When some Camden, New Jersey drug dealers get blown away by a smooth operator who's impersonating a cop, the case falls to two bleary-eyed, wise-cracking police vets, Detective Sergeant Joe Macuzak and his long-time partner, George Whitcomb. But before they can even begin, an FBI team swoops in, headed by arrogant and humorless Roger Sorenson. He identifies the perp as James Sullivan, an attorney who dropped out of sight a few years ago, and has spent his time personally executing criminals ever since. Police Sergeant Stacey Smith inadvertendtly crosses paths with Sullivan when her undercover stint as a prostitute interferes with Sullivan's attack on some militiamen at a casino, and she becomes part of the chase.
In bits and pieces, it's revealed that Sullivan's vigilantism stems from criminal activity of his former law partner, Dennis O'Brien, who Sullivan blames for the death of his wife. While understanding that there has to be an inevitable confrontation between the cops, the FBI, and Sullivan, Joe and George wonder what ultimately pushed Sullivan over the edge to take the law into is own hands -- all at the same time, admiring the man's courage, tenacity, and intelligence.
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