第五个季节集中在媒体行业。巴尔的摩太阳报面对利润的下滑、记者和新闻的数量减少、新闻质量下降的困境，如何报道被杀流浪者的新闻专题。 第四季结束后的十五个月，市长Carcetti削减警局预算缩减教育赤字迫使案件调查中止。McNulty回到重案组，通过伪造证据制造了流浪者连环杀人案。暗自联系记者，得到社会关注，最终争取到市长支持查案。McNulty 将所得资源分配给警局的侦探使得多个案件取得重大进展……
Small Town, Big Story has started filming on location in Ireland under a UK Equity contract and follows goings-on in Drumbán, a rural village of rattled misfits. When a major Hollywood production rolls into town, a spotlight is thrown on a secret that has been kept hidden since the eve of the Millennium. Hendricks (Mad Men) is playing Wendy Patterson, a local girl done good as a hot-shot television producer, who returns to her hometown from LA with the Hollywood production in tow, while House of the Dragon’s Considine is local doctor and pillar of the community Seamus Proctor.
The detectives investigate a multiple homicide at a fast food restaurant; an addict gives his baby daughter to a drug dealer as collateral on an overdue loan; Internal Affairs reopens the Kirkendall case.
In the fourth season of this award-winning show, the action at New York City's 15th Precinct is as hectic as ever. While Lieutenant Fancy continues as precinct commander, Detective Andy Sipowicz, although still a bit rough around the edges, has mellowed with the birth of his son. Detective Bobby Simone and Detective Diane Russell take the next step in their relationship, James Martinez becomes the Squad Delegate, and Greg Meadavoy considers becoming a surrogate father. But one thing that hasn't changed is the squad's determination to make sure the bad guys get their day in court and to also attempt to maintain a touch of normalcy in their personal lives even as they investigate cases that often put them directly in the line of fire.
