Sensitive, pipe-smoking cop Alex "Bronk" Bronkov, who spends much of his time caring for his crippled daughter Ellen (who was injured in the same car crash that took the life of Bronk's wife), is hired by Ocean City, California mayor Pete Santori to clean up the corruption of the city. Although he is given the rank of lieutenant, Bronk answers to Mayor Santori, and is often able to cut through bureaucratic "red tape" in hurry if need be.