Title: Ambush
Directed by: Noam Pitlik
Written by: Chris Hayward, Danny Arnold, and Arne Sultan
Air Date: October 2, 1975
Previous: The Layoff
Next: Heat Wave
Guest Starring: Dick O'Neill, David Doyle
"Ambush" is the fourth episode of the second season of Barney Miller.
Nick is not in the squad room, because he was shot in the butt while responding to a report of an armed robery. Why was he shot in the butt? Because someone laid an ambush for the detectives. It seems that a cop-hater has been calling in fake reports of crime to the 12th Precinct, then shooting at cops and detectives as they respond. The men of the 12th, who are pretty bitter about this, start combing through the files to see if they can find a likely suspect.
With Yemana out of commission, the 12th receives Detective Kelly, formerly of Internal Affairs. Kelly, who was trying to nail Barney's detectives for corruption in Season 1 episode "Graft", is no longer with IA but is still his racist, obnoxious self.
Meanwhile, Wojo arrests a gun nut, Emil Ditka (David Doyle, soon to be a regular on Charlie's Angels as Bosley) who was seen wielding a rifle on the roof of his apartment building. Barney for his part is seriously contemplating a job offer to be chief of police in a small town in Florida.
Last appearance of recurring character Officer Kogan, the downstairs desk sergeant. While Kogan would eventually be replaced as a character by Ron Carey's Officer Levitt, he would be The Ghost for years to come as members of the 12th kept calling him downstairs.
Tropes:
- The Bad Guy Wins: For a mild version of "bad guy", anyway. But after Barney turns down the cushy Florida job, and Fish turns down the cushy Florida job, and the rest of the detectives pass on applying, the job goes to... obnoxious, racist Detective Kelly.
- Bystander Syndrome: After Nick gets shot, Chano comes into the squad room angrily ranting about how no one would help or even call for help.
- Continuity Nod: Second and last appearance of Detective Kelly, who apparently took the cushy job in Florida that both Barney and Fish declined.
- The Dandy: Harris and Chano get garbage dumped on them. Chano complains that he has to buy a new suit, leaving Harris shocked that Chano owns only one suit.
- Dirty Coward: Kelly visibly panics when the 12th gets a call that they think might be another ambush. He struggles with excuses for why he shouldn't go out on the call, until they confirm that it is a legit call, after which Kelly cheerfully leaves.
- Gun Nut: Ditka, who makes a show out of cleaning his rifle on the roof of his building just to intimidate the neighborhood, and is a member of "The Staten Island Shoot Club and Personal Armament League".
- Miles Gloriosus: Ditka, the Gun Nut who likes to intimidate the neighborhood with his rifle and who talks a big game about how he and his shooting club buddies are going to shoot all the bad guys. When Barney calls his bluff by inviting him to come along with them to arrest the ambush suspect, Ditka quails with fear, calls Barney crazy, and hurriedly leaves.
- Politically Incorrect Villain: Kelly is as horribly racist as before. He assumes that Yemana got shot because he's Japanese, and he's surprised that Harris smells nice.
- Shot in the Ass: Chano reports that Yemana was shot in the cheek. After a shocked Barney unconciously raises his hand to his face, Chano says "Not that one!"
- Shout-Out: Harris, musing about how he might take the job in Florida, says "They must have seen Blazing Saddles by now."
