NYPD Blue (season 7)

Sipowicz and Sorenson are disgusted by two cops who may have beaten a man to death and expect investigators to cover for them when their stories don't pan out. Meanwhile, a grieving Sipowicz and his young son, Theo, struggle to adjust to life at home without Sylvia; and despite her better judgment, Detective Jill Kirkendall contemplates a reunion with her ex-husband Don. Danny meets a uniformed officer named Mary Franco and they hook up in a limited, awkward fashion.

Notes

• Kevin Dillon guest stars as Officer Neil Baker

Russell discloses important information about Don's criminal activities to Kirkendall which strains their relationship, while they try to solve the death of a hooker's baby, while Jill gives Don an ultimatum. Meanwhile, Sipowicz and Sorenson take pity on a recent parolee who has a fatalistic attitude when one of his friends turns up murdered.

Notes

• Tawny Cypress guest stars as Rosana Booth.
• The fact that ABC decided to begin the season in January rather than October or November is reflected by a line here about a witness standing around "in the hot sun", because the series always began its seasons with episodes set during the brutal New York City summertime.

Russell, Kirkendall and Martinez sense that a young boy is being exploited by his adult teacher. Meanwhile, Sipowicz, Sorenson and Medavoy investigate the vicious murder and castration of an out-of-towner who hired male prostitutes on his frequent trips to New York City, while Andy and PAA John Irvin find an effective way to deal with some firefighters who might have taken more than evidence from the crime scene.

Notes

• First appearance of John F. O'Donohue as Eddie Gibson.
• Sam Lloyd guest stars as Larry

Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a man who was shot in front of his wife and whose brother appears to be the hero for trying to catch the shooter. Diane meets with Det. Denby, who is running the drug case that Don is involved in, and finds out he's as disgusting as Don is. James learns that he passed the Sergeant's exam and shares the news with a supportive but saddened Greg.

Notes

• David Zayas guest stars as Joaquin

Sipowicz and Sorenson trace the path of a young man's gun which was used in a homicide and now threatens to destroy his own family, and Andy once again tries very hard to show he's no longer racist in the face of disapproval from the suspect's mom; Kirkendall faces a showdown with Don that ends with theft and Don being killed and burned beyond recognition; and the fraternity of the 15th Precinct promises to remain intact even as Detective James Martinez bids farewell.

Note:

• Last appearance of Nicholas Turturro as James Martinez.

Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a cop whose extramarital affair with his partner may have led to his seemingly random murder. Diane indirectly lets Jill know what happened to Don. Baldwin Jones arrives and quickly impresses the other cops with his strength and smarts, and begins his partnership with Greg. Lt. Fancy spars with Baldwin's former Lt. Abner.

Notes:

• First appearance of Henry Simmons as Baldwin Jones.
• Amy Carlson guest stars as Lisa Marantz.
• James Pickens Jr. stars as Lt. Abner, he had previously appeared on the first season episode titled "Personal Foul" playing a postal worker named Nathan Foster.

Medavoy and his new partner, Detective Baldwin Jones, join Sipowicz and Sorenson as they investigate the peculiar disappearance of two young boys on a trail that leads them to a racist, deranged Russian man. But Sipowicz is a bit skeptical of Jones, the new guy, and doesn't try to hide it. Danny treats Mary Franco dismissively and seems more interested in Diane. Diane and Jill investigate a girl who died as a drug mule and get a suspect to incriminate himself.

Note

• Raymond Cruz guest stars as Rico.

Lieutenant Fancy tries to rebuild his relationship with Lt. Abner, but is left devastated when he runs out of time, while a concerned Detective Jones offers his support. Meanwhile, Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate the murder of a club owner who had quite a way with the ladies, and Andy helps out a married man who snapped when the lothario had an affair with his wife. Jones takes out his frustration on a creep who a woman claimed raped and beat her, but is going to walk free because a video shows she was lying about the rape and that means no prosecution.

Notes

• Regina Hall guest stars as Sharice Warner
• Frank Vincent guest stars as Dino 'The Rat' Ferrera

The ever-perceptive administrative aide, John Irvin, uses intuition to lead Sipowicz and Sorenson in the right direction as they investigate a possible love triangle homicide. And Kirkendall and Russell help a fragile young woman recount her horrific gang rape and deal with her racist, unsympathetic parents.

• Misha Collins guest stars as Blake DeWitt

JB's sad fate leads Danny Sorenson to an emotional crisis which impacts him deeply, and he seeks comfort from Diane after blowing off Mary Franco. Meanwhile, Kirkendall tries to help a young mother who steals for her unemployed abusive husband, but the case ends in tragedy when an overzealous uniformed officer gets involved. And John Irvin lends his assistance on a case involving stolen vintage clothing.

• Mos Def guest stars as Leslie Peach

Detective Baldwin Jones uses his considerable charm as a tool to help Sipowicz and Sorenson get a confession in the murder of an elderly couple. Meanwhile, Medavoy is visited by an old friend who fears trouble with the Chinese mafia. And Danny seems to rebound from his personal problems and restarts his relationship with Mary Franco.

• A.J. Buckley guest stars as Roger Lundquist

A dismembered body is found in a barrel in the basement of a brownstone. The detectives' trail leads them to a notorious mobster who has a long list of enemies, but they soon learn the mobster is connected to a different murder case. Andy has to deal with a hostile ME whose anger at Andy is not personal. And Detective Jones helps an attractive radio reporter break a big story and receives clear signals in return.

Note

• Elizabeth Berkley guest stars as Nicole Graf
• Marc Vann guest stars as Harry Forsic
• Frank Vincent guest stars as Dino 'The Rat' Ferrera
• M. Emmet Walsh guest stars as Dr. Joe Kroft
• Pat Crawford Brown guest stars as Old Woman at the crime scene

A panic-stricken young woman tries to convince Kirkendall and Russell that her twin sister has become the victim of foul play; and Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate an immigrant's possible involvement in the murder of his wealthy but unpopular wife.

Notes

• Alimi Ballard guest stars as Marcus Potter

The detectives welcome the assistance of a pair of British detectives in the stakeout of a sadistic rapist-murderer; and Detective Jones gets up close and personal with the grateful reporter he helped on a previous homicide.

Notes

• Elizabeth Berkley guest stars as Nicole Graf
• John Standing guest stars as Jimmy Cheatham

Lt. Fancy tells Diane that the NYPD is ready to close in on Jill for her relationship with Don. Diane lets an angry Jill know the truth, and Jill tells Diane why Don has leverage over her. The squad comes together to deal with the Don situation once and for all. Andy stays by Theo's side as his son goes through tests to see whether or not he has cancer. An interdepartmental shakeup leads to permanent change.

Note

• This was Andrea Thompson's last appearance as Jill Kirkendall.