All language subtitles for Dragnet S02E26 The Investigation.DVDRip.NonHI.cc.en

This is the city, Los
Angeles, California,

sometimes called
the land of opportunity.

Maybe that's why so many
people have moved out here.

During the Depression
years, it was said,

even if you starved
in California,

you'd enjoy the climate
while you were doing it.

Today, there are more
opportunities here than ever,

if you're qualified,

and it's still a
good place to live,

particularly if
you've got a job.

I know. I work here.

I carry a badge.

It was Thursday, February 8th.

It was clear in Los Angeles.

We were working the day
watch out of Personnel Division.

The boss is Captain Sansing.

My partner's Bill Gannon.
My name's Friday.

In Los Angeles, to qualify
for the Police Academy,

every candidate must appear
before a Civil Service Board

for an oral examination.

A Board is composed
of three men:

two volunteer civilians
and one police sergeant.

The officers are selected
on a rotating basis.

My number had
just come up again.

The story you are
about to see is true.

The names have been
changed to protect the innocent.

Gentlemen. Gentlemen!

May I have your
attention, please?

First off, I want to
thank all you gentlemen

for volunteering
for this Oral Board.

Well, the civilians volunteered.
You officers were drafted.

As you know, any
interested responsible citizen

in the city of Los Angeles

is welcome to
serve on this Board.

In other words, you help
select your own police officers.

Now, the purpose
of the Oral Board

is to select young men
for the Police Academy.

Now, what do you look for?

Just remember, this is
your Police Department.

You're offering these young
men a 20-year contract,

so you want the
very best available.

Any men you don't
feel are right for the job,

you have the power to eliminate.

Now, I say again, it's
your Police Department.

Use your own good judgment.
Ask the men questions.

You'll have a checklist on
each candidate to work from.

Now, there are
certain stress questions

designed to see how
a candidate will react.

We suggest you let
the police sergeant

on your Board ask
these questions.

He's had experience.

Besides, he's been
through this himself.

Now, this doesn't mean
we want the sergeant

to be chairman of your
Board; just the opposite,

but that's left to
your discretion.

Allow each candidate
about 20 minutes.

Give him a chance
to sell himself.

Then, when he's left the room,

discuss him among yourselves.

Now, this is a rating card.
The scale is shown here.

Now, a score of
90-99 is outstanding.

You may not find
many in that bracket.

70 is a passing grade.
Anything less than 70,

and we ask you
to comment briefly

on the back of your card.

A stenographer
will collect the cards,

add up the score
and divide by 3.

Now, she'll inform the candidate
immediately of the outcome.

Any questions?

All right, I'll call the Boards.

Board 1: Benson,
Robin, McCall, table 1.

Board 2: Shumley,
Robbins, Friday, table 3.

Board 3: Wilson,
Cooks, Anderson, table 2.

Board 4: Williams,
Maguire, Allen.

Good morning. My name is
Leonard Robbins, West Jet Aircraft.

Carl Shumley, Associate
Professor, City College.

- Professor of what?
- Social Science.

May I ask what you do?

Personnel Manager of West Jet.

I guess that doesn't
give you any choice.

- You must be our sergeant.
- Yes, sir, Joe Friday.

So you've already sweat
out one of these tests, right?

Yes, sir, a few years ago.

Good morning.

I'm Professor
Shumley, City College.

Sergeant Joe Friday, Los
Angeles Police Department.

My name's Robbins,
West Jet Aircraft.

Your name is
Howard Digby, age 22.

- Is that correct, Howard?
- Uh, yes, sir.

Why do you want
to be a policeman?

Well, I think it's a good
career for a young man.

There's a good future
in it, if you're good at it.

And, well, I think it's the
kind of work I'd be good at.

- Why?
- Sir?

Why do you think you'd
make a good policeman?

Oh, I don't know.
I just think I would.

You have to make us think so.

You're married.

