NYPD Blue Season 2	NYPD Blue	NYPD Blue Season 4

Original airdate: October 24, 1995

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Mills & David Milch

Simone and Sipowicz learn that Martinez's assailant is a government informant who may not be allowed to walk; a nervous Russell prods her A.A. sponsor into playing matchmaker; Sylvia breaks some unexpected news to her husband; and Donna expresses romantic interest in a colleague.

• Melina Kanakaredes guest stars as Benita Alden.
• Isaiah Washington guest stars as Antonio Boston.

Original airdate: October 31, 1995

• Directed by: Donna Deitch
• Written by: Theresa Rebeck & Bill Clark

Although a young woman's mentally disabled brother seems the prime suspect in her murder, Simone and Sipowicz are convinced the crime is linked to a serial killer; Medavoy and Sipowicz go undercover as Hasidic Jews to retrieve a priceless Torah stolen from a synagogue; and after sharing some surprising — and private — news with Sipowicz, Costas is miffed when he shares it with the entire squadroom.

• Sam Rockwell makes an appearance in this episode.
• Rebeck and Clark won an Edgar award in the category of "Best Mystery Teleplay from a Series" for this episode.

Original airdate: November 7, 1995

• Directed by: Michael M. Robin
• Written by: Gardner Stern

Simone and Sipowicz link an unlikely suspect to a series of unsolved brutal rapes; Russell's sobriety is challenged when she deals with escalating violence in a troubled family — her own; Medavoy and Lesniak discover the unexpected culprit behind a series of vicious attacks on a disbelieving man; and Lesniak makes a surprising personal revelation to Martinez

Original airdate: November 14, 1995

• Directed by: Elodie Keene
• Written by: Leonard Gardner & Bill Clark

Tension mounts between Simone and Sipowicz as they investigate the drug-connected execution-style slaying of two small children; Sipowicz is upset that Russell turned to Simone when she fell off the wagon, and he's powerless to help Costas overcome her debilitating morning sickness; and Lesniak is the subject of squad-room gossip.

Original airdate: November 21, 1995

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: David Milch & Nicholas Wootton

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the murder of a pimp in a laundromat, a murder witnessed by a troubled young woman who helped them solve a prior case; Fancy is unhappy when a detective, under surveillance by Internal Affairs, is assigned to the squad before he's taken down; prodded by his father, a teenage boy reluctantly accuses a neighbor of illicit behavior; Sipowicz resists letting John Irvin give him a haircut; and John offers his support to Lesniak.

Original airdate: November 28, 1995

• Directed by: Jim Charleston
• Written by: Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the mysterious death of an East Indian woman found strangled in her car; the squad deals with a fussy temp subbing for Donna; Martinez and Medavoy arrest a small-time thief linked to a much bigger collar; Russell loses her temper with Simone, whose personal concern clouds his professional judgment; and Lesniak shares a confidence with Russell.

Original airdate: December 12, 1995

• Directed by: Davis Guggenheim
• Written by: David Mills

Simone comes to the aid of an old prize-fighting friend who doesn't think he needs help; Sipowicz is resentful when the Feds take control of the squad's investigation of a millionaire's abduction; a petty criminal from the squad's past resurfaces with information on the kidnapping; and Medavoy shares an awkward moment with Donna.

Original airdate: December 19, 1995

• Directed by: Adam Nimoy
• Written by: Bill Clark & Theresa Rebeck

Simone regrets helping his incarcerated friend Ray, whose inside information causes Simone to lock horns with the I.A.B. over a shared suspect; amid racial tension, Sipowicz and Fancy share an unspoken understanding involving the self-confessed gunman in a neighborhood shooting; and Medavoy gets a taste of theatrics when a stage actor accuses the star of assault.

• Anthony Stewart Head guest stars as Nigel Gibson

Original airdate: January 9, 1996

• Directed by: Michael M. Robin
• Written by: Bill Clark & Gardner Stern

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the stabbing death of a Chinese girl whose estranged boyfriend runs a gambling den; Martinez is uneasy about teaming up with Lesniak to investigate a robbery involving a disabled wife and philandering husband; Sipowicz is in the doghouse when he balks at accompanying Costas to her amniocentesis test; and after Medavoy leaves his wife again, Donna and Marie square off in the squad room.

Original airdate: January 16, 1996

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: William L. Morris & David Mills

Simone and Sipowicz investigate a memorial basketball game that turns deadly; problems arise when Sipowicz has a racial confrontation with the organizer of the event that is witnessed by a reporter; and Fancy and Sipowicz face off over Sipowicz' racial problems.

Original airdate: January 30, 1996

• Directed by: Perry Lang
• Written by: Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the murder of a young woman whose charred body was found in an abandoned basement; and Medavoy is in the chips when Fancy assigns him to protect a poker-playing informant.

