A gritty police drama centering on the lives of a group of policemen at the 74th Precinct in Brooklyn, New York. The central character being Sgt. Francis Donovan, a former Internal Affairs officer, who now presides over the morning shift assignments given to the officers of the station. Other officers include Anne-Marie Kersey, a tough policewoman trying to get over the murder of her policeman boyfriend and finds comfort with Donovan. Jimmy Doyle is a well-liked street cop whom deals with his younger brother, Terry, who left the police force for a undercover assignment to break up an Irish-American street gang. Jimmy's police partner, Phil Roussakoff, is a recent transfer and tough guy whose big mouth and attitude gets him in trouble, and who has a crush on Jimmy's sister Kathleen. Jack Lowery is another tough guy cop combating personal demons, and begins an affair with his police partner, Nona Valentine, which does not suit with her former boyfriend, Clement 'Clem' Johnston, the traffic cop. Rounding out the cast is Richard Santoro, the desk sergeant and veteran cop trying to keep the people together and trying to advance in the ranks any way he can.