In 1999, we follow Dave Brown, a police officer with 24 years of service in the troubled Rampart division of Los Angeles, known for its high crime rate. Dave tries to explain to his new partner, Jane, that in his eyes, "nothing is illegal" when it comes to doing his job effectively. In a desperate attempt to locate a meth lab, he enters a pharmacy and insists on being left alone with a suspect. When the suspect fails to provide any useful information, Dave resorts to violence, beating him.
At the precinct, Dave presents himself as a knowledgeable officer regarding case law, but confesses he may fabricate rulings to suit his needs. Upon returning home, we see the complexity of his personal life. He is surrounded by his two daughters; Helen, who identifies as a lesbian and aspires to be a songwriter with her distinctive blonde and blue hair, and Margaret, who is the younger sister with a more conventional appearance. Their mothers, Barbara and Catherine, are both his ex-wives with whom he still maintains an intimate relationship despite no longer being legally married.
As Dave navigates his professional and personal life, he pursues a romantic relationship with Sarah, a Black woman, amidst live piano music in a bar. However, his life takes a darker turn when he finds himself involved in a brutal incident. While on patrol alone, he crosses paths with Shondell Parmallee, who collides with him in a vehicle and subsequently flees on foot. Dave, in a fit of rage, chases and savagely beats Shondell in a public scene that is recorded by an onlooker. This act of aggression catches the public's attention, exacerbating the already notorious "Rampart Scandal." During a conversation with Assistant District Attorney Joan Confrey, he attempts to justify his violent behavior by claiming that his experiences in Vietnam left him with PTSD. Despite the mounting troubles, Dave is resolute; he plans to keep his position as a police officer, fearing that without it he will have to seek a different career path.
As the plot progresses, Dave's life becomes increasingly tangled. He returns to the bar where he initially met Sarah, but this time encounters Linda, a new woman who he becomes suspicious of at first. However, as they grow closer, they share an intimate moment, though their relationship is also marked by possessiveness. Meanwhile, retired cop Hartshorn believes that Dave is being setup, and offers his help as they meet multiple times to discuss the mounting legal issues Dave faces, including the need for attorney fees.
In a pivotal scene, Dave witnesses a robbery at a high-stakes card game happening at Crystal Market. He observes the robbery unfold from a distance and decides to intervene, resulting in him shooting one of the robbers, while allowing the other to escape after a brief exchange. The presence of a General, a wheelchair-bound witness, complicates matters, raising the stakes of Dave's actions.
Despite his ex-wives urging him to vacate their home, where they are preparing to sell, Dave's personal life remains chaotic as he continues to return to the house. During a chance encounter, he confronts Kyle Timkins, a man he suspects is looking into his behavior. Their heated conversation leads Kyle to accuse Dave of racism. In a moment of vulnerability, Dave counteracts by claiming he has dated Black women, asserting that his disdain spans across all racial lines.
As his relationships become increasingly strained, Dave breaks into Linda's home, igniting further conflict but still leading to another sexual encounter. Tension escalates when he meets the General again, but this time Dave flatly refuses to assist him. In a climactic confrontation with Hartshorn, their meeting turns violent when Dave pulls a gun, resulting in Hartshorn overpowering him and demanding an ambulance when something occurs beyond the dune.
Finally, as Dave's daughters visit him at his new residence with a few items of clothing, the visit turns sour when he admits the negative stories they've heard about him are true. Shortly after, Dave records a confession for Kyle, revealing that back in 1987, he killed a man he deemed a date rapist, asserting he felt it was justified. Despite the weight of his past following him, Kyle dismisses the recording as he feels there is already enough evidence to convict Dave. The story closes poignantly with Dave isolated, watching his family from a distance, a precursor to the repercussions stemming from his choices throughout the narrative.
