “not that I know of” when cops question a subject as to whether there might be illegal drugs in a vehicle or even on their person. In the alternative, subjects also often claim that drugs “belong to a friend.”

From time to time, they also claim that the pants that they are wearing in which cops find drugs belong to a friend.

Not my jacket or not my purse are also familiar refrains.

In addition to the drug epidemic across across the country as well as alcoholism, the obesity epidemic is also frequently on display.

When a subject begins a sentence with “I’m going to be honest with you, officer,” you can generally expect that things will quickly go sideways.

Some combative subjects argue themselves into an arrest (i.e., talking themselves into handcuffs) even when cops are about to let them go with minor infractions, citations, or warnings.

Some suspects seem more concerned about smoking one last cigarette before jail than they are about going to jail.

Several of the cops, who are impressively observant when they question subjects, have become social media celebrities as a result of their participation in Live PD.

As an aside, officers across the country have a tendency to ungrammatically add the preposition “at” to the end of a sentence. I.e.: “Where do you live at?” or “Where is he/she at?”

Expect the Unexpected

Traffic stops — the primary enforcement actions on Live PD — are often like a flea market. Viewers never know what the officers might find inside a vehicles after either a consensual search or a probable cause search pursuant to a K9 alert or another factor.

Moreover, as suggested above, no license, no registration, and no insurance consists of a trifecta in many of those stops. (A disproportionate number of pick-up trucks seem to have issues when stopped by law enforcement officers).

Mismatched plates, expired (and/or doctored) temporary tags, and the like are also frequent infractions.

Somehow, a driver’s license became an optional credential for many motorists.

Motorists sometimes claim to have a valid driver’s license, but for some inexplicable reason, they aren’t carrying it with them. Or it was stolen. Is it any wonder that the cops often ask the person behind the wheel if he or she has a drivers license on them?

Officers often give break to those who are driving illegally, however.

Judging by these traffic stops, driving while buzzed seems to be a growing, as it were, problem across the country. Weed laws vary significantly from state to state. Some jurisdictions have decriminalized possession of small amounts.

Some, but not all, of the subjects that police make contact with express excitement about being on Live PD (although occasionally they think they’re on Cops).

In switching quickly from sequence to sequence, and as you’ll see below, Live PD does not always provide an update of how cops resolved a particular encounter, if at all.

As alluded to above, K9s well trained in drug detecting and human tracking regularly assist cops in their investigations on Live PD.

This Weekend on ‘Live PD’

If you’re wondering what happened on Live PD this week/weekend, a recap/summary of the Friday and Saturday night’s Live PD follows.

Host Dan Abrams — he of the puns and the double entendres — and regular studio analysts Tom Morris, Jr., and Tulsa PD Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin provide studio commentary as usual.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 78, July 19, 2019

Again, please understand that what is depicted on the show, and summarized below, including but not limited to any arrests, constitute mere allegations.

