This is the story of Frank Coyle, a veteran police officer who never meets his monthly quota of traffic tickets, has never fired his service weapon, and who believes that putting anyone but violent criminals in jail is cruel and unusual punishment. He has compiled the lowest arrest record of any of his fellow officers, and yet he has imposed a lasting peace on the most violent, crime ridden area of his city. He has very unorthodox views of how the law should be upheld, and those who violate his rules are eventually cured of their lawless ways-permanently.