The BEST episodes of NYPD Blue
Every episode of NYPD Blue ever, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of NYPD Blue!
The gritty details of life as a member of a New York City police unit.
#1 - Safe Home
Season 6 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/25/1999
As a result of her injuries, Sylvia has died. The squad worries about Andy's state, will he start drinking again. Andy is staying in his apartment, only making sure that Theo makes it to and from school. He is only accepting a minimal amount of help from his ex-wife Katie. Medavoy and Martinez interview a man who claims that he was hired to murder Kenny Priest at the Cullinan trial. He points to his sister, Lurleen as the one who set him up with the job; she also had something to do with Cullinan's murder of Mike Roberts. Sorenson goes to seek Sipowicz's help, when they get Cullinan to drop his high priced attorney. John Irvin is hard on himself and feels that he can never face Andy again. Danny gets Andy to help with the interview of Cullinan and the very subdued interview gets Cullinan to crack. John Irvin and Andy silently pass each other on the stairwell. A few moments later, Andy reappears and assures John he doesn't hold him responsible for Sylvia's death. Andy debates about how
#2 - Moving Day
Season 12 - Episode 20 - Aired 3/1/2005
Jones and Clark respond to the death of woman named Pamela Wyatt, who appears to have been a high priced call girl. Ortiz and Murphy arrive on the scene along with Sgt. Sipowicz who enlightens Jones and Clark about his officially taking over command of the 15 Squad. They return to the Squad and meet two new detectives that have joined the squad, Ray Quinn and Joe Slovak. They ran a dump of the Pamela Wyatt's phone records and have come up with some names to check out. Sipowicz's former Sergeant, Al Angelotti from the 25 Squad, now a retired Chief who is working security for a wealthy client comes into the squad with his client, Robert Heilbrenner and Heilbrenner's attorney. While Clark and Jones (with Sipowicz in attendance) listen to Heilbrenner describe his relationship with the Pamela Wyatt, Angelotti is out talking to the rookie detectives about what they currently know about the case. Murphy and Ortiz interview the victim's parents, both of whom were ignorant of what their da
#3 - Old Man Quiver
Season 12 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/1/2005
Sipowicz and Clark arrive at the home of an 80-year-old millionaire, Hugh Rasmussen, who was smothered to death. They talk to the man's secretary, Judith Howell, a middle-aged woman, who found the body. Then the wife, Amy Rasmussen arrives back home; she's come back from the gym and she is young enough (28-years-old) to be the victim's granddaughter. She acknowledges the comments that her husband has been thought about as a dirty old man and that she may be considered a gold digger, but as far as she's concerned they can all go straight to hell, she loved her husband. Sipowicz and Clark run the basics of what they know so far by Bale and Bale notes to Sipowicz that today is the day of his promotion and he offers his congratulations. Jones and Medavoy go to a retirement home, where Olive Rosenthal was found dead. The doctor found a suspicious needle mark on the woman's body. The director of the home wants the detectives to avoid talking to the other residents, but they tell her th
#4 - Bale to the Chief
Season 12 - Episode 19 - Aired 2/22/2005
The interim boss Lt. Henry comes into the squad and introduces himself to the detectives, who in turn introduce themselves. They offer to bring him up to speed on their cases, but Lt. Henry is the anti-Bale and tells them they can get to it when they get to it. He is more interested in knowing if any of them like to play golf. Murphy and Ortiz go to the scene of a homicide where a young Muslim woman, Farah Amar has been stabbed to death. In questioning the neighbor they learn that the woman had numerous loud arguments with her husband. Back at the squad while Sipowicz tries to bring their new boss "Arnold Palmer" up to speed on their investigation into Bale's shooting, Jones and Clark try to get more information about Sergei Yesenin's whereabouts from "Russian Mike" who has come back in for further questioning. "Russian Mike" wants a deal before he will cooperate any further with the investigation. The husband of Murphy and Ortiz's victim, Adeeb Amar, comes in for questioning. Th
#5 - Brother's Keeper
Season 6 - Episode 4 - Aired 11/17/1998
The word goes out to the uniforms to look out for any possible donors for a heart for Simone. Sipowicz, Medavoy and Martinez investigate the homicide of an elderly woman whose hands and feet were cut off of her body. Bobby is transferred over to the surgical staff, where his new doctor recommends that waiting for the heart transplant is his best option. The woman's two sons are probable suspects, one son, Arnold Struel, shows no remorse over her death, the other, Stanley an alcoholic junkie, who didn't like her, at least shows some compassion. Sipowicz finally gets Arnold to give it up. Later, when he returns to the interview room, he sees that Arnold is hanging himself. He debates about waiting until he is dead, to provide a donor for Bobby, but circumstances (Medavoy) prevent him from waiting. By chance, an off-duty cop is shot in the head and for all practical purposes is dead; Fancy makes a pleas with the widow, for a directed donation. Eventually she consents and Bobby is prepped
