Dragnet, the radio series, premiered on NBC on June 3, 1949 and ended on February 26, 1957. A set of 314 original episodes aired between June 1949 and September 1955 with ".22 Rifle For Christmas" and "The Big Little Jesus" usually re-run during Christmas time. Re-runs were broadcast from the end of September 1955 to February 1957. The vast majority of the episodes are available free on various sites around the Internet.
Friday has been off-duty for 2 hours when he receives an emergency phone call from the Deputy Chief of Police. An entire block in the heart of the city has been threatened with complete destruction by Vernon Carney. He is threatening to blow up City Hall with a bomb if his brother, Elwood Carney, isn't freed from jail by nine o'clock.
A new member of the congregation receives anonymous letters and phone calls threatening her with murder. The notes bear the mark of a fanatic, but police suspect fraud until a faked attack confirms their suspicion.
A young boy, aged 9 years old, named Stanley Johnstone is reported missing from his home and so is the .22 caliber rifle he was going to get for Christmas. Foul play is suspected.
A man named Harvey Kimbrel is on his way to work when he is pulled from his car on a deserted street, robbed, and beaten viciously before his car is stolen. The criminal makes good his escape. In the course of the investigation, Friday is shot by the main suspect.
A young narcotics addict pistol-whips a doctor leaving him in critical condition, he also steals a large quantity of narcotics from him. Meanwhile, Sergeant Friday is asked by his old high school to give a talk. After the young addict is caught, Friday delivers a speech about the use of narcotics by teenagers.