WS Chronicle

The Winston-Salem Police Department (WSPD) has been approached by a British production company interested in doing a documentary-style show on local police.

During the Monday City Council Public Safety Committee meeting, Police Chief Catrina Thompson said she’d talked with London-based The Garden Productions Ltd. about its interest in doing a show on the WSPD. Each episode of the show would follow a single serious crime case from the point of view of WSPD detectives.

“Fundamentally this series highlights the skills, determination and insight officers deploy when tackling complex cases,” said Thompson.

Thompson said it’ll show the in-depth, human approach it takes to solve crimes. The show will not be like the reality series “Cops” or “Live PD,” with patrol officers dealing with less serious crimes with quick outcomes.

“This is not a program about people running with uniform police chasing them on foot,” she said.

Thompson said being selected for the show speaks well of the WSPD.

“We were selected because of our strong community ties, diversity, community trust and our demonstration of transparency,” said Thompson.

The Garden Productions began in 2010 and has produced multiple award-winning shows in the United Kingdom. These include “24 Hours in Police Custody,” which primarily focuses on Bedfordshire Police, and “24 Hours in A&E, “which focuses on the Accident and Emergency departments in hospitals. Thompson said she spoke with retired Bedford Chief Constable Colette Paul about the work The Garden’s crew did with that department. Paul told her they were pleased with the show and that it increased the community’s trust with their department.

Thompson said she expects the yet to be named show to air in the United States and will be 6 to10 hourlong episodes.

The Public Safety Committee gave her the go ahead to arrange a pre-production meeting with The Garden, which she expects to happen in Winston-Salem in the coming weeks.