• Poppy Montgomery appears in this episode as Lisa.

Original airdate: February 6, 1996'

• Directed by: Donna Deitch
• Written by: Theresa Rebeck

Russell's sobriety is put to the test when her family's domestic violence escalates — with tragic results; and Sipowicz and Medavoy dig into an eight-year-old missing persons case that turns up a murder victim.

Original airdate: February 13, 1996

• Directed by: Elodie Keene
• Written by: Bill Clark & Nicholas Wootton

Simone and Sipowicz track the killer of Vincent Del Marco, whose death proves to be a family affair; Russell and Medavoy's investigation of a murdered woman is bogged down by the victim's erratic son, his stepfather and their overzealous attorneys; an apprehensive Russell confers with her mother's defense attorney

Original airdate: February 20, 1996

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Bill Clark & Gardner Stern

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the gruesome murder of a young woman; Medavoy and Russell look into the shooting of a surgeon whose overbearing wife wants to file charges against his mistress; and the squadroom is abuzz as the relationship between Lesniak and Martinez passes the point of no return.

• Jenna Elfman guest stars as Patty Snow.

Original airdate: February 27, 1996

• Directed by: Randall Zisk
• Written by: David Mills & Bill Clark

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the bizarre murder of a mild-mannered university professor; an admiring Martinez (much to Lesniak's annoyance) helps a former porn star with an harassing phone caller; and Sipowicz and Costas receive an unexpected visit from Andy, Jr., who shares some surprising news.

Original airdate: March 19, 1996

• Directed by: Perry Lang
• Written by: Bill Clark & Theresa Rebeck

Simone and Sipowicz are intent on finding the rapist-murderer responsible for throwing several children from the roofs of apartment buildings; Sipowicz shows Andy, Jr. the ropes and expresses his resentment toward a visiting detective who beat him to a promotion; and Martinez and Russell's investigation of an alleged rape becomes divisive.

Original airdate: March 26, 1996

• Directed by: Davis Guggenheim
• Written by: Bill Clark & David Simon

Simone reconnects with a snitch who leads him to drug dealers responsible for the death of a little girl; Russell teams with a blowhard from anti-drug whose investigation threatens Simone and Sipowicz's; and Martinez and Medavoy are assigned to a murder case involving white magic.

• Danny Trejo appears in this episode.

Original airdate: April 2, 1996

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Bill Clark & Leonard Gardner

While investigating a loan shark's murder, Simone and Sipowicz are forced to commit armed robbery to keep their cover from being blown; Donna asks for Russell's help to prevent a potential truck hijacking; Lesniak reveals a jealous side to Martinez; and Sipowicz gives some professional pointers to Andy, Jr.

Original airdate: April 30, 1996

• Directed by: Michael Watkins
• Written by: Bill Clark & Nicholas Wootton

Simone and Sipowicz investigate the robbery-murder of an elderly woman whose nephew is found holding the stolen goods; Martinez and Medavoy track down the killer of a man beaten to death in a bar; Donna solicits advice from Russell and Lesniak about an out-of-state job opportunity; Martinez contemplates breaking up with Lesniak; and a nervous Sipowicz anticipates a page from Costas indicating the baby's on the way.

Original airdate: May 7, 1996

• Directed by: Mark Tinker
• Written by: Michael Daly

The squad deals with the death of someone close to home; a distraught Sipowicz elicits an unspoken and ominous promise from Simone, who heads up the homicide investigation; Russell is mystified by Simone's disturbing approach to the case; and Donna bids good-bye to her colleagues at the precinct.

• This marks Gail O'Grady's last regular appearance in the show as Donna Abandando and Michael DeLuise's as Andy Jr.

Original airdate: May 14, 1996

• Directed by: David Rosenbloom
• Written by: Bill Clark & David Mills

Tension mounts as the squad deals with Sipowicz, who wrestles with personal demons at home and on the job; a new administrative assistant arrives at the precinct; Russell defuses a potential blowup between an angry assault victim and Sipowicz; and Simone puts an end to a personal vendetta.

• Future King of Queens star Leah Remini appears as an angry suspect who throws a soda can at a half-drunk Sipowicz during an interrogation. Remini and Sharon Lawrence appeared together on the sitcom Fired Up.

Original airdate: May 21, 1996

• Directed by: Michael M. Robin
• Written by: Bob Glaudini & Bill Clark

Simone, Sipowicz and Russell investigate a holdup-turned-homicide; Medavoy, Martinez and Lesniak work a drug-related double murder; Fancy makes a decision about the new administrative assistant; Medavoy moves out of the crib and makes a new friend; Irvin bids a fond farewell to the squad; and baby Theo is "churched."

• Casey Siemaszko appears as Jim Bauerline. He would later appear as the squad's internal affairs nemesis Captain Pat Fraker