During a heat wave, Chief Clifford is called away and leaves Sgt. Broadhurst in charge. A football gambling ring that scores with ""inside dope on injuries"" loses a little black book and begins eliminating witnesses in a search for it, leading to an assault on precinct headquarters.

Modern-day cattle rustlers ship lethally contaminated beef to New York.

Just before presenting a rackets case, Chief Clifford goes to Hawaii for a police conference. Taos sends McCloud, too, and the Marshal is obliged to dragoon a vacationing N.Y. policewoman when the Chief is set up on a murder charge.

While answering a high-rise apartment burglary call, McCloud stumbles on a body, which then disappears. The case leads to a VIP madam under indictment, whose girls are apparently being murdered by a serial killer.

The NYPD demonstrates a bank robbery on live closed-circuit TV, and is bushwhacked by a gang of antiquated outlaws.