Police Academy 2: Their First Assignment 1985

As the 16th precinct teeters on the brink of collapse, Chief Henry Hurst (George R. Robertson) storms into Captain Pete Lassard’s (Howard Hesseman) office, bearing tales of woe and despondency. The once-mighty force has been ravaged by budget cuts and a dwindling workforce, leaving only a handful of battle-weary officers to carry the load. Hurst’s diagnosis is grim: without a drastic injection of fresh blood, the precinct will continue to spiral out of control. Lassard protests, pointing out that Hurst himself had precipitated this crisis with his draconian cost-cutting measures. Undeterred, Hurst offers Lassard a meager six new recruits, coupled with an ultimatum: turn things around in 30 days or face the axe.

As Hurst departs, Lieutenant Mauser (Art Metrano) seizes the opportunity to sow discord, whispering sweet nothings to his partner, Sgt. Proctor (Lance Kinsey), about taking control of the precinct for himself. Meanwhile, Captain Lassard makes a desperate plea to his brother Eric (George Gaynes) at the Police Academy, begging him to send six recruits to bolster the 16th’s ranks. Mauser, ever eager to curry favor with Hurst, is overheard plotting his own ascension to captaincy.

The cream of the Police Academy’s crop arrives on the scene: Carey Mahoney (Steve Guttenberg), Larvell Jones (Michael Winslow), Eugene Tackleberry (David Graf), Moses Hightower (Bubba Smith), Laverne Hooks (Marion Ramsey), and Douglas Fackler (Bruce Mahler). As they join forces with the 16th precinct, some are paired with seasoned veterans - Tackleberry is assigned to Sgt. Kathleen Kirkland (Colleen Camp), while Fackler finds himself partnered with Dooley (Ed Herlihy) - but others must navigate the treacherous waters of Mauser’s machinations.

As Mahoney and Vinnie Schtulman (Peter Van Norden) take to the streets, they stumble upon a botched robbery attempt, only to have it foiled by the very officers meant to assist them. Mauser is poised to suspend the pair when Mahoney’s impassioned plea to Lassard convinces him to give them another chance. Meanwhile, Zed McGlunk (Bobcat Goldthwait) and his gang “shop” at a local supermarket, leaving chaos and destruction in their wake.

As Mahoney (played by) is unexpectedly reassigned by the cunning Mauser to patrol a tunnel, he and his partner find themselves covered in soot, leaving them with an unflattering layer of grime. In retaliation, Mahoney exacts revenge by switching Mauser’s shampoo with epoxy from Tackleberry’s helmet repair kit, effectively gluing Mauser’s hands to his hair. This embarrassing spectacle unfolds before the entire station, prompting Mahoney to don a wig for the remainder of the film as he tries to maintain some semblance of dignity.

Meanwhile, Captain Lassard spots Zed’s men lurking about and attempts to deal with them, but is ultimately overpowered and left covered in a vibrant coat of spray-painted colors. This humiliating experience seems to have an unexpected effect on Lassard, emboldening him to grant the precinct permission to utilize “whatever means possible” to contain the gang’s nefarious activities. Progress is made as most of Zed’s gang members are captured at The Blue Oyster Bar, but Mauser manages to secure their release due to alleged excessive force and procedural violations.

As tensions escalate, Tackleberry finds himself swept up in a romantic evening with Kirkland, sharing a tender moment that culminates in a passionate expression of love and intimacy (after the removal of their numerous concealed weapons). Captain Lassard, meanwhile, seeks solace in his brother Eric’s company, who proposes a bold plan to host a fair. However, Zed’s men have other plans, leaving the event in shambles and resulting in Lassard being placed out of commission the very next day.

Mauser seizes this opportunity to rise through the ranks, earning promotion to captain, which he marks by summarily dismissing Mahoney from his duties. Schtulman objects to Mahoney’s removal, but Mauser remains unmoved, paving the way for Mahoney, Schtulman, and Lassard to join forces in a last-ditch effort to thwart the gang’s plans.

Mahoney goes undercover as “Jughead”, infiltrating the gang by posing as a former member of the notorious group “The Archies”. Armed with a Mr. Microphone courtesy of Lassard and Schtulman, he gathers crucial information about the gang’s hideout (an abandoned Griffith Park Zoo) and their leader’s identity. However, his cover is blown when the microphone broadcasts a radio ad, prompting Lassard to mobilize every available officer to converge on the location.

The officers arrive, only to be thwarted by Mauser’s ill-fated attempt at a raid. Fackler inadvertently saves the day by bumping Mauser into an air duct, allowing him to become trapped and captured by Zed and his gang. The police stage their own counterattack, overpowering and apprehending the gang members.

As Zed attempts to make his escape with Mahoney, Lassard intervenes, prepared to open fire on the culprit. However, Mahoney quickly dispenses of Zed’s escape plans by sending him tumbling down a staircase, where Hooks awaits to take him into custody. In the aftermath, it emerges that Lassard had not carried live ammunition since 1973, rendering his gun ineffective in the heat of the moment.

As a result of their bravery and perseverance, Mahoney, Schtulman, and Lassard are all reinstated to their positions on the force, while Mauser is demoted back down to lieutenant.

As the sun sets on a joyous celebration, the fraternity of law enforcement gathers to witness the union of Tackleberry and Kirkland, with none other than the reinstated Commander Lassard (Clayton Rohner) taking center stage. The atmosphere is electric as friends and colleagues converge to honor the happy couple, their laughter and tears mingling in a heartfelt display of camaraderie.

As the newlyweds prepare to embark on their new life together, the officers, now rejuvenated with Lassard’s return, take to the open road behind the wheel of the behemoth Bigfoot, a monstrous truck that dwarfs everything in its path. The rumble of its engine and the crunch of gravel beneath its tires signal the beginning of an adventure that will take them far beyond the boundaries of their jurisdiction, into the unknown territories where only the bravest of lawmen dare to tread.