T. J. Hooker

T.J. Hooker is the name. But you don't have to lose any sleep wondering what the T.J. stands for, as far as you're concerned, my first name is 'Sergeant'.

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: You Catholic, Romano? Vince Romano: Yes, sir. Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Y'know what I missed at the Mass that they had for the kid? Latin. I'd like to hear Latin again instead of everything in English. Vince Romano: [Wistfully] Yeah. Sgt. T.J. Hooker: What about doctors who make house calls? Repairmen who know how to fix things? And ballplayers who hustle? And boxers who get carried out of the ring, instead of quitting because of stomach cramps? And what about the death penalty for scum who take a human life and snuff it out like it's so much garbage? I've seen the past, gentlemen, and it works.

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: He'll get a cop's funeral because he made a mistake. A dumb, stupid mistake! Parker English: Yeah, well, some of us aren't as smart as you, Sarge! Sgt. T.J. Hooker: That's right, English! Not all of you are! If you were I wouldn't have to work my tail off to drum elementary procedure into your thick skulls! I wouldn't have to spell it out by the numbers that that badge is a target. And I wouldn't have to feel that a potentially good cop is lying there on a slab because I didn't teach him well enough.

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Vince Romano: Look, I busted my back in pre-training. I thought I did better than any rooky in every class, every test, every drill! So why didn't I get a partner? Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Romano, you got a partner! You lucked out: you got me!

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Most perpetrators are right-handed, and are not trained. Therefore when they fire at you, their gun will jump slightly to your right... and their bullets tend to pass over your right shoulder. So... before you get into your combat crouch, take a half-step to your left... Officer Granger: Sir! Sgt. T.J. Hooker: Granger? Officer Granger: What happens when you run into a left-handed shooter who's been trained? Sgt. T.J. Hooker: In that case, Granger, if you don't take a half-step to your right... you'll get a cop's funeral with full honors.

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0

Cops and robbers isn't a game to me, Ms. Hill. I've seen too much life and death. Too many alcoholic cops because they're shaking inside. Too many divorces and suicides because of stress. Too many good men given a cop's funeral because some unthinking, unfeeling scum pulls a trigger on 'em.

T. J. Hooker, CC BY-SA 4.0