Police Academy 4: Citizens on Patrol 1987

As the pressures of overwork and understaffing mount, Commandant Eric Lassard (no stranger to innovative solutions) conceives an unorthodox plan to bolster the police force’s ranks. His vision: “Citizens On Patrol” (COP), a program pairing civilian volunteers with seasoned officers to tackle community challenges side by side. Enter Carey Mahoney and his merry band of misfits, comprising Moses Hightower, Larvell Jones, Eugene Tackleberry, Zed, Sweetchuck, Laverne Hooks, and Debbie Callahan - all tasked with mentoring this motley crew of civilian recruits.

Among the eager beavers are Tommy “House” Conklin, a behemoth who’s been babysat by Hightower in the past; feisty senior citizen Lois Feldman; Tackleberry’s father-in-law, a man with a penchant for…unconventional problem-solving; and a pair of skateboarding troublemakers, Kyle and Arnie, who just happen to have caught the attention of Captain Harris. Their fates are sealed when Mahoney convinces Judge Butterworth to spare them from a lengthy sentence by enrolling them in the COP program as an alternative punishment.

Captain Harris, however, is not one for Lassard’s unorthodox methods and is determined to sabotage the entire operation. With the Commandant away at an overseas conference, Harris seizes the opportunity to take over the academy and plot the downfall of the COP program. His trusty sidekick, Lt. Proctor, assists in this mission to discredit the volunteers and restore order to the police force.

But the civilians have other plans. Under Mahoney’s guidance, they thrive in their training exercises, with Mrs. Feldman displaying a surprising aptitude for handling Tackleberry’s .44 Magnum - and forming an unlikely bond with her trainee-instructor. Zed, meanwhile, finds himself smitten with Laura, a reporter-photographer who’s covering Lassard’s COP program and is impressed by the recruit’s heroics during water safety drills. Harris, however, has other ideas, and his condescending remarks only serve to fuel Zed’s desire for revenge - in the form of a well-placed can of mace, which leaves the captain with a pungent reminder of his own ineptitude.

As tensions simmer and pranks are played on both sides, Jones becomes aware that some recruits - House, Kyle, and Arnie, to be specific - feel ready to take their training to the next level. Mahoney, Hightower, Tackleberry, and Jones decide to have a little fun at their expense, locking them in a prisoner transport van with an “undead” Tackleberry (courtesy of Hightower’s questionable voodoo skills) and a chainsaw-wielding “Jason Voorhees-esque” maniac. Later, after another stern rebuke from Captain Harris, Laura offers Zed some much-needed solace, praising his unwavering commitment to the program.

As the aftermath of the botched undercover operation unfolded, Harris (character A) reveled in the suspension of the Community Oriented Policing (COP) program. His jubilation was short-lived, however, as Mahoney exacted a clever revenge by affixing superglue to the mouthpiece of Harris’ trusty bullhorn, rendering it permanently stuck to its rims.

Later, during a tour for prominent citizens, Proctor fell prey to a cunning ruse, inadvertently releasing every inmate from the precinct 19 jail. The chaos that ensued saw ninjas and special guest Randall “Tex” Cobb joining the ranks of escaped felons. As Harris and his guests found themselves held captive by the criminals, they made a daring escape onto the streets, only to run straight into Mrs. Feldman, who promptly notified the Lassard academy.

In response to the jailbreak, COP volunteers were dispatched alongside regular officers to recapture the escaped prisoners. The ensuing chaos saw the felons foiled in their attempts to commit further crimes, with Harris and his team thwarting a robbery and participating in a high-speed air balloon chase. Meanwhile, House, Kyle, Arnie, and Butterworth came to the rescue of Harris and Proctor, who had found themselves struggling to stay afloat after attempting (and failing) to join the pursuit.

As the dust settled, Zed earned the admiration of his girlfriend Laura by saving Sweetchuck’s life after they both tumbled out of an airborne plane. The police chiefs who witnessed Lassard’s program in action couldn’t help but congratulate and commend him on its success, much to Harris’ dismay.