Tough TV cop Adrian Dunbar transforms into a singing stage star as he makes his musical theater debut in Kiss Me, Kate.

The Line of Duty actor, who plays Chief Inspector Ted Hastings in the BBC1 drama, appears in a new trailer for the musical alongside Broadway legend and Tony Award winner Stephanie J. Black, smartly dressed in a black suit and tie , as the pair deliver the “sophisticated and hilarious show.”

He stars as Fred Graham, the theater director, producer and leading man who clashes with his leading actress and ex-wife Lilli Vanessa on and offstage in his latest production – the musical version of William Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew.

As Adrian and Stephanie state in the trailer, the show is in character “a love story about two people who hate each other,” set to a soundtrack by legendary American composer Cole Porter.

The beloved comedy farce, which first appeared on Broadway in 1948, returns to London this summer for a fifteen-week run at the Barbican Theater from June 4 to September 14, and is directed by Bartlett Sher, who previously The King directed. and kill me and a mockingbird.

Speaking about his latest role, Adrian, 65, said: “I am so pleased to be returning to the stage this summer at my spiritual home at the Barbican – where I started my career at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama – especially in this Cole Porter classic with the amazing creative team including Bart Sher and Stephanie J. Block.

“The summer of 2024 just got a lot brighter.”

Stephanie, 51, added: ‘I can’t wait to dive into this timeless classic and put a new stamp on it alongside the incredible Adrian Dunbar.

“Mark my words, this Kiss Me, Kate will certainly not be just another ‘another opening’, a new show.”

Northern Irishman Adrian has an enormous passion for music and has performed with his band in intimate venues, but also during talk show appearances.

He incorporated singing into his ITV police drama Ridley, in which he plays a retired detective inspector and part-time jazz singer, and has previously spoken of wanting to release an album.

During his 2019 speech, he said, “I’m hoping to do something in the recording studio this year and I’ve had a number of approaches to doing things,” Dunbar said.

‘I don’t know what I’m going to do – it might be interesting to write some songs or something – but I’m definitely going to do something. I was in bands many years ago, so that’s where it started. I played in bands, sang background vocals and stuff.

That was always there, but I just never got the chance.’

Adrian added: “I started acting and that went away and you concentrate on other things but I’ve always kept it going and I’ve always done gigs with friends of mine, lots of jazz gigs at Ronnie Scott’s and stuff like that. over the years.’

A new album is more likely than a seventh series of Line of Duty, after co-star Martin Compston gave up hope the series could return.

He said, “Really, there are no plans at all. We all love each other now more than just colleagues. They are among my dearest friends and we would all love to work together someday, but there are no plans.”

He added, “I don’t think Jed [Mercurio, the show’s creator] If I ever wrote it for the sake of writing, it would have to be with a story. We went on such a high in terms of [viewing] figures; Maybe it’s the best way to leave it. I know this is probably not what people want to hear.”

Matildas skipper Sam Kerr will seek to have her charge of racist harassment of a police officer thrown out of court after it was revealed the alleged incident was sparked by a taxi fare dispute.

On Tuesday morning, Daily Mail exclusively revealed that the Matildas captain will face a criminal trial in February next year over the alleged incident.

The Chelsea forward appeared in court on January 30 last year charged with using abusive, threatening or insulting words that caused alarm or distress to the officer in Twickenham, south-west London.

It has now emerged that her legal team will appear in court again on April 26 with the aim of avoiding the criminal trial set for February next year.

Court documents have revealed they plan to plead an abuse of process by prosecutors after it took almost 12 months for Kerr to be charged.

If that fails, Kerr’s charges will be heard in court on February 2 next year, with two police officers and other witnesses testifying.

The 30-year-old, who wore a white T-shirt under a black suit jacket as she appeared at Kingston Crown Court via videolink, spoke only to confirm her identity and enter a not guilty plea to the charges on Monday.

While the full details surrounding the alleged crime remain unclear, a Metropolitan Police spokesperson revealed what led to the incident in question.

“The charge relates to an incident involving a police officer responding to a taxi fare complaint on January 30, 2023 in Twickenham,” he said.

‘She was charged with a racially aggravated offense under Section 4A on January 21 [of the] Public Order Act 1986.’

It was revealed on Tuesday that Kerr had kept the charges secret from the Matildas and Football Australia for six weeks.

Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson confirmed on Tuesday afternoon that he had not been informed of the allegations before the news broke that morning.