Uh, yes, sir, for
two and a half years.

How does your
wife feel about this?

Well, she doesn't let on,

but I think it
worries her a bit.

- How old is she?
- 20, sir.

I guess wives worry
a lot at every age.

Don't they, sir?

Yes, my wife still fusses
about me, anyway.

Do you have any significant
financial problems?

Beg your pardon?

Do you have much indebtedness?

Well, yes, sir, some.

How much money do you owe?

- $30,000.
- 30,000?

Yes, sir.

Would you care to tell us

how you managed to get
$30,000 in debt at the age of 22?

Well, no, sir. I,
I mean, yes, sir.

Do you understand the question?

Oh, I understand it.

I'm just a little
nervous, that's all.

We bought a house.

That's where we owe
most of the money.

We didn't have much
of a down payment,

so with interest and everything,

the mortgage came to $30,000.

It didn't sound like so
much until right now.

I don't think it's out of
line for a young man,

if he's got a steady
job and hangs onto it.

You ever been fired
from a job, Howard?

- Well, I was let go once.
- Where were you working?

Service station.

What were the
grounds for dismissal?

We had a disagreement,
my boss and I.

Oh?

You want to tell us a
little more about that?

Well, it happened
a long time ago,

over two years.

It's really ancient history now.

You haven't
forgotten it, have you?

- Well, no, sir.
- Tell us about it.

Well, the station was held up.

Go on.

There were only two
of us working that night,

Pete Oliver and me.

There were three
of them, three men.

They had a gun. They
got away with $96.

What was the
disagreement with your boss?

About how much was taken?

Oh, no, sir, nothing like that.

Well, what, then?

I don't see how this has
anything to do with anything.

Just tell us, son.

I had a feeling about
them when they drove in.

Nothing definite,
just a feeling.

I slipped back into the
shop, and it was dark in there,

and they didn't see
me. I made sure of that.

- I climbed down
into the grease pit.
- Yeah?

Well, they stuck Pete
up and took the money.

Before they left, they
slugged him with a gun.

Was he badly hurt?

He needed five
stitches in his head.

Let's get back to the
disagreement with your employer.

He said that I was yellow.

I said I wasn't afraid
of him, anyway,

and there was a little
shoving, and he fired me.

I see.

Maybe I should... Yeah?

Nothing.

Time's about up.
Any more questions?

- I don't think I have any.
- Nor me.

I'd like to ask
about the three men.

Were they ever apprehended?

Uh, yes, sir, that same night.

How did that happen?
Would you know?

Well, the police had the
license number of the car

and a kind of
description of the men.

- Who supplied that?
- Well, I did.

I watched it all
from the grease pit.

You have anything else you'd
like to add to this discussion?

- No, sir.
- All right, thanks.

Thank you.

Do you want to mark your card?

Sergeant, I think we ought to
be guided by you on this one.

Do you want him as a policeman?

Well, now, you're a personnel
manager, Mr. Robbins.

- Would you hire him?
- For my corporation, yes.

He strikes me as being
stable, above average maturity,

good demeanor, but
we build airplanes,

which doesn't demand
much raw courage.

The picture of a policeman
cowering in a grease pit, no.

He wasn't a policeman then.

Did you get any braver when
a badge was pinned on you?

Well, I don't know how you
measure courage, Professor Shumley,

but there's one
thing I can tell you.

Yes?

If good sense doesn't
go along with fortitude,

you can die awful young.

Let me ask you something.

How do you measure good sense?

Or was it just plain
fear that made him hide?

He wasn't too frightened
to get that license number

and a description of the men.

Now, any policeman
will tell you this.

If you're ever held
up, don't resist.

Money you can always get.
You're only issued one life.

And you think he acted properly?

For a civilian, yes, he did.

But if we pass him, he's
going to be a policeman.

Granted, he's got good sense

and a lot more
things going for him,

but does he have
the guts for the job?