#6 - Divorce Detective Style
Season 12 - Episode 4 - Aired 10/19/2004
Clark leaves his latest encounter's apartment, hoping to make it to work on time. The other detectives are already on the scene of the blunt force trauma homicide of artist Tracy Gilchrist and Clark (of course) arrives late. Annoyed with this, Sipowicz shuts Clark out of his interview of one of the victim's neighbor. She tells him that the victim worked as a phone sex operator. After the interview Clark tries to address the situation, but Sipowicz isn't listening. Back at the squad room, Sipowicz takes delivery of a package (of kiddie porn). When he signs his name, the FBI agent reveals himself and takes him to the coffee room, where his partner and Lt. Bale are waiting. With the recent pattern of harassment to back him up, Sipowicz and Bale get the FBI to drop their investigation. Clark leaves for court, he is testifying in the case against Steve McClintock. Scott Garvin and his attorney come to the squad to report the probable kidnapping of his son. Garvin has received a ran
#7 - The Vision Thing
Season 12 - Episode 6 - Aired 11/9/2004
On a city bus a man was stabbed in the chest in front of his wife and kids. A witness reports to Sipowicz that the victim and his killer were eyeballing each other down before the stabbing occurred. Medavoy tells Jones about his daughter's plans to buy a house. He is going to need to find a part time job to help her out. Jones tells him about a position as a bouncer, but he doesn't think Medavoy can handle that kind of job. Medavoy is a little put out that no one thinks he handle himself. Sipowicz is contemplating the stabbing case when Clark arrives and tries to discuss it with him. Sipowicz is distracted by the effect of the killing on the victim's family; he is also bothered by Clark's feeling for the case. They run the case by Bale and then Bale checks in with Sipowicz's mental state, post shooting and everything else that has recently been going on. Sipowicz tells him that everything is okay. An antiques dealer, Gerard Prosser comes into the squad to go over the details o
#8 - Lenny Scissorhands
Season 12 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/15/2005
Ortiz and Murphy arrived on the scene of a shooting, where two of Sipowicz's men were involved in chasing down a suspect, who got away after he able to shoot one of the officers. Back at the squad, Sipowicz tells the pair about a possible witness to the crime that he saw while they were all still at the scene, an elderly woman sitting at her window. Even though it is Medavoy's last day on the job, Sipowicz doesn't feel like getting his picture taken. With Medavoy leaving Clark is now partnered with Jones and together they go to the scene of crime, where a woman, Deborah Olshan, was beaten to death in her home, a possible victim of a robbery. At the scene they interview Maxine Annunziato, her friend and the one who discovered the body. Murphy and Ortiz talk with the woman that Sipowicz identified as a probable witness to the shooting of the officers. She tells them that she saw the officers enter the building, but she didn't see them chasing anyone. Clark and Jones return to the s
#9 - 22 Skidoo
Season 10 - Episode 22 - Aired 5/20/2003
It's the morning after for John and Jennifer and they'll both be late for work if John doesn't put the honey bottle away. The detectives respond to the scene of a homicide in grocery, where no money was taken. Ortiz spots Clark getting out of Dr. Devlin's car and is short with him when he says hello. Back at the squad, canvas hasn't turned up anything, but crime scene did get a fingerprint from a similar crime that occurred the night before. That fingerprint belongs to Terry Parkhurst. Medavoy tells the others that he is anticipating receipt of the list that might announce his promotion to detective 2nd grade. McDowell makes plans for a small wedding ceremony that might be able to take place later that evening. Rodriguez calls Sipowicz into his office and tells him that the commissioner will not allow two detectives in the same squad to be married. Sipowicz asks Rodriguez if it will be a problem with him if they go ahead and get married anyway. He tells them it won't, as long a
#10 - A Death in the Family
Season 3 - Episode 20 - Aired 5/7/1996
A robbery-homicide sends Bobby and Andy to the hospital; however the victim is Andy Jr. Andy wants Bobby to lead the case and he also wants the opportunity for restitution. Diane doesn't like the way Bobby is handling the case. They turn up the weapon, but the suspects don't pan out. In the midst of all this turmoil, Donna makes the decision and quits her job. Andy goes for a walk and makes a stop.
