The Line (LAist / LA Times)
True crime podcast review — 2026
Reviewed · Updated
"The Line asks the question police departments don't want asked — why do some officers shoot again and again, and why do their institutions keep protecting them?"
Who is this podcast for?
- ✓Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish
- ✓Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates
Pros & cons
- +Rated "Must Listen" by our editorial team — exceptional across all dimensions
- +High binge factor — listeners consistently come back for more
- +Serialized format builds a compelling, sustained narrative arc across episodes
- −Must listen in order — cannot dip in and out between episodes
About this podcast
LAist Studios and Los Angeles Times investigation examining police officers who have been involved in multiple fatal shootings — and why departments protect and even promote officers with repeated kill records. An unflinching examination of what institutional accountability for lethal force actually looks like in practice.
Best episode to start with
Episode 1 — must listen in order
Serialized format — listen from the beginning for the full experience
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Frequently Asked Questions about The Line (LAist / LA Times)
What is The Line (LAist / LA Times) about?
LAist Studios and Los Angeles Times investigation examining police officers who have been involved in multiple fatal shootings — and why departments protect and even promote officers with repeated kill records. An unflinching examination of what institutional accountability for lethal force actually looks like in practice.
Is The Line (LAist / LA Times) worth listening to?
Our editorial verdict is "Must listen". It scores 7/10 on binge factor. True crime fans interested in police accountability, systemic racism, and institutional failure; listeners who want investigative journalism targeting law enforcement rather than criminals.
Who is The Line (LAist / LA Times) for?
The Line (LAist / LA Times) is ideal for: Listeners who enjoy following a single case from start to finish; Legal procedure enthusiasts and wrongful conviction advocates.
What is the best episode of The Line (LAist / LA Times) to start with?
We recommend starting with Episode 1 — must listen in order. As a serialized show, it's best to listen from the beginning of a season.
Where can I listen to The Line (LAist / LA Times)?
The Line (LAist / LA Times) is available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, NPR. Search for it by name on any of those apps.
What podcasts are similar to The Line (LAist / LA Times)?
If you enjoy The Line (LAist / LA Times), you might also like: In the Dark, Running From Cops, Suspect (NPR/Embedded), Crime Next Door: The Beast of Birkenhead. See our full "Podcasts Like The Line (LAist / LA Times)" page for more recommendations.
Quick facts
- Format
- Serialized
- Host style
- Solo narrator
- Style
- Serious, accountability-focused, deeply reported
- Episode length
- Multiple episodes per season; bingeable
- Binge factor
- 7/10
- Country
- United States
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