Lt. Frank Furillo once again has a lot of things to deal with. Making the first of her appearances is Grace Gardner (pretty character actress Barbara Babcock), who is on a mission to make the station house more aesthetically pleasing. Officers Renko and Hill are not getting along after surviving that shooting in the pilot episode. Two officers (Mark "Neidermeyer" Metcalf and Steven Bauer) intend to dish out some vigilante justice after being embarrassed on the job. Frank is having some problems with his ongoing relationship with public defender Joyce Davenport. And, most importantly, the President of the United States intends to visit the precinct, and Goldblume comes up with the bright idea to hold a "summit meeting" with local gang leaders and crime figures to tell them to be on their best behaviour.
The various subplots help to make the overall storytelling quite compelling, as usual. The first-rate cast is just a pleasure to watch, with Michael Warren and Charles Haid truly commanding ones' attention during their big confrontation scene. And the serious and poignant details are always counterbalanced with some humorous touches, like the scenes with the priceless Detective Belker. (Bruce Weitz is such a hoot in the role). Belker is out to nab the rapists that have been terrorizing St. James Park. Fay makes another of her outbursts while confronting Frank with the realities of her post-divorce life. But, through it all, Frank does an admirable job of keeping his cool and simply doing the best he can in any given situation.
There is fun in spotting familiar faces in small, pre-stardom roles: David Caruso as the leader of an Irish gang, and Merritt Butrick (Kirks' son in two of the "Star Trek" feature films) as an under-age rapist whom Belker fears will get away with his crimes.
Eight out of 10.