#11 - Passing the Stone
Season 11 - Episode 11 - Aired 2/17/2004
A Jewish jeweler is gunned down outside of his shop. His widow tells Sipowicz and Clark that a white guy who's recently converted to Islam had been giving her husband some trouble lately. Clark gets the address for Tim Garrity, the recent convert to Islam; just as Jones gets a call that Michael's aunt has been brutally assaulted. Jones and Medavoy go to the aunt's apartment. Jones talks with Michael, who tells Jones that his aunt wasn't seeing anyone, and that his father wasn't around. Sipowicz and Clark talk with the converted Muslim. A uniform is bringing in Michael's dad and Jones is preparing himself for the pending interview. Rodriguez suggests that Medavoy and Ortiz take the interview, that way Jones won't succumb to his desire to beat the crap out of Craig Woodruff and give him what he wants. McDowell interviews an employee of the dead jeweler and she tells her that her boss had an ugly argument over the phone with a rapper named "DJ Drayno." Rodriguez has her get the inf
#12 - On the Fence
Season 11 - Episode 16 - Aired 3/30/2004
Sipowicz and Clark arrive at an early morning scene (so early it's still dark), where Hatcher has been wounded in a shoot out with a man in a window. Hatcher says he was chasing a black male suspect and was looking for him over a fence when a light came on behind him. He turned around and was shot by a guy in the window with a gun. Hatcher returned fire and struck the shooter. Sipowicz and Clark go up to interview the man that Hatcher shot and wounded. He tells them a different story; he says that he saw Hatcher draw his gun, whereas Hatcher says he already had his gun drawn. Sipowicz wants Hatcher to get his story straight, because a shooting involving a civilian is going to get the bosses involved. Sipowicz and Clark tell Gibson what they know about the morning's shooting. Gibson wants to know if they are standing by their fellow detective. Sipowicz responds that they are doing their job and investigating the shooting. Gibson wants to know what he's supposed to tell Hatcher'
#13 - Yo, Adrian
Season 10 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/13/2003
Sipowicz (with McDowell watching) works with the lawyer on his testimony in the custody hearing that is going to be held later in the day. The other detectives are on the scene of a woman who was murdered in her own apartment. A neighbor, who had heard some commotion going on in that apartment gives them the name of the victim's boyfriend. Meanwhile, Sipowicz meets with Diane Russell, who is now working in the special victims unit. He tells her about their suspicion that Adrian Caffee was made pregnant by her father when she was a teenager. Sipowicz believes with her experience Russell might be able to talk with Caffee and Russell agrees to try helping out. Clark and Ortiz interview the boyfriend of their victim, whose name is Stan. He tells them his girlfriend was doing her brother-in-law, which is one of the reasons why she was his ex-girlfriend. He appears to be shocked when they tell him about her death, and he gives them an alibi to confirm. He claims to have been returnin
#14 - You're Buggin' Me
Season 12 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/26/2004
Sipowicz receives a late night phone call and he goes to the bar where Clark is drinking and tries to convince him that it is time to go home. He takes Clark's keys and leaves with Clark in pursuit. Outside of the bar three shots are fired in their direction, one of them strikes Sipowicz in the shoulder. At the hospital Sipowicz has been stitched up and is going to work. He tells Medavoy that he thinks the shooting was a random act, or related to Clark and had nothing to do with his stalker. Murphy and Ortiz interview the bartender, who admits to making the call to Sipowicz about Clark's drinking. He also tells them that an off-duty cop works his door, but he had left before the shooting occurred; he also tells them that he isn't giving up that cop's name. They convince him it is in his best interest to do otherwise. In the squad's coffee room, members of Sipowicz's AA support group are there to give him some support. Someone called and told them that he had begun drinking agai
#15 - Sergeant Sipowicz' Lonely Hearts Club Band
Season 12 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/8/2005
The detectives arrive on the scene of shooting outside of a school. The victim is Lester Bakewell, a sergeant in the US Army who was at the school to do recruitment. Also on the scene is another sergeant named Sipowicz, who is there with his uniform officers. Clark takes the opportunity to bust the new sergeant's balls. A woman, Denise Campo, comes in to report her great uncle has missing for four days. Jones and Medavoy take the case and she tells them that he is homeless and that he is just a sweet old man. She gives them a picture of her uncle. An Army warrant officer Steve Nutting from CID is in Bale's office, he is going to assist in the investigation. Clark and Nutting interview the dean of students from the school. The dean tells them about the peaceful demonstrations against recruiters, but he also tells them about Paul Corbelli, one of the students whose brother was killed in Iraq four months ago. He does know that the boy had access to a rifle and that according to t
