Fire up the Tivo: "COPS: Worcester" coming soon

I don't think I've ever watched an entire episode of "Cops." Watching police arrest toothless crack 'hos and settle down Billy Joe and Bobbi Sue after they've ransacked the trailer just doesn't do it for me.

But this season I may have to make time, since "Cops" is coming to Worcester:

WORCESTER--"Bad boys, bad boys whatcha gonna do, whatcha gonna do when they come for you?"

Whatever they do, it's going to be on camera. The show "Cops," seen on Fox, started filming in the city this week and plans to be here for several more.

A crew for the long-running and popular show that puts cameras right with police as they chase culprits, handcuff criminals and detain many shirtless perpetrators was at police headquarters Tuesday.

Jimmy Langley, a "Cops" producer, confirmed that crews would be riding along with the Worcester Police Department for several weeks. He said filming began Tuesday night, for future airings.

Not everyone is as excited as I am about this development. In today's Telegram, Dianne Williamson caught up with some activists protesting the show:

Protesters are accusing local police of "putting on a show" for a Fox camera crew, but I'm thinking the protesters doth protest too much.

Yesterday in front of City Hall, during the summer silly season, some 70 people gathered to complain that Worcester police transfixed by their star potential are harassing innocent citizens and running roughshod like Nazis over their rights, all for the chance to appear on the Fox reality show, "Cops."

I'm not buying it. But I am impressed with the show put on by the usual suspects of potentially peeved protesters.

.....

The protesters are making some serious claims, saying that police have been harassing teens and homeless people since the "Cops" crew showed up last week. [Community activist Kevin] Ksen said a mother told him that her 13-year-old son was "jumped" by a cop. He said "everyone I've talked to has had a run-in with the police." But my favorite tale involves a church worker who was supposedly arrested by police for double parking -- while dropping off a blind woman. Mr. Ksen admits that he heard the latter story "second hand," but he obviously knows the value of a good yarn.

Oh, I hope that last one is true. Forget the pimps and 'hos, that would be good television.

Tags: Massachusetts Worcester Police Fox Television "Cops"