‘Live PD’ airs its 100th episode, but sees checkered legacy with some cities

“Live PD” hit a milestone Friday night when it aired its 100th episode.

Six law-enforcement agencies policed their respective jurisdiction in real time as analysts commented and switched live feeds throughout the three-hour episode.

Film crews for the A&E Network’s popular series have been embedded with 28 police departments, sheriff’s office’s and state patrols since its October 2016 inception.

Cities. Rural areas. Law enforcement agencies from the deserts of West Texas to the plains of Indiana have aimed to give a first-person view of their policing to a national audience. Spokane County is the lone law enforcement agency in the Northwest featured on “Live PD,” according to A&E.

However, while many law enforcement agencies agreed to return to the show after their first season, some decided to cut the cord.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office said it enjoyed its first season and is mulling over a return. Some officers, including deputy Brandon Wilson, have become minor celebrities on the show, and the department believes it plays a roll in recruitment.

“The social media reaction to the show is like nothing I have ever seen before,” Spokane Sheriff’s Office deputy and spokesman Mark Gregory said. “The viewers are very engaged, and it’s mostly positive feedback.”

Some Spokane City Council members disagree, saying the show gave the city’s surrounding area an unsavory look to a national audience.

Other city officials in “Live PD” cities have expressed similar concerns.

Months after the show’s debut, the Bridgeport, Connecticut, Police Department ended its contract with the show. A Spokesman for the city speaking on behalf of the department cited the show giving the area a bad public perception.

“Mayor (Joe) Ganim had serious concerns that were echoed by several important voices in our community that despite its merits, the program was giving Bridgeport an inaccurate national reputation,” a Bridgeport spokesman said in a media statement. “Inflating the prevalence of crime in the Park City in a way that can deter potential investors and people from living or doing business here.”

The Tulsa, Oklahoma, police department ended its contact with “Live PD” in February 2017. The city’s mayor, G.T. Bynum, told the Tulsa World newspaper he supported Chief Chuck Jordan’s decision.

“(Jordan’s) job and my job is to keep the citizens of Tulsa safe, not providing fodder for reality TV,” Bynum said told the Tulsa World. Bynum also said the films crews were distracting for the officers.

A Tulsa activist group took to social media and said “Shows like this reinforces negativity between the police department and the community and it creates celebrity status off the backs of citizens who may very well be innocent.”

The Greenville (S.C.) County Sheriff’s Office ended its “Live PD” contract in August 2017 to give its deputies a break from the cameras.

“I left it up to the deputies as to whether they wanted to do it in the beginning and they said yes,” Greenville County Will Lewis told TV station WYFF. “I will leave it up to them again if they want to join future seasons. They just wanted a break after Season 1.”

When the Santa Rosa (Fla.) County Sheriff’s Office ended its contract with “Live PD” last April, it was for legal reasons.

According to Florida state law, any video used in Live PD and its information must be turned over the state’s attorney’s office so it can potentially be used in court.

“The state attorney’s office has to provide all the information we have about the case that would be used as evidence, to defense attorney’s and to the defendant,” Greg Marcille, assistant state attorney told TV station WKRG.

That prompted the the Sheriff’s office to end its contract, the WKRG reported.