There's one sure
place to find out:

the Police Academy.

Sergeant, knowing what a
young man is going through,

aren't you a bit more tolerant

of any weakness
you might detect?

Sometimes, but there's
a sure cure for that.

- Oh?
- Just a simple reminder.

What's that, Sergeant?

Someday I might be
working with that man.

He could be my partner.

Thanks!

The candidates who pass
their oral examinations

are required to fill out
a personal history form.

This is called a PHF,
and it is the applicant's

marital and reference record,

his family history,
and financial record,

every prior residence
for the past ten years

or since the age of 15,

his work history, military
and educational record,

arrests, and
military discipline,

and his medical history.

There are also two pages
for supplemental information.

The applicant is given
at least two weeks

to complete his PHF.

The information must
be extremely accurate.

It is the basis of an intense
background investigation.

Friday, March 1st, we
had our first PHF interview.

The applicant's name
was Harry Lanham.

- This isn't your
handwriting, is it?
- No, sir.

Then you didn't fill
out the form yourself.

I had a little help
from my wife.

Well, who's gonna be
the policeman, Lanham?

- You or your wife?
- Me, sir.

Your wife wear the pants
in your house, does she?

No, sir.

She just writes a lot neater.

What about your first wife?

Her handwriting was terrible.

Is that why you divorced her?

No, sir.

It went a little
deeper than that.

- She got the divorce.
- That right?

That's right.

On the grounds of desertion.

Does that mean you
walked out on her?

Yes, sir. She was
cheating on me.

Where is she now?

Like it says on the form,
Sergeant, Compass, Nevada.

Where is Compass, Nevada?

8 miles down the road from Reno.

She didn't have far to go.

- Oh?
- To get the divorce.

She filed in Reno.

You sure your ex-wife
is still in Compass?

Yes, sir, I verified it.

You've never been
detained or arrested

- by any Police Department?
- No, sir.

Or any other law
enforcement agency?

No, sir. If I had, it'd be stupid
not to put it in the record.

- Oh, is that so?
- It'd show up anyway

as soon as you ran a
make on me, wouldn't it?

- Anything else, Joe?
- No, you can go.

Thanks for the interview.

If there's anything else,
I'm available any time.

- We'll call you.
- Oh.

He took those stress
questions pretty well, Joe.

Yeah, kind of makes you
think, though, doesn't it?

- What?
- He's been questioned before.

I picked up on that, too.

But even if he's got
something in back of him,

it's not necessarily adverse.

We'll know when
we run him through.

Every statement made
in an applicant's record

is checked by the Los
Angeles Police Department,

separate from, but with
the approval of Civil Service.

Much of this work
can be done by mail,

but any records within the state

are checked out by department
background investigators.

Tuesday, March 19th,

Bill and I were assigned
the northern trip.

To verify statements
made by 37 applicants,

we would have to make calls
in over 20 cities and towns.

We started to lay
out an itinerary.

Well, Joe, we can
take the inland route

through Bakersfield,
Fresno, Stockton,

on up to Sacramento.
Sounds all right.

But we've got calls as far north

as Red Bluff and Susanville.

Yeah, I know. So, what do we do?

Keep heading north
from Sacramento

or swing east to hit
Reno and Truckee first?

No, I don't see what
difference it makes.

To me, none at all, Joe.

Either way, we're gonna
have to make the big circle,

but now is the time to decide.

Why?

Just good planning, that's all,

and planning is the secret
of any successful operation.

- We're not going into combat.
- No, Joe.

Lay out a route and a
schedule, and stick to them!

You do that even for
your vacations, do you?

Absolutely! That way,
you can never go far wrong.

Then how come you
were a day and a half late

getting back from
Yellowstone last year?

Simple. My wife was driving.

Wednesday, March 20th.
The first stop on our route

to check out Academy
candidates was Mintville, California.

We checked in at
the local police station.

Beautiful.

Yes, sir, that's one
handsome shield.

