Nothing defines the network television airwaves like the police procedural, and that's something most TV watchers can agree on. For over four decades, police departments or officers hunting down bad guys and girls have dominated the airwaves on all Big Four networks. Ranking them, however, is another story, and one that almost brought us to fighting among the Screen Rant Network TV staff.
With a lineup of police procedurals still on air for multiple seasons, several can compete for the top spot as the best cop show on the airwaves. After a comprehensive, and sometimes heated, discussion about which show belonged in the top spot, we finally sorted our ranking of the best shows still on air. While there's still some grumbling about our order, we're happy with our ranking and invite people to weigh in in the comments – respectfully, of course.
10 The Rookie
Nathan Fillion Shines As The Oldest Rookie In The LAPD
With seven seasons under its belt, ABC's The Rookie has distinguished itself as a distinctive spin on a tried-and-true classic story. Nathan Fillion's John Nolan joins the LAPD as a 45-year-old rookie making his way through the police academy, starting a new career.
While not always the critic's favorite show, The Rookie's dynamic guest star cameos and Fillion's range make exploring a different kind of midlife crisis a fabulous watch. It's been renewed for The Rookie season 8, so there's plenty of summer left to get caught up on this fantastic show before it premieres in the fall lineup.
Another Dramatic Tentacle In The Dick Wolf Universe
NBC and Dick Wolf go together like peanut butter and jelly, it seems, and his venture into another major city paid dividends for him and his creative endeavors, first with Chicago Fire and then its police-centered spinoff, Chicago P.D. Led by Jason Beghe, the procedural follows the Chicago Police Department's Intelligence Unit as they battle Second City's most dangerous criminals.
Cut from the cloth of its New York counterpart, Chicago P.D., renewed for season 13, brings an old-school charm to its new school procedural process. Although sometimes lighter on the flair and the story depth that Law & Order provides, Chicago P.D. and its long-lasting appeal earned it a spot on this list.
8 NCIS: Origins
Popular Spinoff Of A Celebrated Franchise Player
Only one season in, this entry into the NCIS franchise has already been a popular one, consistently ranking among the most watched and highest-rated in the portfolio. Fans should take the time to learn about Gibbs and his history in this fantastic offering, and with NCIS: Origins season 2 on the way this fall, there's plenty of time to catch up.
7 FBI
Dick Wolf's Universe Grew Larger With This Hit Show
Another popular arm of the Dick Wolf Universe, FBI follows Law & Order alum Jeremy Sisto and Alana de la Garza through the New York branch of the FBI and their cases. Focused primarily on terrorism and organized crime, the show has been renewed for FBI seasons 8 and 9, an impressive run.
6 Law & Order: Organized Crime
A New Spin On The Dick Wolf Universe
Originally airing on NBC but with its fifth season moving to Peacock, Law & Order: Organized Crime is a fresh and unique spin on the classic Dick Wolf franchise approach. Starring L&O veteran Christopher Meloni as Elliott Stabler, the show travels through the organized crime underworld as Stabler and his squad work to keep them off the streets.
Straying from the one-and-done, case-of-the-week approach typically employed by Wolf, Organized Crime carries stories and characters week over week, and sometimes through entire seasons. While fans wait with bated breath for the completely necessary renewal of Law & Order: Organized Crime season 6, you can catch all the intense action right now on Peacock.
CBS' Best Is Back On Paramount+
Throughout 15 seasons, Criminal Minds was one of the best offerings on network television week over week. With a formidable cast led by Mandy Patinkin, then Thomas Gibson, and now Joe Mantegna, the show follows the Behavioral Analysis Unit of the FBI as they track down criminals by profiling them.
The original incarnation of the show wrapped in 2020, but it was recently revived as Criminal Minds: Evolution, currently on Paramount+, and saw a return of almost the entire cast from its original run. With a season 19 renewal in the bag (or Criminal Minds: Evolution season 4, depending on how you number it), we can expect more exciting television with this fantastic reboot.
4 Law & Order
The OG Cop Show Still Holds True
Returning to the NBC airwaves in 2022 after a 12-year hiatus, Law & Order remains the benchmark for police procedurals. The show that sets the current standard, its weekly dip into New York's criminal justice system's machinations showcases some of the best drama work on television.
3 Will Trent
A Popular Newcomer Lands In The Top Three
An unlikely hit from ABC, Will Trent emerged as a front-runner for the best new network television debut in 2023. Starring Ramon Rodriguez in the title role, it follows the crime-solving adventures of the dyslexic Special Agent from the Georgia Bureau of Investigations.
Where the show excels, outside its conformity to the procedural narrative, is the backstory and lessons learned by Will throughout his life, shaped from a childhood that unfolded in the foster care system. The fresh backstory in a cop-centered story, plus its lauding by fans and critics alike, landed Will Trent as number three on our list.
2 NCIS
A Fan Favorite And CBS Staple Remains A Winner
What sets NCIS apart from its counterparts, outside of its military setting, is its ability to consistently balance character arcs with humor, drama, and suspense week over week, allowing viewers to fully engage and connect with both the story and its players. Although we miss Special Agent Gibbs, the show continues to prove it's a mainstay, hopefully for many more years to come.
1 Law & Order: SVU
Consistently The Best Of The Best
Perhaps there's no better police procedural of the past three decades than Law & Order: SVU, the most popular and longest-lasting in the Law & Order universe. With a fantastic cast led by Mariska Hargitay and Ice-T, the show focuses on the cases of the Special Victims Unit, hunting down sex crime perpetrators in New York City.
The show, a hit since its premiere in 1999, has remained a topical program, utilizing the "ripped from rhe headlines" approach that has kept it popular in American pop culture. Although there were many worthy choices on this list, Law & Order: SVU is the most popular cop show currently on air.