“I heard about it for the first time this morning,” he said.

‘I was informed this morning and was obviously surprised and had some time to talk to the federation [Football Australia] about the.’

FA chief executive James Johnson said the country’s top football body also remains in limbo.

“I woke up this morning like everyone else did with the news,” Johnson told reporters in Adelaide.

“And then Football Australia heard about this disturbing event.

‘We are currently trying to get to the bottom of it.

“We have our own questions that we would like to know, we need to find out what really happened.”

Kerr and Chelsea have not commented on the charges at the time of publication. The striker remains out with a serious knee injury.

She risks a “quite dramatic drop” in her lucrative brand deals as a result of the scandal, a sports marketing expert has said.

According to Dr Tom Heenan, lecturer in sport and Australian studies at the Monash Intercultural Lab, Faculty of Arts, Kerr – who reportedly earned $3.3 million last year – could face further seismic payday losses.

“There will be a marketing spin-off from this, her reputation has been damaged, especially as the Matildas have been placed on such a high pedestal, the fall will be quite dramatic,” he said. News Corp.

‘The other aspect of this is that Kerr is out of the game (she is recovering from a knee operation that will sideline her for several months) and there has been a rise in the profile of the other players.

‘The Women’s World Cup did a lot to emphasize that this was a team, and not just Sam Kerr.

“I think the team’s reputation will remain intact, but Kerr’s reputation will suffer.”

Sunrise presenter Nat Barr has confronted NSW Police Commissioner Karen Webb after an officer allegedly shot his ex-boyfriend and his new partner with his service pistol.

Beaumont Lamarre-Condon, 28, is behind bars after being charged with the murders of former Ten reporter Jesse Baird, 26, and Luke Davies, 29, in Sydney on February 19.

Investigators allege Lamarre-Condon’s crimes were the result of a months-long campaign of “predatory behavior,” which culminated in the fatal double shooting.

Webb was confronted about her lack of leadership during the week-long investigation by Barr and her cohost Matt Shirvington.

“You have been criticized for your lack of public presence on this issue. It wasn’t until three days later that I actually heard from you,” Shirvington said. ‘Why was that so?’

Webb responded, “It really was a live investigation. The officer reported himself on Friday. He has not been charged and will appear in court in the afternoon. I got up yesterday. I issued a statement on Sunday.

“I’ve been off doing other things, I have a big organization and a $5 billion budget for 22,000 people.

“The great thing about being a commissioner and a leader is that you have great people around you,” Webb continued.

‘I have a great director. I have a great team. And they all have a role to play. I let them do their job and they do it well.’

But Barr was unimpressed by her response.

‘Commissioner, it is about leadership. You said you’re the leader. And no matter how busy you are, you have a police officer who is allegedly involved in this.

“Do you have three days to speak for a crime that has gripped this nation, and especially this city? Come on.’

Webb hit back.

“It’s still a live investigation, it’s very complex.”

But Barr kept calling for Webb.

‘You don’t have to argue with anyone. To stand there and speak and be human, would it be a mistake not to do that?’ she continued.

Webb responded, “What I did on Sunday was talk to Jesse’s family. What I did yesterday was discussed with Luke’s family.

“I want them to know we’re doing everything we can to find Jesse and Luke.”

She was then asked if she deserves the criticism.

“There will always be haters. Haters love to hate. Isn’t that what Taylor says?’ she said.

‘I have work to do. It’s a big job. This is just one of many. We had seven murders last week. Although this is of course a complex matter. All we have to do now is find Jesse and Luke.”

Commissioner Webb, who earns a salary of $679,050, was criticized for remaining silent during a news conference Monday about the alleged double homicide.

Deputy Commissioner Dave Hudson answered questions about the investigation for more than 30 minutes, while Ms Webb spoke for just 12 minutes.

Many of the questions asked focused on the fact that the commissioner did not speak publicly about the case until three days after the alleged murders.

She said criticism of her leadership was “offensive” after she was accused of “absconding” by MP and former police officer Rod Roberts.

More to come.

By Pranav Harish for Daily Mail Australia

Published: 11:20 PM EST, February 22, 2024 | Updated: 11:20 PM EST, February 22, 2024

The police officer who cops want to speak to following the grisly disappearance of his TV star ex and flight attendant partner was once a high-flying celebrity blogger who mixed with the likes of Taylor Swift, Kim Kardashian and Selena Gomez.

