The Spring Street Gang (Aired December 1, 1949) Dragnet was a long-running radio and television police procedural drama about the cases of a dedicated Los Angeles police detective, Sergeant Joe Friday, and his partners. The show takes its name from an actual police term, a "dragnet", meaning a system of coordinated measures for apprehending criminals or suspects. Dragnet debuted inauspiciously. The first several months were bumpy, as Webb and company worked out the program’s format and eventually became comfortable with their characters (Friday was originally portrayed as more brash and forceful than his later usually relaxed demeanor). Gradually, Friday’s deadpan, fast-talking persona emerged, described by John Dunning as "a cop's cop, tough but not hard, conservative but caring." (Dunning, 210) Friday’s first partner was Sgt. Ben Romero, portrayed by Barton Yarborough, a longtime radio actor. When Dragnet hit its stride, it became one of radio’s top-rated shows. THIS EPISODE: December 1, 1949. "The Spring Street Gang" - Program #27. NBC net. Sponsored by: Fatima, Grainger Pipe Tobacco. A gang of juveniles is hanging out on Spring Street. One of the gang members has been wounded, another is shot by a night watchman while committing a robbery. Jack Webb, Barton Yarborough. 29:14. Episode Notes From The Radio Gold Index.