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We\u2019re taking the case! When it comes to must-see police dramas and cop shows, fans have a lot to choose from \u2014 including Law & Order: Special Victim Unit<\/em><\/a> and Chicago P.D.<\/em><\/a><\/p>\n The two hit dramas are just two powerhouse series to come from creator Dick Wolf<\/strong> over the years<\/a>. The producer, who got his start writing for Hill Street Blues<\/em>\u00a0in the 1980s, has become the go-to man when it comes to procedurals.<\/p>\n One of the TV giant\u2019s greatest successes is Law & Order: SVU<\/em>, which began in 1999 following the hype of his 1990 creation Law & Order<\/em><\/a>. What makes SVU<\/em> different is that it depicts the nuances of dealing with sex crimes \u2014 and it is helmed by female lead Mariska Hargitay<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI think that Olivia is such a badass who\u2019s grown into her power,\u201d Hargitay told E! News<\/a> in September 2022 of her character, Captain Olivia Benson. \u201cAnd that is our journey for all of us women.\u201d<\/p>\n Wolf\u2019s universe expanded even more in 2012 when he launched the One Chicago universe<\/a>. After Chicago Fire<\/em><\/a> took fans into life as a firefighter in the Windy City<\/a>, Chicago P.D.<\/em> was created to depict the sometimes not-so-glamorous side of policing in the Midwest. He later added a third series, Chicago Med<\/em><\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m on a cop show in a post-George Floyd world. It\u2019s tough. What is my responsibility as an actor?\u201d Chicago P.D.<\/em> star Marina Squerciati<\/strong><\/a> exclusively told Us Weekly<\/em><\/a> in November 2021, referring to Floyd\u2019s death at the hands of cops in 2020. \u201cAs a part of this project, wanting to give credence and respect to people who are cops, who choose to put their lives on the line, run through the line of fire? And also give respect to people who are persecuted and not treated fairly by cops.\u201d<\/p>\n The actress, who has been playing Officer Kim Burgess since Chicago P.D.<\/em>\u2018s premiere<\/a>, noted that the series<\/a> has evolved as the world has changed.<\/p>\n \u201cOur shows kind of took a pause and a reset. \u2026 It is a television show so it\u2019s not going to be perfect, but I\u2019m glad the cops [on our show] live in a gray area,\u201d she concluded. \u201cWe\u2019re not always right. That makes me happy. It\u2019s not good-guy-bad-guy, because that\u2019s not the world we live in.\u201d<\/p>\n Squerciati\u2019s costar \u2014 and TV love interest \u2014 Patrick Flueger<\/strong><\/a> exclusively told Us<\/em> in March 2022<\/a> that their team is much more than a group of actors.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel like you hear people talk about, like, \u2018Oh, we\u2019re a family,\u2019 when they talk about their shows and stuff. And I don\u2019t know that that\u2019s always true,\u201d Flueger, who plays Officer Adam Ruzek, said at the time. \u201cBut with our specific show, with our crew, our cast, man, these are people that take care of each other, look out for each other. We\u2019ve got a family situation going. \u2026 We\u2019re very lucky.\u201d<\/p>\n Chicago P.D.<\/em> and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit<\/em> are just two shows that document life behind the blue wall \u2014 and both series wouldn\u2019t have been possible without the cop dramas that came before them, including Cagney & Lacey<\/em>, NYPD Blue<\/em>, Monk<\/em> and more.<\/p>\n