Constable Beau Lamarre was seen last week following Kourtney Kardashian behind the wheel of a grey Tesla near Rose Bay, in Sydney’s east – and even managed to grab a snap with her and Travis Barker.

Mr Lamarre is now at the centre of an unfolding tragedy after his ex-boyfriend and former Channel Ten presenter Jesse Baird, 26, disappeared, along with Mr Baird’s Qantas flight attendant partner Luke Davies, 29.

The couple’s bloodstained clothes were found dumped in a skip on Wednesday and Mr Baird’s blood-splattered home 30km away in the upmarket Sydney suburb of Paddington has been declared a crime scene.

Police are looking to speak to any of the couple’s former partners and have not been able to track down Mr Lamarre, whose phone was switched off on Thursday night. 

It’s understood that Mr Lamarre, who deleted his Instagram account in recent days and is on sick leave, may be able to assist police with their inquiries. 

Relatives of Mr Baird say he and Mr Lamarre had a ‘bitter’ break up and one of missing couple told family that they thought they were being stalked in recent weeks.

It’s all a far cry from the police officer’s old life interviewing Hollywood elites on the Golden Globes red carpet, meeting Lady Gaga and flying first class.

The first of Mr Lamarre’s many brushes with fame came when he met Lady Gaga at a 2014 concert, and came out as gay that night through a note he threw on stage to her.

She read out the letter, revealing his sexuality, to her 15,000-strong audience and he was taken backstage by Lady Gaga after the show.

‘She came out for me,’ Mr Lamarre later said in a radio interview.

After enjoying his moment in the sun, the celeb chaser went onto take selfies with famous faces such as Taylor Swift, Harry Styles and Russell Crowe. 

But his ability to make headlines did not leave him when he joined the police, following in the footsteps of his mother was a senior officer. 

Just a year into the job, a video emerged of Mr Lamarre tasering a man during a dramatic arrest in Darlinghurst went viral. 

He was later cleared by an internal investigation of any wrongdoing.

Mr Baird and Mr Davies went missing from the TV producer’s $3million Federation terrace home in Paddington.

Mr Davies, 29, was with Mr Baird, 26, on Monday but the pair then vanished and Mr Davies’ family have been unable to contact him.

CCTV footage of the couple’s last known whereabout shows them entering Mr Baird’s home late on Monday night.

The men were captured wandering outside before heading towards the back of the terrace. A white van is then seen driving nearby. Neither of the pair have been seen since, however Mr Baird’s phone appeared to be active on WhatsApp on Tuesday evening.

A manhunt was launched after a pile of the couple’s bloodied clothes was found in a large skip bin in the centre of Cronulla in Sydney’s south at around 11am on Wednesday.

Police then raced to Mr Baird’s home in Paddington, where they found a ‘large amount of blood’ and bloodstained furniture.

‘Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation,’ a police statement read on Thursday night.

‘Police are currently trying to locate him. Detectives will continue to look at all past relationships and associations.’

Neighbours near Mr Baird’s rented Paddington home heard an argument early on Monday morning but that wasn’t reported to police until they began canvassing the scene two days later.

Police say they’re not excluding any lines of inquiry, but they now hold grave fears for both men.

Mr Davies’ home in Waterloo in Sydney’s inner-south was also found to be empty.

Daily Mail Australia can reveal that the pair were partying in the Beresford club in Surry Hills on Sunday.

The club, which is just a ten-minute walk from Mr Baird’s flat and is known for its friendly LGBT scene, was hosting ‘two amazing shows by Sydney’s top drag divas, Minnie Cooper, Mynx Moscato and April Mae June’.

The event, which also involved international DJs, kickstarted Sydney’s ‘Mardi Gras party marathon’, the high point of Sydney’s LGBTQ calendar.

Just 48 hours later, both men would be the subject of a major police manhunt after their ‘suspicious disappearance’.

Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore, Commander of Eastern Suburbs PAC, begged either of the men to make contact.

When asked if a third person could have been involved in the men’s disappearances, she said that the ‘primary line of inquiry’ was finding the missing men.

‘There has been some sort of incident which has more than likely happened at the Paddington address and that has given us grave concerns for one, possibly both,’ she said.

‘It’s very early stages in the investigation. We are still processing the Paddington address. All lines of enquiry are open.’

Credit cards, wallets, a mobile phone and a $8,000 watch were found among the bloodied clothes in the skip in Cronulla.

