Dragnet was one of the most popular shows. on radio and television. A “dragnet” refers to the coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. “Dragnet had its origins in Webb’s small role as a police forensic scientist in the 1948 film, _He Walked by Nigh_t, inspired by the actual murder of California Highway Patrol officer Loren Roosevelt in Los Angeles.” He Walked by Night is an exceptionally made film. See it when it comes on TCM. Some very clever people have taken a scene from a Dragnet episode with Roman Polanski on the receiving end of Joe Friday’s lectures. Here it is: