Adam-12 (1968)/The Search

The Search
Season 4, Episode 5
Airdate	October 20, 1971
Written by	Stephen J. Cannell
Directed by	James Neilson
Produced by	Herman S. Saunders
← 4x04 The Radical (1)	4x06 → The Ferret
Adam-12 — Season Four

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The Search is the fifth episode of the fourth season of Adam-12, and the eighty-third episode overall.

During a pursuit of two armed robbery suspects, Malloy attempts to track another down in a nearby park but gets into a major accident, rolling the car over and landing in an embankment hidden from the road. Reed (after capturing one of the suspects), Mac and the other officers are left to try to rescue their comrade and friend.

Starring: Martin Milner (Officer Pete Malloy), Kent McCord (Officer Jim Reed)

with William Boyett (Sgt. MacDonald), Richard Peabody (Boone Wexel)

Uncredited: Shaaron Claridge (Dispatcher)

Plot Overview

The 1-Adam-12 squad car is returned to service after routine maintenance, but the car's radio is not working properly and is scheduled for more service. Meantime, the car is declared ready for patrol, and Malloy and Reed responded to an armed robbery at a nearby supermarket. The two suspects take off, and while Reed is able to quickly capture one of the men, the other suspect takes off in their getaway car with Malloy in pursuit.

The chase continues to the nearby Griffith Park, where the experienced robber is easily able to navigate its winding roads. Malloy, too ... until he loses control of the car, which crashes into an embankment and is not visible from the road. Malloy is seriously injured in the crash and it's a little bit before he regains consciousness and realizes he's bleeding internally and has a broken leg.

When they lose contact with Malloy, Reed, Mac and other available units are called in to search for their fellow officer, who can only watch helplessly as they are unable to see the wreckage from the road, and the radio is still not working. Using his shotgun and sidearm as a splint, Malloy, after managing to pull himself from the wrecked car, tries to hobble up the side hill but is unsuccessful. Making matters worse: a wanted man, hiding in the park to evade authorities on an unrelated charge, takes his shotgun. Meantime, Mac wants Reed to help man a command post outside the park, but Reed refuses give up and Mac, although not happy, allows him to focus on rescuing his partner.

Malloy's last hope, meantime, is tearing off his radio microphone, leaving the wires, which he uses to signal for help. Reed is able to pick up the signal, and using his car's spotlight and siren lights, flashes them as a signal which Malloy is able to see. When Reed – after calling for an ambulance – finds Malloy in the ditch, next to the squad car, the first word uttered by Malloy is, "Partner!"

Malloy makes a speedy recovery and it is presumed the two remaining suspects – the armed robber and the shooting suspect in the unrelated case – are captured.