Three cars belonging to the men have also been seized. Their bank accounts haven’t been touched since the weekend.

But Mr Baird’s bloodstained home has sparked serious concern for their fate, she said, admitting there was sufficient blood to believe at least one had suffered a ‘significant injury’.

It was revealed on Thursday night that the AFL has been caught up in the men’s disappearance.

Mr Baird is also an AFL goal umpire who had been appointed to officiate a practice match between the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants game on Thursday.

The AFL confirmed that it contacted his family on Thursday after Mr Baird failed to show up to officiate the match.

Mr Davies last updated his social media five days ago with a series of photographs on Instagram of himself in the mountains around Vancouver in Canada.

Mr Davies grew up in Brisbane and recently moved to Sydney for work, according to friends.

Qantas flight attendant Maddison Bradley – Mr Davies’ best friend – said he was ‘dearly adored’.

‘I hope we find him. He is such a sweet soul!’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

On February 18, Mr Baird posted pictures of him and Mr Davies together at Pink’s concert in Sydney two weeks ago.

After three years with Studio 10, Mr Baird left his producer/presenter role with the show in January when it was axed by the network late last year.

He had previously worked as a producer/presenter with Ten’s Totally Wild! show for four years as well as a seven-month stint hosting Gamify! for the network in 2019.

On Thursday, Totally Wild’s Ranger Stacey Thompson said she was stunned.

‘I’m shocked actually,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I worked with Jesse for a few years and we sat across from one another in the TW office.

‘He was a lovely work friend, always professional and keen to learn. I prefer not to comment further at this time, until more details come to light.’

Mr Baird’s life of mixing with stars through his TV career was very familiar to Mr Lamarre’s previous life of interviewing celebrities and documenting his lavish lifestyle.

He was seen travelling either in first-class or on private jets donning luxury labels and carrying Louis Vuitton leather luggage.

In 2016 he made an unexpected appearance at the Golden Globes in Los Angeles.

He was pictured chatting to A-listers including Russell Crowe and Ryan Gosling in pre-show interviews on the red carpet.

Mr Lamarre has also been photographed with many other stars from the worlds of film, television and music. 

Now the people most desperate to find him, and Mr Baird and Mr Davies, are his fellow officers in the New South Wales police force. 

A police officer has emerged as a person of interest in the disappearance of a former Channel Ten presenter and his partner after their bloodstained clothes were dumped in a skip and the TV star’s blood-splattered home 30km away was declared a crime scene.

The network’s former red carpet reporter Jesse Baird and his Qantas flight attendant boyfriend Luke Davies are missing from the TV producer’s Paddington terrace in Sydney’s east.

Mr Davies, 29, was with Mr Baird, 26, in Paddington on Monday but the pair then vanished and Mr Davies’ family have been unable to contact him.

It comes as police seized CCTV footage of the couple’s last known whereabouts on Monday night.

The men were captured wandering outside Mr Baird’s Paddington home before heading towards the back of the terrace. Neither have been seen since.

A manhunt was launched after a pile of the couple’s bloodied clothes was found in a large skip bin in the centre of Cronulla in Sydney’s south at around 11am on Wednesday. 

Police then raced to Mr Baird’s $3million Federation terrace home in Paddington 30km away, where they found a ‘large amount of blood’ and bloodstained furniture.

Detectives are now investigating whether a third person could be involved after speaking with the families of the missing men on Thursday.

They have received information that a current NSW police officer once dated one of the men. That officer is yet to be located.

‘Following inquiries, detectives are looking at a line of inquiry that a third person may be able to assist with the investigation, a police statement read on Thursday night.

‘Police are currently trying to locate him.

‘Detectives will continue to look at all past relationships and associations.’

It was revealed on Thursday night that the AFL has been caught up in the men’s disappearance.

Mr Baird is also an AFL goal umpire who had been appointed to officiate a practice match between the Sydney Swans and Greater Western Sydney Giants game on Thursday.

The AFL confirmed that it contacted his family on Thursday after Mr Baird failed to show up to officiate the match.

Neighbours near Mr Baird’s rented Paddington home heard an argument early on Monday morning but that wasn’t reported to police until they began canvassing the scene two days later.

Police say they’re not excluding any lines of inquiry, however now hold grave fears for both men.

Detectives are said to be seeking Mr Baird and his partner after Mr Davies’ home in Waterloo in Sydney’s inner-south was also found to be empty.