Sure puts our standard
order badges to shame.

Well, what are
you doing up here?

We're working background
investigations on applicants

for the Los Angeles
Police Academy.

The man we're checking on,
his name is William Greenleaf.

Mintville boy?

Says he lived in
town here last year,

worked at the sugar mill.

Oh, he sounds like a transient.

I doubt I can help you.
Nope, don't know him!

Well, we'll check
it out around town.

Your department does
all that stuff, do they?

Yes, sir, for every applicant.

Well, things are
different in the big city.

We get an FBI check
and let it go at that.

The FBI check's a good one.

Yeah. Well, you don't need
anything from me, do you?

No, sir, but we check in
at the PD in every town.

- It can head off trouble.
- Oh, how's that?

Well, we always show our badges,

but a lot of people
don't look too closely.

Well, you don't have to,
to know yours ain't ours.

An investigator can find
himself leaning on a wall

getting shaken down
by a local policeman.

It's happened before.

Well, I'll pass the
word to all my men.

You'll have no
trouble like that.

Thanks, Chief.

Uh, could I ask
you boys a favor?

Why, sure.

Let's have another
peek at that badge.

A background investigation
is mostly routine.

We check former
employers, relatives,

friends, and old addresses.

It's tedious work,
but it has to be done.

It took us two days
to complete the check

on applicant William Greenleaf.

Everything he had stated
checked out accurately.

At night, we made
out written reports

of the information
obtained during the day.

These reports were mailed in,

unless something
irregular was uncovered...

Then we telephoned.

Monday, March 25th.

We continued the various
applicants' background searches.

We had been on
the road for six days.

In that time, we
had made 19 calls

in 11 cities, towns,
or military bases.

At the military bases,

we passed out
recruiting material.

Thursday, March 28th.
The next name on the list

was Police Academy
applicant Harry Lanham.

We crossed the
state line into Nevada.

We entered the town of Compass.

A check of the local
telephone directory

turned up the address
of Verna Lanham,

Harry Lanham's ex-wife.

It was an old
mid-Victorian house

that had been converted
into apartments.

It was located on
the east side of town

about two miles from the downtown
business section of Compass.

Verna Lanham told us
she was late for work,

but she agreed to talk to us.

So Harry's gonna be a cop?

He passed his Civil
Service examination.

Well, what do you
want from me, Joe?

And that's a leading
question, if I ever asked one.

We have to verify
the information

he made on his application.

Okay. Let's move it, huh?

I'm really running late.

We'll be as brief as possible.

You were married in 1963?

Yeah. I was a June bride

and a December
divorcee a year later.

- You filed in Reno?
- Right.

- Charging desertion?
- Yeah.

Handsome Harry took a walk,

but I'll bet that isn't
the way he tells it.

- Doesn't matter.
- Why not?

You're not the one
we're investigating.

Go ahead. I'd come off a lot
cleaner than Harry Lanham.

- In what way?
- Every way.

He's a liar, and a
cheat, and a bully.

He ever rough you up?

Sure, he did, lots of times.

Has he been supporting you?

No, I got $900 out of him.

He used to send
me 150 every month

until I got the divorce.

Did you live in Reno
during that time?

No, right here.

As soon as I got the papers,
the money stopped coming.

According to his record,

he lived in Compass
until December.

See? I told you he was a liar.

He wasn't here at all. He
left town the 1st of July.

He hasn't been back since.

Where was he during that
period, July to December?

Search me.

Hey, that's a great line
to use on a cop, isn't it?

Don't you know where
the money was sent from?

I didn't need his address.

You never noticed the postmark?

No.

Or the bank the
checks were written on?

It was in cash.

Hey, you said you
weren't investigating me.

That's right, we're not.

Well, it sure sounds like it.

We don't mean it that way.

And you're sure
about those dates?

I've told you all I know.

If you don't want to believe me,

that's your problem.

