The movie was shot in Boston, Massachusetts, United States, starring Richard Crenna, John Shea and Dylan Baker.

Undercover officers of the Boston Tactical Patrol Force (TPF) are instructed to watch for two tall black suspects in an earlier armed robbery.

During their stakeout surveilling the presumed getaway car, officers Duggan (Michael O'Hare) and Mooney (Paul O'Brien) check their guns and joke about the upcoming violence.

Reporter Dave O'Brian (Anthony Heald) and a photojournalist are in the back seat of the stakeout car to write an article about the TPF team, and they take detailed notes about what happens.

Pat Bowden, now a single mother of two toddlers, hires attorney Lawrence O'Donnell Sr. (Richard Crenna), himself a former officer, to prove a wrongful-death case.

The legal team, including his four sons (John Shea, Tate Donovan, Tom Isbell, and Dylan Baker), take on the police force.

The New York Times writes, "The film carefully limits the blame to the Tactical Patrol Force, which, it is implied, became so cocky and independent that it was operating without controls."

[1] The Chicago Tribune calls it "a crisp, well executed film" with a "lively script," adding that the "entire cast is excellent, down to Frank McCarthy in a small but impressive role as the stocky, tight-vested city attorney, while the always-reliable Crenna spins off a solid combination of craftiness and feistiness, particularly in his courtroom scenes as he nimbly handles the arrogant tactical patrol force defendants as well as the all-white jury.