Detective Superintendent Jodi Radmore, Commander of Eastern Suburbs PAC, begged either of the men to make contact but said police now fear for both of them.

When asked if a third person could have been involved in the men’s disappearances, she said that the ‘primary line of inquiry’ was finding the missing men.

‘There has been some sort of incident which has more than likely happened at the Paddington address and that has given us grave concerns for one, possibly both,’ she said.

‘It’s very early stages in the investigation. We are still processing the Paddington address. All lines of enquiry are open.’

She said neighbours had heard some shouting coming from the rented Paddington terrace early on Monday morning, but that was only reported to police on Wednesday.

‘Witnesses reported a verbal argument but it wasn’t reported to police at the time … it was only when police were canvassing that they mentioned it,’ Det Superintendent Radmore said. 

Credit cards, wallets, a mobile phone and a $8000 watch had been found among the bloodied clothes in the skip in Cronulla.

Three cars belonging to the men have also been seized. Their bank accounts haven’t been touched since the weekend.

But Mr Baird’s bloodstained home has sparked serious concern for their fate, she said, admitting there was sufficient blood to believe at least one had suffered a ‘significant injury’.

Mr Baird was reported as being active online on Tuesday night.

Mr Davies last updated his social media five days ago with a series of photographs on Instagram of himself in the mountains around Vancouver in Canada.

Mr Davies grew up in Brisbane and recently moved to Sydney for work, according to friends. 

Qantas flight attendant Maddison Bradley – Mr Davies’ best friend – said he was ‘dearly adored’.

‘I hope we find him. He is such a sweet soul!’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

She added: ‘He is a fantastic person, so positive, bright and bubbly. We’ve been friends since 2017. 

‘We worked at Tigerair together and then he helped me get into Qantas.

‘He is an international flight attendant for Qantas and he is driven, humble and super intelligent.’

Friend Tomas Mian has known Mr Davies for ten years.

‘Luke has a lot of friends and is very fun social person. He is a kind and generous boy,’ he told news.com.au.

‘He seemed to love his new job. All of his Brisbane friends are in utter shock to only find this out today.’ 

Sophie Inez added: ‘I spoke to Luke just before he moved from Brisbane to Sydney with work a few months ago.’

‘He was so exited for his next chapter and flying long haul. He’s such a lovely and charismatic person.’

Other concerned friends took to Facebook to spread the word about the missing men.

I knew Luke back in my Brissy days and he recently moved to Sydney (Waterloo, but last seen in Paddington) for work. Please share this post and report any sightings or information, even if it seems insignificant,’ Anna Ghioni wrote.

On February 18, Mr Baird posted pictures of the pair together at Pink’s concert in Sydney two weeks ago.  

After three years with Studio 10, Mr Baird left his producer/presenter role with the show in January when it was axed by the network late last year. 

He had previously worked as a producer/presenter with Ten’s Totally Wild! show for four years as well as a seven-month stint hosting Gamify! for the network in 2019.

On Thursday, Totally Wild’s Ranger Stacey Thompson said she was stunned.

‘I’m shocked actually,’ she told Daily Mail Australia. ‘I worked with Jesse for a few years and we sat across from one another in the TW office.

‘He was a lovely work friend, always professional and keen to learn. I prefer not to comment further at this time, until more details come to light.’

Police have launched an intense investigation in the neighbourhood around Mr Baird’s home on Brown St, Paddington, with neighbours quizzed for any possible clues.

Forensic experts combed through the home overnight after the alarm was first raised around 1pm on Wednesday.

A local resident told Daily Mail Australia police had pulled furniture out of the house and onto the street on Wednesday night as they scoured the scene.

‘There were some bookshelf-type things and they were roped off,’ she said.

‘There weren’t any soft furnishings (beds or couches) and I don’t know what they were doing with them.’

Police earlier issued a statement appealing for anyone with information to come forward.

‘Possessions belonging to 29-year-old Luke Davies and another man were found just after 11am on Wednesday in a skip-bin on Wilbar Avenue, Cronulla,’ said police.

‘Following inquiries, officers attached to Eastern Suburbs Police Area Command attended a home in Brown Street, Paddington, about 1pm on Wednesday.

‘After entering the property, officers immediately established a crime scene.

‘Police then attended Luke’s home in Waterloo, but he has not been located and his disappearance is being treated as suspicious.’

