With the aim of offering a transparent look at law enforcement on duty, A&E will air “Live PD,” premiering Friday, Oct. 28 at 9 p.m. ET/PT.
Inspired by the ensuing debate over policing in the U.S., show creators hope to offer viewers “unfettered and unfiltered live access inside the country’s busiest police forces and the communities they patrol,” according to an announcement made by A&E on Monday.
Dash cams, fixed rig and handheld cameras will capture the action of a typical Friday night over the course of eight weeks in both urban and rural areas.
ABC’s chief legal affairs anchor Dan Abrams will host the show in studio alongside Dallas Police Department detectives Rich Emberlin and Kevin Jackson, who will offer insight in real time as coverage bounces quickly between featured incidents on the streets.
David Doss, former news executive producer at CNN, ABC and NBC, is the series showrunner.
The network has ordered eight, two-hour episodes, produced for the Network by Big Fish Entertainment.
“‘Live PD’ will not only highlight the difficult work being done by our men and women in uniform as they go out into the streets never knowing what to expect, but also answers citizens’ calls for clarity,” said Rob Sharenow, executive vice president and general manager of A&E and Lifetime, teasing the show’s social media element.
While the show will capture events in real time, there will be an on-air delay to ensure no disturbing images make it on the broadcast.
Executive producers for Big Fish Entertainment are Dan Cesareo, David Doss, George McTeague, Kara Kurcz and John Zito. Executive producers for A&E Network are Elaine Frontain Bryant, Shelly Tatro and Sean Gottlieb.