#16 - Laughlin All the Way to the Clink
Season 10 - Episode 14 - Aired 2/11/2003
Sipowicz arrives on the scene of a homicide where Shannon and Laughlin are both present. Sipowicz requests that Laughlin leave the scene and Laughlin informs him that he is documenting all of the mistreatment he has been getting. When Laughlin leaves Shannon indicates to Sipowicz that he might have some information that will help out Clark Jr., but he reluctant to come forward as he is worried for his job. Shannon testifies before IAB about what he saw Laughlin do with the package of heroin. While Fraker wants to wait to further investigation, Haywood insists that he void Clark Jr.'s arrest now. The other detectives are on the scene of a murder of a community activist, who worked with female gang bangers. Jones and Medavoy talk with the victim's downstairs neighbor who has nothing but contempt for what his neighborhood has become. Ortiz encounters a gang banger who tells them her or her friends got nothing for them. Ortiz gives the banger her card anyway, as McDowell comes over
#17 - Take My Wife, Please
Season 11 - Episode 13 - Aired 3/9/2004
A jogger who was gunned down in a park manages to contact his wife via his cell phone before he passes. His wife (now at the scene) tells Ortiz about her husband's partner and their business dealings and a British tourist with a camera makes the start of the investigation interesting for Sipowicz and Clark. Meanwhile at another crime scene, Jones and Medavoy are investigating a body found in the trunk of a stolen car. The DOA is the owner of the comedy club. It's Rodriguez's last day and John Irvin passes around a card for everyone to sign for the going away party that will be held later that evening. Sipowicz and Clark interview the dead jogger's business partner. He tells them about the affair his partner was having with another man's wife and gives them her name, Janet. At the "Laff Pit" Jones and Medavoy interview the comedy club owner's wife, Lois Rubicoff. She tells them about some minor problems that her husband was having with some of the talent. Boxes for Rodriguez's r
#18 - Great Balls of Ire
Season 12 - Episode 3 - Aired 10/12/2004
The detectives are on the scene of ex-con Lester Byrd's homicide when Sipowicz receives a call from his wife telling him that Theo didn't arrive at school this morning. Sipowicz leaves the scene and arrives at the school to find that Theo has shown up. He finds out from Theo that he was met by a man who said he was a friend of his dad, the man had a detective shield and exhibited knowledge of recent events in their lives. The man took Theo for a half hour ride. Back at the squad, Bale introduces his new movement log policy and he puts John Irvin in charge. The detectives run the case by Bale. Sipowicz arrives and Bale magnanimously lets him not charge his morning's activity to lost time. Sipowicz asks to be off the case for the day, citing that Jones can work the case with Clark. Sipowicz wants to catch up on his paperwork and Bale allows him to do this, but says that he is not setting a precedent. Theo's guardian Anna comes into the squad and he questions her about what happen
#19 - In Goddess We Trussed
Season 11 - Episode 17 - Aired 4/6/2004
Gibson calls Sipowicz into his office; Sipowicz has been transferred to Missing Persons at the morgue. Sipowicz accuses Gibson of not having the spine that he once told him he would need to have when it came time to do something about Hatcher. Sipowicz grabs an empty box out of Gibson's office and uses it to clear off his desk, while he is telling the others about the supposed man-power redeployments that have caused his transfer. Hatcher doesn't seem as surprised by this turn of events as the others. Sipowicz goes to see the Chief of Personnel and lodges his complaint about the Chief's nephew, who he says doesn't belong on the job. He tells him that he has been protecting a bad cop. The chief doesn't want to listen, so Sipowicz leaves and reports to the morgue, where he meets Det. Wally Dorland, a sixteen year veteran of the morgue assignment. Back in the 15th precinct Clark and the others start to work the homicide of a woman who was purported to be a therapist. They find evid
#20 - Lost Israel (1)
Season 5 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/25/1997
A young boy is reported missing by his parents. Simone and Sipowicz agree to look for the young boy, when the father tells them it may have been his fault for letting him talk to a homeless man. Instincts tell Andy that the father is guilty. They locate the homeless man, named Israel; however, communication is difficult because he is a mute. Unfortunately, the boy's body is found and the detectives now must determine if Israel is responsible or perhaps the boy's father. Andy may have tipped his hand to the boy's father that he likes him for the murder. So for a while Andy bows out of the case and Diane steps in. Meanwhile, a Hasidic Jewish girl is murdered and the other detectives have to juggle the need for their investigation against the needs of her faith for a quick burial. Israel is brought in for further "questioning" to let father think suspicion has been removed from him. The father watches the interrogation of Israel with interest. The father has set-up all the evidence to poi
#21 - Torah! Torah! Torah!