The statement added: ‘Investigators are now trying to determine the location of a 26-year-old man, who they believe can assist with inquiries.

‘Information indicates Luke was in Paddington on Monday. He has not been seen since, his family have been unable to contact him and he has not been at work.

‘Luke is described as being of Caucasian appearance, 170cm-175cm tall with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes. It’s not known what he was wearing at the time.

‘Police are appealing for anyone with information about Luke’s whereabouts – or who may have information relevant to the investigation – to contact Waverley Police or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.’

More to come. 

A violent mob set fire to public properties, including a bus, outside the SP office in Churachandpur district of conflict-torn Manipur when they tried to storm the police building on Thursday evening.

Manipur violence: At least one person was killed and more than 20 others injured after a violent mob tried to storm the SP office in Churachandpur district of violence-torn Manipur on Thursday, hours after a head constable of the Kuki-Zo community was suspended over a viral attack. video in which he posed with “armed miscreants”.

“A mob of about 300 to 400 people today tried to storm the office of the SP CCP, pelting stones, etc. The SF (security forces), including the RAF, are responding appropriately by firing tear gas shells to to get the situation under control. Cases are being monitored,” Manipur police wrote on X.

According to reports, the mob torched a bus and other structures outside the office of the Superintendent of Police (SP) in Chandrachur district while raising slogans demanding the reinstatement of head constable Simalpaul, who was suspended following images of him posed in a bunker of “armed miscreants” and “village defense volunteers” on top of a hill went viral.

At least one person is reportedly dead while as many as 25 others were injured when security personnel fired tear gas canisters to disperse the angry crowd that tried to break into the office of the district police chief.

One of the videos also shows the protesters vandalizing an office, but India.com could not verify the details or location of the scene in the clip. The rioters were also said to have torn down the Tricolor, but these claims could not be verified.

Is vandalism of a government office normal in Churachandpur? Is there rule of law in Churachandpur? This is the unraveling of a nine-month separatist agenda developed by the Kuki Zo militants. Photo abhi baki hai mere dost! Humare Tiranga ko bhi niche kar diye, ab kya kya… pic.twitter.com/veMeabbzdn

— Dhiraj Luwang vlogs (@dhiraj_luwang) February 15, 2024

Footage shared on social media showed the mob engaging in arson and vandalism as they set fire to a bus and some public properties outside the SP office.

Central forces are chased out of Churachandpur, public properties are set on fire by Kuki Zo Separatist. They even disrespected our Indian tricolor by hoisting it in the chaotic situation in Churachandpur. #KukiTerrorists_pulled_down_Tricolor… pic.twitter.com/Js84I7tpr2

— Dhiraj Luwang vlogs (@dhiraj_luwang) February 15, 2024

Kuki officer suspended after viral selfie with 'armed men'

Earlier, officials said head constable Siamlalpaul was “suspended with immediate effect until further notice” by Churachandpur SP Shivanand Surve after a video of him with “armed men” and “sitting with village volunteers” went viral on social media.

“A departmental inquiry is being considered against Siamlalpaul of Churachandpur district police as a video of him making a video with armed men on February 14 has gone viral on social media,” the Churachandpur SP's suspension order said.

“This amounts to very serious misconduct as a member of the disciplined police force,” it added.

Siamlalpaul has been asked not to “leave the station without prior permission” and “his wages and allowances are limited to the subsistence allowance permissible under the rules,” the report said.

(With PTI inputs)

When it comes to must-watch police dramas and cop shows, fans have a lot to choose from Law & Order: Special Victims Unit And Chicago police

The hit dramas are just two powerful series from the creator Dick Wolffor whom he started writing Hill Street Blues in 1980. Law and order: SVUwhich started in 1999, followed the hype of Wolf's 1990 creation Law & authority. SVU is led by a female lead Mariska Hargitay.

Wolf's oeuvre expanded even further in 2012 when he launched the One Chicago universe, consisting of Fire in Chicago, Chicago police And Chicago Med.

Chicago police And Law & Order: Special Victims Unit are just two series documenting life behind the blue wall – and both series wouldn't have been possible without the police dramas that preceded them, including Cagney & Lacey, NYPD blue, Monk and more.

Scroll down to see some of the best cop shows of all time:

Over time, cold cases become increasingly difficult to solve as witnesses die and evidence goes stale. 

But one ‘badass’ cop in California has solved an astonishing eight cold cases – cracking ‘more in three years than any single detective in the last 15’.

