NYPD Blue (season 6)

Sipowicz, Medavoy and Martinez try to unravel the confusing information given by the suspect in the murder of a Pakistani man, who was found semi-naked in a park. Meanwhile, Simone's deteriorating health continues to worry Russell and leads Sipowicz into conflict with everyone, including Costas.

• Danny Trejo guest stars as Frankie Soto

Lieutenant Fancy urgently reaches out to the entire New York City police department for assistance in resolving Simone's critical medical condition, while his co-workers at the 15th Precinct are frustrated by their inability to help their ailing comrade. Meanwhile, Sipowicz, Medavoy and Martinez investigate two brothers in the brutal murder of their 72-year-old mother.

• Mark Pellegrino guest stars as Stanley Struel
• Wade Williams guest stars as Arnold Struel

Sipowicz is led to a surprising reconnection with his ex-wife as Simone's medical crisis reaches the worst possible conclusion. Note: This episode exists in two versions. A 90-minute version was shown once during the original airing on ABC and is on the DVD release of Season 6. In order to fit in the show's usual 60-minute timeslot, a version was produced in which most subplots involving the squad's reactions to Bobby's death were cut out, leaving only the scenes involving Russell and Sipowicz. The 60-minute version is the only one that has been rebroadcast in reruns and syndication and is the version used on streaming services such as Hulu.

Notes:

• Last credited appearance of Jimmy Smits as Bobby Simone. He returned for one (uncredited) scene in Season 12 episode 6.
• Director Paris Barclay won an Emmy and a Directors Guild of America Award for his work in this episode.

Danny Sorenson transfers from Narcotics to the 15th Precinct's detective squad. While he and Sipowicz lead a double homicide investigation, Sorenson struggles to overcome the squad's suspicion of his techniques and intentions. Meanwhile, Costas has misgivings about the accuracy of the past conviction of a teenager and asks a reluctant Sipowicz for help, but Andy and the original detective on the case, Sgt. Dornan, don't click.

Note:

• First appearance of Rick Schroeder as Danny Sorenson.
• First episode where Dennis Franz receives top billing, which will remain for the rest of the run of the series

Sipowicz mentors Sorenson when the latter goes overboard with a suspect in the killing of two elderly gift shop owners; Russell and Kirkendall investigate the murder of a strip club patron and are shocked to learn that PAA Dolores Mayo is working there as a dancer; and Andy gets some info from Sgt. Dornan but it's too late to help Sylvia or an innocent man in jail.

• Mos Def guest stars as Leslie Peach.

An off duty white officer mistakenly shoots a black undercover officer when seeing suspects in pursuit of a crime. The white officer, Syzmanski, is the same officer who pulled over Lt. Fancy for driving in an all White neighborhood, leading to a violent explosion of racial tension between Sipowicz and Fancy. Diane and Jill help out an increasingly troubled Dolores Mayo. Andy consoles a distraught Sylvia.

• Kevin Dillon guest stars as Officer Neil Baker.

Sipowicz and Sorenson are beyond frustrated when the FBI and Internal Affairs show up and meddle with their investigation of a family of dirty cops who may have been involved in a robbery-homicide. Meanwhile, Medavoy chafes at being the butt of one of Sipowicz's jokes; Sylvia reaches the end of her rope on the Suarez case; and Diane, still consumed with grief, reaches out for help.

• Chad Allen guest stars as Tommy Ibarra

An apartment building gigolo (Carlos Gómez) is the prime suspect when one of the elderly ladies he "visited" is murdered; and Sorenson turns to Sipowicz for advice when a friend appears to be on the brink of a breakdown.

• D.B. Sweeney guest stars as Joey Dwyer and Caroline Aaron as Doris Steinman.

"Upstairs" John fears that Dolores' downward spiral might have ended tragically, and when Sipowicz and Sorenson investigate her disappearance, they face off with a high profile attorney from Sipowicz's past. Elsewhere, a dysfunctional family leads Greg and James into a bizarre murder case, and Jill and Diane get an even weirder case that could be a murder case, a kidnapping case, or no case at all.

• Terrence Howard guest stars as A.J. Foreman.

A young girl is found dead in the basement of her apartment and Sipowicz and Sorenson rely on their instincts to narrow the list of suspects; an elderly gentleman suspects that his younger girlfriend was forced to steal money from him; and Sorenson's sister and Dolores Mayo's father visit the precinct, hoping to spend time with their loved ones.

• Robert Glaudini guest stars as Jimmy Mayo. He is the father of the actress (Lola Glaudini) that plays Dolores Mayo.

Sorenson's acquaintance with a drug dealer proves helpful when a cop is accused of prematurely shooting a suspect; Russell and Kirkendall fear that a bitter neighborly dispute could get out of hand; and Sipowicz has a recurring dream about his past which helps him come to terms with his present.

• Kevin Dillon guest stars as Officer Neil Baker.

Sorenson and his girlfriend, Nadine, experience an emotional crisis; and Sipowicz gives a convincing performance as a heavy in order to secure a murder confession.

• Ray McKinnon guest stars as Ted.

Mike Roberts, a troubled former cop, meets an unfortunate end, which causes the detectives to reflect back on his cries for help. Sipowicz feels especially guilty about the situation until information from John Irvin leads him to the source of the tragedy.

• Daniel Benzali guest stars as James Sinclair, Esq.
• Gail O'Grady makes an uncredited appearance as Donna Abandando

Sipowicz is overly eager to testify in the Cullinan murder trial, but Costas worries that Sipowicz is no match for defense attorney James Sinclair. Much to Sipowicz's chagrin, Costas thinks Sorenson will make a stronger witness and Andy increasingly loses his mind over having to deal with Sinclair's psychological button-pushing. Meanwhile, Russell and Kirkendall lead the investigation of a home invasion murder in which the widow becomes the prime suspect and everyone throws the shooting of Amadou Diallo right in their faces.

• Daniel Benzali guest stars as James Sinclair.
• Julie Carmen guest stars as Nidia.

While Sipowicz continues to be haunted by attorney James Sinclair, the Cullinan murder trial takes a horrific turn, and the lives of the 15th Precinct detectives will never be the same.

• This episode was Sharon Lawrence's last appearance as Sylvia Costas.
• Ed Bernard as Judge Sheegmuller