The very first network TV cop show was "The Plainclothesman," which launched on the DuMont Network a little over 76 years ago, in 1949.

And since then ... well, how much time have you got? There have been hundreds of cop shows over the decades, some iconic ("Dragnet" arrived in 1951), most not. And great TV cops? Well ... there's been a few of those too.

With the return of "Blue Bloods" Det. Danny Reagan (Donnie Walhberg) on "Boston Blue," I've been inspired to assemble my own idiosyncratic list of favorite law men and women. "Idiosyncratic" is the byword here. Your list will be different, but see if you agree with any of these choices:

12. Det. Lt. Theo Kojak (Telly Savalas, "Kojak," 1973-78)

Get beyond the lollipops and the slogan ("who loves ya baby") and you've got the consummat

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