Live PD was an American reality docuseries that aired on the A&E Network. The show was unlike anything else on cable at the time; it broadcast live footage from multiple police departments across the United States. This gave viewers an unfiltered, real-time look at law enforcement on patrol.
The show aired simultaneous live feeds from several law enforcement agencies across the United States. AA&E imposed a broadcast delay of a few seconds to several minutes to protect against the accidental airing of confidential or otherwise sensitive material. The live format created moments of raw, unscripted television that a traditional law enforcement program could never replicate. Notable moments included officers breaking down emotionally on camera, dramatic pursuits, and tense confrontations unfolding in real time before millions of viewers.
The show was anchored from a studio by host Dan Abrams. It also featured two co-analysts: Tom Morris Jr., a former Washington, D.C., special police officer and crime reporter, and Sgt. Sean “Sticks” Larkin of the Tulsa Police Department. The trio provided context, commentary, and analysis between field segments, and were occasionally joined in-studio by law enforcement officers who had recently featured in the field coverage.
Live PD aired on Friday and Saturday nights and was frequently the top-rated cable program on those nights throughout its run. At the height of its popularity, it was the most-watched show on all of cable television during Friday primetime. Additionally, the show’s loyal fanbase, who called themselves #LivePDNation, was among the most engaged audiences in cable news and reality television.
The series ran for four seasons from 2016 to 2020. It spawned several spin-offs and companion shows, including Live PD: Police Patrol, Live PD: Wanted, Live PD: Rewind, and Live Rescue. It came to an abrupt end on June 10, 2020 — just days after A&E had renewed it for 160 additional episodes. The cancellation followed the nationwide protests triggered by the murder of George Floyd. It also later emerged that the show’s producers had filmed but destroyed footage of the March 2019 death of Javier Ambler in police custody.
