Ep 4. Graft

In season 1 episode 4 of Barney Miller entitled "Graft," the detectives of the 12th Precinct are faced with a corruption scandal involving a corrupt businessman named Harry Sonnick. Harry is caught bribing a city inspector in order to secure his building permit for an office tower. The inspector, who is also caught, agrees to testify against Harry in return for immunity from prosecution.

Meanwhile, the 12th Precinct is dealing with the fallout from the scandal. A group of citizens, led by a local activist named Mrs. Dietz, are demanding that the precinct take action against Harry. The precinct's Captain, Barney Miller, is sympathetic to their cause but is unsure of how to proceed given the lack of concrete evidence against Harry.

Detective Phil Fish, who is normally cantankerous and ill-tempered, surprises everyone by suggesting that they use a lie detector test to try and extract a confession from Harry. The idea is initially dismissed by the other detectives, who are skeptical of the accuracy of lie detector tests. However, Fish is able to convince them to try the test after he explains that it has worked for him in the past.

The detectives, led by Barney, arrange for Harry to take the test. As they wait for the results, they begin to question Harry, who denies any wrongdoing. However, the lie detector test tells a different story. Harry is revealed to be lying about his involvement in the bribery scheme and he eventually confesses to his crimes.

The episode ends with Harry being taken into custody and Mrs. Dietz thanking Barney and the detectives for their hard work. The episode is notable for its themes of corruption and civil disobedience, as well as its exploration of the use of lie detector tests in criminal investigations.

Overall, "Graft" is a well-written and engaging episode of Barney Miller that showcases the strengths of the show's ensemble cast and its ability to tackle complex social issues in a thoughtful and nuanced way. It is a must-watch for fans of the show and is a good introduction to the series for those who are new to it.