Before "Police Woman": How "Decoy" Became TV's First Female-Led Police Procedural
By
Michael Boyle
Summary
A look back at "Decoy" (1957-1958), the first television police procedural to feature a female lead — Beverly Garland as undercover officer Patricia "Casey" Jones. The article explores how the show predated and differed from later efforts like "Police Woman," and how Garland's portrayal was more grounded and less glamorized than what followed. Despite being a trailblazer, the show has been largely forgotten in TV history.
Source
TVLineBefore "Police Woman": How "Decoy" Became TV's First Female-Led Police Proceduraltvline.comKey quotes
· 2 pulledGarland enjoyed starring in Decoy more than Dickinson enjoyed Police Woman
The first ever female lead of a procedural police show — and a forgotten trailblazer in the genre.
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