- You've got a car, don't you?
- Yeah.

How about giving me
a lift to the restaurant?

I'm really running late.

- Be glad to.
- Be a second.

Gotta get my coat!

She's kind of down
on Lanham, isn't she?

Yeah, the question is
whether she's vindictive enough

to lie to us about him.

- What do you figure?
- I don't know.

Last job he had in
town was driving a truck

for Turnbull's Ready
Mixed Concrete.

Did he leave there in July?

- Nope, December.
- That's so easy to check.

You wonder why
she'd bother to lie.

Well, Lanham could've
made a mistake.

Well, one thing's sure. He's
lost six months somewhere.

Yeah.

Let's see if we can
find them for him.

The next stop was Turnbull's
Ready Mixed Concrete.

We spoke to the
owner, Art Turnbull.

Now, you fellas ain't
in California now.

You know that, don't you?

Yes, sir.

You don't carry no
muscle in this state.

We're aware of
that, Mr. Turnbull.

Okay, as long as
that's understood,

maybe I'll answer
your question for you.

What do you want to know?

How long did Harry
Lanham work for you?

Three years steady.

Before that, every summer
since he was in high school.

Do you mind telling
us the reason he left?

I wouldn't mind. Harry might.

You didn't fire him?

No. Best worker I ever had.

Would you hire him again?

Any reason why I shouldn't?

Well, that's what
we're trying to find out.

Well, you're not
gonna hear it from me.

If you want to
hear bad about him,

go to that chippy
that he was married to.

I've got no more for you.

We've already
talked to his ex-wife.

Well, if you believe
anything she told you,

you're bigger
fools than I think.

That's why we're
here, Mr. Turnbull,

to establish her credibility.

There's a difference of opinion

on what month
Lanham left Compass.

You'll get nothing more
from me. That's final.

Lanham and his ex-wife
don't agree on the month

that he left here.

Bill, you've got those cards.

Didn't she tell us he
left here in December?

Well, that's a lie
right off the top.

Harry quit his job
here the end of June.

December. Why, he was
already gone for six months.

Gone where, Mr. Turnbull?

Wherever it says
on that little card.

Oh, seems we got
it backwards, Joe.

It was Lanham who said
he left here in December.

Now, that's a pretty sneaky
way of doing business.

You can just get out of here.

I'm not answering any
more of your questions.

That's all right, Mr. Turnbull.

You've answered
the one that matters.

What do you mean?

You told us which one was lying.

In the reference section of
their personal history form,

Academy applicants are
required to name four persons,

other than relatives
or past employers,

who know them well
enough to give current

or former information
about them.

Harry Lanham had given only
one such reference in Compass.

The name was Fred Hiller.

Well, Harry just made
a mistake, that's all.

There's sure no reason
for him to hide now.

He was hiding?
Well, just from Verna,

- you know, his ex.
- Yeah.

See, Harry wanted to
get out of that situation.

Well, it was never
gonna work out,

so he left town.

Do you know where he
was from July to December?

Well, heck, yeah. He
was down in Carson City.

- Working there?
- He must have been.

She said she
wouldn't divorce him

unless he gave her
some money first.

He was paying Verna to get
the divorce, $150 a month.

She was always crying
to me about how she felt

it was worth more than that.

That's why he didn't
let on where he was.

How did he get the
payments to her?

Well, he sent them to me,
a money order every month.

I'd cash it and pay her off.

Do you know what kind of
a job he had in Carson City?

Oh, I don't remember
he ever said.

Usually, there was
just the money order.

If he wrote anything, it was
to ask if Verna had filed yet.

Hmph, that woman.

She knew the money would
stop when she got the divorce.

Strung it out for six months.

Did you ever answer
Lanham's letters?

Well, sure. I'd tell him
what was going on here.

I figured he had
a right to know.

What was the
address, Mr. Hiller?

- In Carson City?
- Yes, sir.

