Ep 13. The Indian

Barney Miller season 5 episode 13, titled "The Indian", follows the daily lives of the detectives working in the 12th precinct of the NYPD. The episode begins with the character Wojciehowicz being fascinated by an Indian he sees on the street. Later on, the person who Wojciehowicz saw on the street turns up in the precinct, and he is indeed an Indian named Mohandas who is a new immigrant. Mohandas has no place to stay and is living on the streets, so the detectives decide to help him as much as they can.

As the detectives try to find a place for their new friend Mohandas to stay, they realize that they face a problem: they cannot find a shelter that will accept him. Mohandas is discriminated against because of his Indian heritage, and he is refused entry into various shelters simply because of his ethnicity. The detectives are shocked and outraged by the discrimination that Mohandas faces, and they decide to fight back against it. They help Mohandas by finding him a place to stay in an apartment owned by a kindly old woman who does not discriminate against people of different ethnicities.

Meanwhile, Lieutenant Scanlon is called in to investigate a theft at a jewelry store. Scanlon is convinced that the theft was an inside job, and he tries to find out who among the employees might have pulled off the heist. The investigation leads to some interesting revelations, and Scanlon has to work hard to uncover the truth. In the end, Scanlon manages to solve the case and catch the thief.

Back at the precinct, the detectives are dealing with some colorful characters who have been taken into custody. While dealing with these colorful suspects, the detectives find themselves having to deal with a language barrier. One of the suspects only speaks Yiddish, and the detectives have to rely on their knowledge of the language to communicate with him. The Yiddish-speaking suspect turns out to be a diamond dealer, and he is eventually released on bail.

As the episode progresses, the detectives continue to help Mohandas. They help him apply for a job and try to make him feel more at home in the city. The detectives bond with Mohandas and become true advocates for his rights. They are shocked by the discrimination he faces, and they vow to continue to fight against it.

Throughout "The Indian", the characters of Barney Miller continue to evolve and develop. The friendship between the detectives and Mohandas is heartwarming and shows the humanity that exists within the walls of the police precinct. The episode deals with important themes such as discrimination and prejudice, and it shows how these issues can affect people in everyday life. Barney Miller's season 5 episode 13, "The Indian", is a well-written and thoughtful addition to the show.