Way back in the day, as that saying goes, there was a popular American TV series named Dragnet. This police procedural crime drama first aired in 1951. Its main character was named Joe Friday, played by Jack Webb. Just the facts, mam became a national catchphrase. Each episode was supposedly based on actual cases, although not literal reenactments of each. Cops and robbers. Usually the bad guys were caught, tried and convicted, then sentenced to jail by the end of each installment. The long arm of the law. Do the crime, do the time. Crime, ya know, does not pay.

It was a TV program. As such, how much of its storytelling reflected reality as far as the default modus operandi of police work must be taken with a grain or two of salt. In the 1950s United States, crime was usually associated with organized crime, bootlegging, and street gangs. You know, like West Side Story. But minus the singing and dancing in-between rumbles and star-crossed romancing.

Ah, but for such innocent times!

Today, Dragnet would portray a much different type of cops and robbers template. Sure, there are the daily smash and grabs hitting retail swank clothing stores or brazen thefts of ATMs, or video gaming devices. After all, one constant from long before the 1950s and now is the famous quote from bank robber Willie Sutton, from the 1930s. When asked why he kept robbing banks, the answer was simply “That’s where the money is”. Of course! And to quote another very dad dude, though this one from the fictional movie Scarface, circa 1983, “First you get the money, then you get power, then you get the woman”. It’s guys like the actual Scarface, Al Capone, or John Dillinger, Clyde Barrow and Bonnie Parker and good old Jesse James that have been romanticized in American culture.

Here in early 2026, crime figures are often linked to transactional crime, cyber crime, cartel bosses, plus the garden variety murderers, kidnappers, arsonists and the not-so-household name of Ruja Ignatova, also known as the “Crypto Queen”. Catchy moniker, is it not?

Crime will never be completed rendered null and void, and how could it be otherwise? The criminal mind will always be scattered amongst the general population. Criminals are not born as such, if you want to believe the social scientists, criminologists, geneticists, neurobiologists or endocrinologists. But it sure does seem that way in some cases. The nature and nurture cocktail of possible outcomes is seemingly offering an explanation for how these dangerous humans come to be. There’s yet another expression, the bad seed that might have some merit. You know, the bully who has always been bad news. Every playground has one. Then they grow up and bully about until someone cleans their clock. But that doesn’t always happen. The worst of these misaligned malcontents likely got a counterpunch in seconds after the delivery doc slapped him (or her) to get them breathing. Well, once upon a time that was the standard procedure. Now, the technique to get that airway engaged is a more gentile tactile stimulation, like back rubbing or foot flicking, rubbing baby’s back with a warm towel. Then as that twig is bent, so grows that tree.

That “bad seed” narrative taps into fears about innate darkness, sociopathy. Whatever the case, it’s the Joe Fridays of police forces far and wide that are confronted by the worst-case scenario as far as criminality. Good luck with that, given the documented cases of actual members of those sworn to serve and protect being themselves criminals. Here in early 2026, there is no shortage of crime, writ large, medium or small. Actually, in our digital age, with virtually everyone able to see videos on a cell phone screen showing apparent violence being perpetrated, far and wide, the shock level that used to result in such documentation has been reduced significantly. Sure, there’s A.I. fakery and bots and trolls but the ugly reality has long been established.

Back in the days of Al Capone and gangland killings, such crimes were very shocking and sickening. For awhile at least. Gangland killings, bank robbers, and street gang rumbles seemed to be symptoms of internal conflicts within that era’s form of organized crime. Shocking to hear about, but the fear was hyper-localized. This neighborhood or that neighborhood where the blood was shed might be rightfully afraid, but it was more short-term in duration. Joe Friday could handle it. Just tune in to Dragnet for the proof.

Today, in the still newish year, much of the world seems to be a crime scene. Yellow police tape may as well be wrapped around our globe like longitudinal and latitudinal lines. It’s everywhere. And it’s very much very horrific. Shock? Not so much anymore, in some ways. Fear? Very much so, in every way. The crime bosses have plenty of money, and that associated power that money can buy. However, whatever amorous desires they may have are clearly not as important. They get what they want. Some of it for the long haul, some of it as disposable as a candy wrapper. And the fearful aspect of this global crime fest is no policing of it seems to be taking place. In fact, crime fighting forces appear to be protecting the criminals. Military or various police forces, in this global era of pillage, plunder and power mongering are very much part of the problem, rather than any solution.

Fear is the hunter. The transgressors wear fancy suits, have unimaginable wealth and seem insulated from accountability. Whether they were slapped to get their first breath of life or had their feet tickled doesn’t matter. They now suck the life out of much of the modern world, figuratively and certainly literally as well, bereft of human empathy. Rapaciously never yet satisfied with their stockpile of takings from those whom never harmed them, including taking their lives as a matter of cold-blooded personal policy.

On the bright side, they are all destined to die themselves. Sooner or later. How sooner or how later is anyone’s guess/desire. People around the world, in modern societies or hardscrabble huts and hobbles await deliverance. We outnumber these bad seeds. These modern-day career, power lusting criminals make up about 0.001% of the world’s population. They likely don’t fear their being outnumbered so massively. For now, at least. It’s up to the majority to realize they have the power in order to use it.

With over 8 billion potential Joe and Jane Fridays ready and eager to get their baddy, the ultimate episode of Dragnet is waiting to to be aired. I am certain that its ratings will be absolutely, definitely, through the roof.

That’s a fact, mam.