Well, I don't remember it now,

but if you want to check
up, it won't be hard to find.

I used to write him
in care of this place.

- Yes, sir?
- Brownie's Pool Room.

So far, the background
investigation of Harry Lanham

had turned up no
adverse information.

Only a six-months
period, July to December,

remained unverified.

To check it out would require

a 50-mile detour to Carson City.

We knew it had to be done.

7:00 p.m. We checked in

at the Carson City
Police Department.

Lanham had no record
and was unknown to them.

7:10 p.m. We drove over
to Brownie's Pool Room

on South Elm Street.

- Are you Brownie?
- No, he's not here.

I'm the Assistant Manager.
Something I can do for you?

We're police officers
from Los Angeles.

Yes, sir, you sure
are, aren't you?

This is Bill Gannon.
My name's Friday.

Swift, Ed Swift.
What's the problem?

Wonder if you know this man.

Name's Harry Lanham.

Never seen him before.

He used to pick
up his mail here.

- When was all that?
- Last year.

You'd have to ask
Brownie about that.

- I wasn't around then.
- All right.

- Where do we find Brownie?
- He ain't around no more.

Well, his name's still
on the sign out front.

Signs cost money.

I never bothered to change it.

Besides, you buy a store,

you want to buy the
goodwill, too, don't you?

Yes, sir.

Did you keep some of
Brownie's old customers?

You betcha.

Well, one of them
might remember Lanham.

Maybe. I don't know.

Ask around if you want.

Thanks.

Any of you know this
man? He's not in trouble.

We just want some routine
information about him.

His name's Harry Lanham.

Do you know him?

I guess you fellas
are out of luck.

Kind of looks that way.

Is Brownie still in town?

Yeah, but he don't
know him, either.

- Where can we find him?
- In the cemetery.

We went back to our motel,

and went over what we
had on Harry Lanham.

You know, this
is cattle country.

Yeah?

A lot of ranches around here.

Is that so?

That's probably where Lanham
was during those six months.

- What?
- Working on a cattle ranch.

That's the way
I've got it figured.

- You do, huh?
- Figure, Joe.

We know he spent six
months here in Carson City.

Now, we can't find any sign

that he ever lived
right in Carson City.

Yeah?

But he had to be close enough

to get into town to
mail his support money.

Trouble is, there are probably
100 ranches near here.

There are other
towns, too, aren't there?

Oh, a few, sure.
Virginia City, Wylie.

Wylie.

Do we go through
there on the way north?

Yeah, but why not a ranch?

I don't know. He used
to be a truck driver.

Maybe I just can't see
him becoming a ranch hand.

Yeah, I'll go along with you.

Well, one thing. Regardless
of where he worked...

Yeah?

A man can do a lot
of things in six months.

Friday, March 29th.

On the way north to Susanville
and other towns on our route,

we stopped off at the
Wylie Police Department.

We spoke to Chief
Leonard Oxley, 9:15 a.m.

Checking on Harry Lanham, huh?

That's right, Chief.
Do you know him?

Yeah, we knew
Harry. We had him here

for six months about a year ago.

- Do you mind if we ask why?
- What do you mean?

Well, what was he charged with?

Oh, we didn't have him in jail.

- He worked here.
- As a policeman?

That's right. I'm not
surprised he didn't mention it.

He was kicked off our force.

For what reason?

Harry was a strong young fellow,

lots of muscle, and
he liked to use it.

We got so many complaints,
we had to get rid of him.

I see.

Probably should've never
hired him in the first place.

Guess we didn't dig far
enough into his background.

Maybe.

Sending you boys out on the road

checking out all your applicants

must cost the
taxpayers a lot of money.

Not really that much.

No, but you know
how taxpayers are.

I've got a hunch
they think it's worth it.

As a result of his
background investigation,

Harry Lanham was
found to be unsatisfactory

and was rejected as a candidate

for training at the Los
Angeles Police Academy.