Using a series of ‘out of the box’ schemes, Matt Hutchison, 39, at the Sunnyvale Department of Public Safety in California, has worked his way through six decades-old murders and two sexual assaults – and all in his spare time. 

He’s posed as a trash collector and a busboy in bars to gather DNA, and even flown to Hawaii to make an arrest.  

Speaking to DailyMail.com, he said: ‘Each case presents a different set of problems, there are highs and lows and disappointments. In my mind there is always a way to get to the end result. Just walking away because it’s difficult is not an option.’

He said his goal is to find answers for every family who has been waiting years for justice and for the original detectives who have endured ‘sleepless nights’ over cases that were never solved. 

He started his first cold case in 2014, saying: ‘It just struck me that these families are still waiting. The first family I spoke with made a comment that they hadn’t heard from our department in some time and I could hear the hurt in their voice. It didn’t sit right with me, we shouldn’t forget these victims.’

Detectives are only allowed to work on cold cases when they aren’t busy with their standard caseload. So Hutchison squeezes in time here and there between his day job and spending time with his wife and two young sons. 

‘These are the types of cases that consume you, you don’t switch off on the drive home,’ he said, ‘I can be watching TV with my wife and something hits you and I’ll make a note.’

It isn’t easy, he added: ‘I feel like I absorb these cases and I care so much that they are constantly in my head, I try to take that and make it motivation. I have put pictures of the victims on my desk. 

When it gets tough, he said he reminds himself: ‘My job or my burden is nothing compared to what they went through. So I think, stop feeling sorry for yourself Matt, and get back to work.’ 

Deputy District Attorney, Rob Baker, who has worked with Hutchison on many of his cases, said: ‘Intelligence, tenacity and empathy are the three hallmarks of every great investigator. 

‘[Hutchison is] one of the greatest investigators with whom I’ve had the privilege to work.’

Here DailyMail.com reviews some of the cold cases he’s solved. 

The 1982 murder of Karen Stitt 

Karen Stitt was last seen in 1982, walking to a bus stop around midnight to travel home after a date with her boyfriend in Sunnyvale. 

The next morning, a delivery driver found the 15-year-old’s naked body hidden behind a low, blood-stained wall. 

She had been sexually assaulted and stabbed 59 times. 

Despite a thorough investigation with over 20 different detectives picking it up, there were no significant leads in the case, until Hutchison took it on nearly four decades later. 

He used a sample of blood and bodily fluid recovered from Stitt’s body and sent it for the latest form of DNA testing, called Investigative Genetic Genealogy.

The results weren’t good, there were only three matches and they were all so tenuous – third cousins – as to be almost useless. The genetics company told him the case was ‘very unlikely’ to ever be solved. 

Many people would have given up, but Det Hutchison kept going, plugging away at leads in his own spare time even when he was rotated out of the homicide department. 

He said: ‘With Karen that was years in the making, there were times when it ground to a halt. We had disappointments.’

Hutchison decided to contact the three third cousins. Two were no help, but the third helped them draw out a family tree which led him to four brothers. 

He found all four and gathered their DNA to rule out two. Using social media he then narrowed it down and identified who he believed to be the offender. 

In August 2022, Hutchison and 14 other officers flew to Maui to arrest former Fresno resident Gary Ramirez, 75, on suspicion of murdering Karen Stitt. 

They took a DNA sample and it was a direct match. He said: ‘I felt a mix of emotions, it floods back to me now, relief, pride, gratefulness to be in a position to be able to tell the family it’s done, we have him.’

Ramirez was extradited from Hawaii and is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing in his trial. If convicted, he faces life in prison. 

The 1979 murder of Elena Mena 

Elena Mena was 18 years old and working as a security guard at a Sunnyvale office building on a quiet Saturday afternoon when she was stabbed to death during an attempted sexual assault.

An office worker interrupted the assault and the suspect fled, but Mena later died in hospital. 

Despite the case being picked up again and again over the years, there were no major breakthroughs – until Hutchison took up the file and identified a new DNA set on Mena’s shoe. 

They sent the blood off for testing and found a direct match to Samuel Silva, a man with a long history of violent crime. 

Silva had died in 2008 so the department closed the case under ‘exceptional’ conditions meaning the evidence was sufficient to convict him, had he been alive.  

Hutchison said: ‘In that kind of a case it’s bitter sweet, yes you have the answer, but you can’t hold the person accountable. 

