Detective Harry Garibaldi (Ken Olin) is in trouble with Captain Frank Furrillo (Daniel J.Travanti) who has been informed that Garibaldi's random drug test came back positive for marijuana. Garibaldi was successful in presenting a legal brief making the results of all the urine tests free from disciplinary action. But Furrillo tells Garibaldi he doesn't trust a cop on reefer.
Furrillo, a recovering alcoholic had minor amounts of booze detected in his sample giving him cause to revisit his own problem following a heated discussion with Deputy Chief Warren Briscoe (Andy Romano). His berating of Garibaldi smacks of hypocrisy but Furrillo has the kind of character that others lack and demands more of himself.
Detective Neal Washington (Taurean Blacque) had amounts of codeine in his sample to treat a knee problem. Like the other cops what is on the test is not grounds for disciplinary action but the information lingers and the way in which it may be used is cause for worry.
Officer Andy Renko (Charles Haid) and Officer Bobby Hill (Michael Warren) draw the nuisance assignment of going to school assemblies with a mascot bear to try to teach kids street safety rules. The unpredictable animal causes problems and an unfortunate incident which results in a public relations nightmare for Renko.
Sgt. Mick Belker (Bruce Weitz) runs a sting to get corrupt cops shaking down a dry cleaner/tailor. He gets the help of Garibaldi and Garibaldi's partner Detective Patsy Mayo (Mimi Muzyk), Officer J.D. LaRue (Kiel Martin) and his partner Detective Neal Washington (Taurean Blacque) but the shocking result of the bust has dramatic repercussions for cops city-wide.
Detective Patsy Mayo (Mimi Muzyk), Garibaldi's partner and Dugan's sometime girlfriend is in danger of guilt by association having known ties to wrong cop Dugan and fading star Garibaldi. Personal loyalties have their place in the lives of these cops but the job is the job.
The biggest crisis for Hill Street's boys and girls in blue in this closing episode to the fifth season is of course the one raised by very corrupt cop Phil Dugan (Stephen Macht) who claims to know things about a network of corruption that could threaten lives of other officers as well as the reputation of the department.
Stephen Macht's mysterious and disturbing arc as Phil Dugan delivered requisite foreboding in both what he said and didn't say. The economic characterization marks one of the most effective of his long career. This storyline eerily predated Iran-Contra.