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 10/31/1995
A father suspects his retarded son of killing his daughter. Simone and Sipowicz get the case. Lesniak keeps reporting on James' condition. Morrisey's tactics with a suspect in a murder don't sit well with Fancy; however, the facts in this case match Andy & Bobby's case. While Simone and Morrisey work out the details of their combined case, Andy and Greg pose as Hasidic Jews to recover a stolen Torah. Sylvia takes another test (results positive) and asks Andy to be discrete. Later she discovers his level of discretion.
#22 - Arrested Development
Season 10 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/14/2003
At the Sipowicz/McDowell household all is not right with the world as Theo has wet the bed for the 3rd night in a row and Andy hasn't made the time to pick up the detergent to get the sheets clean from the previous events. The baby is colicky and crying and tensions are mounting as Andy's pager goes off. With the morning off to a great start, Sipowicz and McDowell arrive late to the scene where the other detectives are starting to investigate the death of a woman found bludgeoned to death in her kitchen. Back at the squad, Rodriguez is back from his ex-wife's funeral. Jones and Medavoy are out on a different case where they encounter the relaxed on the job Officer Ed Laughlin. Their victim is dead in his SUV filled with picnic supplies. The homeless man who found the body offers them no help. Sipowicz and Clark Jr. interview the husband of their victim, who can account for all of his time; except for the 4 hours he was sleeping (he and his wife have separate beds). He does give
#23 - What's Your Poison?
Season 11 - Episode 21 - Aired 5/4/2004
Clark comes into the squad and tells Sipowicz he's been trying to find Jennifer Devlin, who walked out of the psych facility last night. Sipowicz tells him about a man who is coming in for an interview, one of Cindy Clifton's teachers, who wrote an unusual note "special, special pal" in her yearbook. The teacher, David Lewis tells them that he did have a support group relationship with Cindy Clifton, which was nothing like the relationship Cindy told him that she had with her half-brother Sam Jeffers. The detectives let him go, but having found him a little strange, Sipowicz gets Lewis' used piece of gum and sends it off for a DNA test. The detectives try to run down information on David Lewis, but they can't seem to find anybody that will say anything bad about him. Jones is leaving for court as today is the day when Michael is supposed to testify against his father. Brockhurst comes in with information on the sex-offenders that lived around Cindy Clifton, but it is Medavoy who c
#24 - And the Wenner Is...
Season 11 - Episode 8 - Aired 11/18/2003
McDowell and Sipowicz go into Rodriguez's office and tell him about her pregnancy. Of course she'll be assigned to desk duty from this point forward. Back in the squad room, they let the others know that their wedding is back on and Sipowicz asks John Irvin to perform a simple service at their apartment at 8 o'clock that evening. The reality of the job sets back in when a call comes in for another "Time Bar" homicide; McDowell citing the stomach flu stays behind while the other detectives leave for the scene. They meet up with Jones and Medavoy who are already on the scene. The crime scene is very familiar and the victim was a nurse at the hospital where Dr. Devlin works, Clark plans to follow up with her about the nurse. Sipowicz suggest that Russell should go and deal with what she needs to deal with; she tells him that she would prefer to keep working. Back at the squad, McDowell runs a theory past the others that the perpetrator might be an impersonator, since none of the cri
#25 - Traylor Trash
Season 11 - Episode 20 - Aired 4/27/2004
Jones and Medavoy arrive on the scene of a shooting; meanwhile back at the squad Sipowicz and Clark are getting ready to leave and interview Cindy Clifton's mother, despite the fact that Cindy's father "lawyered up" the entire family. Clark's departure is delayed by the arrival of Jennifer Devlin, someone he hasn't seen in quite some time and now is sporting a wild streak of color in her hair. She wants to Clark to accompany her to on a trip to Miami. He declines her invitation, offering dinner instead, but more importantly he asks her if she's taken her medication and she responds that she doesn't want to be treated like a child. Clark is confused by her behavior. At the library Sipowicz and Clark try talking with Sharon Clifton. They get her to give them a list of everyone who stayed at her home the Thanksgiving weekend that Cindy Clifton was killed. She relents and gives a list to work with. Medavoy and Jones run down what they know about their shooting victim, Kevin Traylor,