Popular Reality TV Show Could Start Filming in Iowa Soon

A popular, long-running TV series could be making a return to central Iowa for the filming of several episodes.

The show COPS is an institution unto itself. On TV since 1989, the series is currently in its 36th season with over 1,200 episodes. It was briefly pulled from Paramount Network's lineup in 2020 due to the George Floyd protests, and cancelled shortly thereafter. The following year, however, Fox Nation, Fox's subscription-based streaming service, announced it had picked up the series, and it has been going strong ever since.

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It was announced yesterday that there's the possibility that COPS could be partnering with the Polk County Sheriff's Office to produce episodes for a new season.

KCCI reports that Item #28 on the Polk County Board of Supervisors' agenda for its meeting this week was a resolution to approve an agreement with Langley Production Inc, the production company behind the show since 1999.

The prospect of COPS returning to central Iowa (the series has filmed in the state numerous times, including Des Moines in 2014) isn't without some critics. KCCI noted a Des Moines resident spoke out against the resolution, questioning why the county "would want to put our worst foot forward on television?"

No less, the resolution passed with a 4-1 vote. Supervisor Angela Connolly was the only one to vote against it.

Beyond the series, which still airs in syndication across many channels and services, COPS is also known for its home video series. The various volumes have origins that go all the way back to the days of VHS, with flashy titles such as "Bad Girls" and "Shots Fired." There's an aura of nostalgia to the show that's unmistakable.

Read more about COPS potentially returning to Iowa, specifically Polk County, on KCCI's website.