Unbeknownst to Bird, the raid had been merely a pretext for the police to attack the members of a militant black nationalist organization.
This incident in the character's background was inspired by the 1969 death of Black Panther Party leader Fred Hampton, who was shot and killed during a raid upon his residence conducted by Chicago police and other law enforcement personnel.
After serving about twenty years in prison, a human rights lawyer decides to work for his release as his testimony is needed in another case.
When Bird is released, he starts working as a private detective, hired by the lawyer who had helped free him.
Pros and Cons ran on ABC from September 26, 1991, to January 2, 1992, in the United States during the 1991–92 television season.