  • Greene County, Mo. — Deputies pursue fleeing truck, but chase terminated because just traffic charges involved (no front plate; mismatched rear plate). Deputies later make contact with citizen from whom the plate was stolen.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop; speeding. Occupants very enthusiastic about being on Live PD. It was driver’s birthday; passenger and Officer Kingery (who is temporarily back on second shift) serenaded him with the happy birthday song. Released with warning. Abrams: “That was a nice little birthday present courtesy of Officer Charles Kingery.”
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report that a woman is sleeping in homeowner’s shed. Woman detained. Abrams: “I’ve heard of someone sleeping in my bed but not someone sleeping in my shed.” Homeowner declines to press charges.
  • Greene County, Mo. –Traffic stop; deputy noticed driver’s “furtive moments” plus swerving. No driver’s license. Consensual car search. Meth allegedly found.
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop; no seat belt use. No license. Officer detects odor of marijuana. Driver admits to one gram of weed in car. Probable cause car search. Gun found. Driver arrested for marijuana possession, possession of stolen firearm, and on outstanding warrants.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; seat belt violation, open containers. No license. Graphic: “Beers and tears.” Driver had warrants. Trooper finds alleged meth pipe.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; brake lights out, open container. Field sobriety test. Passenger admits that she is intoxicated. Deputy issues citation to driver for unregistered trailer and citation to passenger for open container.
  • East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Officers…encountered a belligerent soon-to-be-shirtless cowboy but it turns out this wasn’t his first rodeo.” Officers respond to report of intoxicated male outside of residence allegedly screaming obscenities. Officers give warning.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; excessively tinted windows. No license, no insurance.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of someone allegedly selling drugs out of car. Subject has no ID. Car search; bag of syringes found.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol (pretaped segment): Abrams: “A trooper encountered a driver who seemed a bit accident prone, which was odd considering how much protection he had in his car. Traffic stop; speeding. Driver had injured leg; paramedics called. Driver transported to hospital. Open container and condoms found in vehicle. Driver subsequently arrested at hospital for DUI. Abrams wondered about the driver’s bright yellow “exterminator” vest. Morris, Jr. added “…with a lot of condoms in the car, unless he gets ants in his pants.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; vehicle search. Driver allegedly has history of drug charges. Officers find cut straws containing some white powder, but they are unable to identify substance as drugs. Driver and passenger released with no charges.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Deputies pursued a man driving a stolen pickup truck with turned out to be one unhappy camper.” Driver crashed vehicle and fled on foot. Deputies located him in wooded area and took him into custody. Deputies charged him with tampering with a motor vehicle, resisting arrest by fleeing, plus outstanding warrants.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officer spotted illegally parked vehicle. Vehicle allegedly associated with drug-related history. Officers pursued vehicle when it was on the move. Traffic stop; car search. Driver released with no charges.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; trooper checks on disabled truck/trailer.
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Deputies were called to a family dispute involving a son, his dad, a stepmom, and a locked door.” Deputies tell son to leave; he is trespassed from residence.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; mismatched plates. K9 alert. Probable cause car search. Gun found. Plates confiscated. Passenger arrested.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A bunch of friends chose a very dangerous way to celebrate a birthday.” Officers respond to report from neighbors of a gun. Turns out it was a CO2 gun, but it looks identical to a real gun. Subjects released with warning.
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Deputies respond to 911 call about man who apparently fell down steps. Paramedics called to the scene and transport man to hospital.
  • Wanted segment — Lancaster County, S.C.
  • Richland County, S.C. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A dispute between two guys turned a bit bat crazy.” Deputies respond to disturbance involving a baseball bat. Subjects separated; no charges.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; driving too slow. Driver released with no charges. Abrams: “It has been a rocky road to get that ice cream.”
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Lt. Kennedy spotted a pedestrian who might possibly have been involved with car break-ins in the area. Subject was not involved, however, and released with no charges.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to disturbance in roadway. It was apparently a dispute between the boyfriend driver and allegedly intoxicated girlfriend passenger.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Motorist flags down Lt. Kennedy with complaint about kids throwing rocks at his car. Deputies search the area, and one subject detained. Subject denies rock throwing and claims that driver tried to run him over.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop at gunpoint. Driver initially didn’t pull over. Traffic stop was based on flat tire and driving on rim. Car search. Officers charge driver with reckless eluding and possession with intent to deliver controlled substances.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; swerving. Car search. Driver passed field sobriety testing.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to man lying on ground outside of convenience store.
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Traffic stop; swerving. End of episode.

