Furillo (Daniel J. Travanti, superb as usual) breaks the news to everyone at the station that Esterhaus has died and gets named executor of his death. Bates (a terrific Betty Thomas) is considered as a replacement for Esterhaus as roll call sergeant. Belker (a fine Bruce Weitz) works undercover as a truck driver. Coffey (excellent from from Ed Marinaro) has trouble coping with the fact that his girlfriend Sandy (a brave and moving performance by Linda Hamilton) was raped.
The way various people deal with the passing of Esterhaus gives this episode a wrenching poignancy, with even the usually slimy and reprehensible Daniels (a sturdy Jon Cypher) showing a more humane and pragmatic side for once and Belker suffering an awful automotive mishap on the job after he cracks under the pressure. Coffey's frustration over what happened to Sandy hits the potent dramatic bull's eye as well. Moreover, there are sterling guest contributions from Jane Kazmarek as spunky new cop Pitsky, Trinidad Silva as the swaggering Martinez, and Barbara Babcock as the distraught and elegant Grace Gardner, who has a real doozy of a funny, yet affecting scene in which she reveals to Furillo that Esterhaus died of a heart attack while making love to her.
The way various people deal with the passing of Esterhaus gives this episode a wrenching poignancy, with even the usually slimy and reprehensible Daniels (a sturdy Jon Cypher) showing a more humane and pragmatic side for once and Belker suffering an awful automotive mishap on the job after he cracks under the pressure. Coffey's frustration over what happened to Sandy hits the potent dramatic bull's eye as well. Moreover, there are sterling guest contributions from Jane Kazmarek as spunky new cop Pitsky, Trinidad Silva as the swaggering Martinez, and Barbara Babcock as the distraught and elegant Grace Gardner, who has a real doozy of a funny, yet affecting scene in which she reveals to Furillo that Esterhaus died of a heart attack while making love to her.
