The Big Compulsion

Originally Aired: April 12, 1953

Dragnet #199, "The Big Compulsion," Sergeant Joe Friday and Officer Frank Smith investigate a dangerous pattern of false emergency calls that have been plaguing both the police and fire departments for three weeks. The phony reports tie up critical resources and endanger officers responding to what they believe are genuine emergencies. When a hungover salesman named James Harris is brought in after making prank calls while drunk, Friday and Smith hope they've found their culprit. However, after questioning Harris and verifying his story, they realize he's just a one-time offender, not the serial caller they're seeking.

The real suspect remains elusive, making an average of six false emergency calls per week with no traceable pattern. The caller cleverly reports incidents at street corners where verification is impossible, then hangs up immediately. Captain Gideon and the detectives theorize that the perpetrator must be watching the scenes to enjoy the chaos he creates. Friday and Smith consider examining newspaper photographs of the emergency scenes, hoping to identify someone who appears repeatedly in the crowds, but the case remains frustratingly open as their suspect continues to endanger lives for his own twisted compulsion.