Ironside

A sniper's bullet lodges in his spine, paralyzing him from the waist down and forcing his retirement from the SFPD after 25 years of service. Ironside moves into a wheelchair, but his sharp investigative mind remains intact.

Ironside calls a press conference and cunningly secures a job as a 'special department consultant' after negotiating terms with Police Commissioner Randall. This unorthodox appointment gives him authority to pursue cases from a wheelchair and shifts the balance of power within the force. The move positions him as a central, unconventional investigator.

In the pilot, Ironside uses his wits and investigative savvy to unravel the ambush that left him disabled. His method—careful deduction and street-savvy questioning—earns him the respect of seasoned officers. The resolution sets the tone for his brain-first approach to crime solving.

Ironside requests Det. Sgt. Ed Brown and Eve Whitfield be assigned to work with him as his private squad. They become the core partners who supplement his leadership with experience and empathy. This triad forms the backbone of the early investigations.

Ironside sets up shop in a fourth-floor room in the old Hall of Justice, using it as both living space and office. The room becomes his command center, a hub for ideas and casework. It symbolizes his continued participation in the city’s police world.

Mark Sanger is introduced as a suspect who wanted to kill Ironside, but is quickly recruited as Ironside's personal assistant. He balances street sense with later legal education as he climbs the ranks. This unusual recruitment foreshadows the evolving team dynamic.

Ironside acquires a specially modified 1940 1 1/2-ton Ford police patrol wagon, with bulletproof glass and a tuned V-8 engine. The vehicle serves as a rolling command post and a symbol of his status despite being wheelchair-bound. It marks a tangible upgrade in how he conducts investigations from the street level.

In the Poole's Paradise episode, Sergeant Brown destroys the patrol wagon as part of a ruse to trap a corrupt sheriff. The destruction prompts a replacement vehicle to be commissioned, signaling changes in Ironside's team strategy. The transition highlights the show's willingness to adapt equipment to the needs of the plot.

After Poole's Paradise, a fully custom modified 1969 Ford Econoline Window Van is introduced as Ironside's new mobile unit. The new van reflects practical changes in the show's portrayal of field work. It remains a distinct visual cue for the series going forward.

Barbara Anderson departs the show after the fourth season; her Eve Whitfield character is replaced by Fran Belding, a new young policewoman. The transition keeps the team dynamic fresh while maintaining the same core mission. The change underscores the show's evolving ensemble.

The Ironside series becomes a success, running for seven-and-a-half seasons on NBC. When NBC delays new episodes in the final season, Universal markets reruns under The Raymond Burr Show. The syndicated episodes are later rebranded back to Ironside.

Midseason cancellation by NBC leads to a shift to syndication. The reruns carry the Raymond Burr Show branding, and episodes are later restored to the Ironside title. This marks the show's move from network to ongoing syndicated life.

The eighth season ends the series, with only 16 of 19 episodes aired by NBC. The show continues in syndication and maintains a lasting presence as a top example of vintage detective television. Ironside remains a durable icon of smart, principled policing.