‘Even if he can’t be prosecuted the family still deserves the answer. 

‘I still want to prove it beyond the reasonable doubt so that if they have any questions, I can give them the answers.’

The 1979 murder of Keith Judd 

Bar owner, Keith Judd, 45, was attacked and killed during a robbery in 1979. 

The father of two was found lying in a pool of blood by one of his employees and rushed to hospital where he died. 

At the time officers found fingerprints, and even arrested a suspect. But the district attorney’s office declined to prosecute citing not enough evidence. 

Then decades later, Hutchison found ‘fingerprint evidence that had been misplaced’ and re-examined the case. 

They identified Thomas Hinnard, a man in his 80s who lived in Sunnyvale at the time of the killing and frequented Judd’s bar. 

Hutchison said: ‘The evidence was fingerprints, we didn’t know where he was living but a simple Google search led to public information that he was potentially living in a homeless encampment a few hours away. 

‘We had to be strategic and make sure we didn’t lose him. There was a very thought out plan of approach to this case to not let on what we were suspecting.’ 

Hutchison then spent many months locating and re-interviewing dozens of people.

In February 2021, they arrested Hinnard and charged him with the murder of Keith Judd. 

The department said at the time: ‘Sometimes an arrest may take years or even decades, but our detectives are relentless and work hard behind the scenes to help bring justice to victims and their families.’

The 1996 rape of a seven-year-old girl

In March 1996, a seven-year-old girl identified only as Jane Doe was at home with her family when she answered the phone to a stranger, claiming to be a doctor. 

The man told her to sneak out of her home to see him at which point he took her to a nearby side yard and raped her. 

The girl survived and DNA was taken from her clothing but no match was found. 

Twenty-seven years later, Hutchison picked the case up and identified a suspect.

He said: ‘We knew we needed to get DNA from our suspect, we looked for all kinds of ways to get eyes on him, to know where he might be. 

‘Public information available online led to a pattern of behavior so we knew where he might be on that night.’

Hutchison decided his best chance was to go undercover as a busboy at the Irish bar they thought he would be at to gather his food and drinks in the hope of getting a sample. 

He collected his half-eaten hot wings, beer cup and straws and sent them off for testing: there was a match, Richard Jeffrey Martinez.

Martinez was arrested last year and is currently awaiting a preliminary hearing in his trial. 

Since then, police have identified two other possible victims. If convicted, he faces 50 years to life in prison. 

But once again, the victory was bittersweet, Hutchison said: ‘The victim is still alive, and this happening to her when she was seven. Then me contacting her almost 30 years later, I’m keenly aware of how much pain me even calling to ask would cause.

‘I only wanted to call if I knew I could solve it. And I knew I could. I know it wasn’t easy for her, I was opening a wound that she might prefer to keep closed.’ 

The 1969 murder of Susan DeLeon 

In 1969, high school student Susan DeLeon was strangled to death and her body was left near the entrance to the city dump. 

A man she babysat for, Charles Maine Jr., was identified as a person of interest at the time, but when he provided an alibi, saying he was at a class with his wife, Barbara when the murder happened, he was cleared and the case went cold.  

But then in 2017,  Karol Smith – who had worked for the department on organizing many of the cold cases – had a breakthrough. 

She realized that the name of Maine’s wife was incorrect in his alibi and found a letter from his real ex-wife, Ellen, sent in 2008, which said she believed Maine had murdered DeLeon. 

Maine’s alibi crumbled and with Smith, Hutchison started digging. The pair found a mention in the records that DeLeon had been ‘newly parous’, in other words: pregnant. 

They began to suspect DeLeon had told Maine she was pregnant and he had killed her for it. 

Despite the new evidence, in 2018 the Santa Clara DA at the time declined to prosecute, saying he wasn’t convinced the evidence was sufficient. 

Maine then died in an Oregon hospital in early 2019 and at that point, prosecutors declared the case ‘exceptionally’ cleared, deciding if he had been alive, there was enough evidence to charge and convict him. 

With each new case Hutchison solves, he gains momentum to solve more.

He said: ‘I have two cold case homicides that I’m working and we have active leads that we are pursuing.’ 

Ending with a message for families of victims, he said: ‘You guys do the hard work by keeping hope alive, by keeping your loved one’s memory alive. 

‘Never give up, and don’t feel like you’re bothering the department, we can solve these cases and we should be.’