The first proper episode of this anthology service starts James Farentino as undercover vice detective Detective Czonka.
Although due a vacation. Czonka has been roped in to pose as CZ Smith, a pimp from Seattle looking to buy girls.
His job is to bring down ruthless pimp Snake (Fred Williamson) who seems to be evading the police and has a tight grip on his prostitution ring. Czonka gets entry to Snake via Janette his madame.
However Snake wants a favour first. His estranged wife is a liability and Snake wants someone to permanently disfigure her.
Created by Joseph Wambaugh, there is a gritty aspect to Police Story. There is a strong scene when Czonka talks to a young hooker, a runaway coerced to a life of vice which includes drugs, beatings and gang rape. Czonka knows exactly the story used by her pimp to lure her to the game. Although made in 1973, the same angle is still used today by pimps.
On the other hand there is an element of camp with the loud outfits which even Czonka acknowledges. Williamson is effective as the ruthless Snake but you do wonder if there were any white pimps back in the 1970s.