‘Live PD,’ Season 3, Episode 79, July 20, 2019

  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officers respond to report of fight in progress at residence. One individual there with bloody shirt. Paramedics called. Individual trespassed from property.
  • Green County, Mo. — Deputies respond to abandoned vehicle in intersection which is confirmed stolen. Owner notified and comes to the scene. Car had significant damage. Abrams: “That has got to be a horrible feeling — coming to your stolen, trashed vehicle.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers detain man after report of loitering at gas station. Knife found on his person. Subject arrested on outstanding simple battery warrant.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officer warns young kids against throwing rocks and sticks at cars. Graphic: “Sticks and stones may…” Abrams: “A little lesson there about the birds and the trees.”
  • Greene County, Mo. (pretaped segment) — Deputies pursue truck fleeing scene of accident. Driver detained and arrested for first-degree tampering on a stolen vehicle, resisting arrest for eluding, DUI, and other charges. Driver claims he grew up on racetrack — Morris Jr.” “Must have been a demolition derby.”
  • Okla. Highway Patrol — Troopers assist local PD in vehicle pursuit, which was subsequently cancelled.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Deputies detain subject who had gun during routine check of area known for drug activity. Deputies detect marijuana odor from vehicle. Subject has no concealed carry permit. Arrest for possession of cocaine and marijuana. Subject wearing an ankle monitor which could trigger more charges.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to disturbance in progress at motel.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Officer Kingery participates in dance-off with two young girls.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop. Driver declined consensual search. K9 alert and probable cause search. Driver subsequently released with no charges.

East Providence, R.I. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “A domestic dispute involving a combative couple and alcohol.” Couple separated for the night.

  • Salinas, Cal. — Officer spotted man defecating outside in public area. Warned to pull up pants and move on. Graphic: “Moon shot over Salinas.”
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to disturbance in concert parking lot. After investigation, couple went their separate ways; no charges.
  • Salinas, Cal. (pretaped segment) — Abrams: “Four guys denied being involved in a fight, but based solely on the evidence, and I mean sole-ly, that might not have been the case.” Alleged victim of assault had shoe print on his forehead. Officers claim it may be from Air Jordan brand. Paramedics transport victim to hospital.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Traffic stop; tinted windows. Backseat passenger had warrant. Driver initially unwilling to step out to allow search of immediate seating area. He did ultimately comply and received citation for tinted window violation. Passenger arrested on warrant.
  • Crime of the Week — Bloomington, Ind.
  • Lawrence, Ind. — Traffic stop. Officer allegedly spotted pipe in plan view. Vehicle search. Drug paraphernalia found. Car impounded for expired registration. Passenger arrested for drug paraphernalia.
  • Lafayette, La. — Traffic stop. Officer notices driver is very nervous. Driver receives citation for no turn signal and released.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Traffic stop; officer issues warning for non-use of headlights.
  • Williamson County, Tex. — Traffic stop; driver declines consensual search of vehicle. K9 alert. Small amount of marijuana found initially. As search continues, many other different kinds of drugs plus needles found in truck. Substances being field tested. Deputies conduct inventory of contraband. Abrams: “We’ve almost never seen that many suspected types of drugs in one person’s possession.” Driver arrested.
  • Wanted segment, Chicago, Il. Morris, Jr. “[Suspect] could be limping and making it rain in the club.”
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers detain man in parking lot of hotel. Driver admits to small amount of weed. Bystander who is a friend of the driver who approaches admits to drinking. Driver arrested for possession of marijuana, and bystander arrested for public intoxication and interfering with investigation.
  • Richland County, S.C. — Traffic stop; open container. One of the vehicle occupants allegedly gave false name to deputies.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Traffic stop; reckless driving. No license.
  • Lafayette, La. — Officers respond to domestic incident in progress. Man detained with several knives on his person. He is subsequently released with no charges.
  • Missing segment, Gentry, Ark.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Abrams: Officers respond “to a report of a cat fight, literally.” Two women in dispute over sale of cat. Woman apparently arrested for allegedly taking the cat seller’s phone.
  • East Providence, R.I. — Officers respond to fireworks complaint.
  • Salinas, Cal. — Officers respond to report of two males threatening to shoot people. Two men detained at gunpoint. They may have been victims, however. One released; the other male may be a parole violator.
  • Greene County, Mo. — Upon an anonymous tip, deputies search wooded area for truck that fled in Friday night’s first segment. End of episode.