‘Live PD’ to Return on Reelz, Will Be Renamed ‘On Patrol: Live’

Live PD is coming back — well, sort of. The law enforcement reality series is returning to TV two years after it was pulled from broadcasting in 2020. The new iteration will have both a new name and a new network, according to The Hollywood Reporter. 

The new Live PD will be called On Patrol: Live and will air on Reelz after leaving A&E. THR reports that On Patrol: Live features a “tweaked format” from Live PD, but comes from the same producers as the original show. Fans will also see familiar faces, including Dan Abrams, who hosts and executive produces the show, and Sean Larkin. Curtis Wilson will also return.

Abrams confirmed Live PD‘s return to THR. He told the outlet, “I have been advocating for the show to return for two years now, and it was just a question of finding the right partner.”

Abrams continued, “I have had a number of inquiries from a number of networks about the show, and what I would typically do is have a conversation and then pass it on to the Big Fish folks, and then we would talk about whether it made sense. There had been a couple of other interesting discussions, but this one ended up making the most sense for everyone.”

Sharing how his show has changed, Abrams told THR that On Patrol: Live will include new police departments and ride-alongs with civilians, both of which he said alter “the fabric of the show.” Despite the changes, Abrams said, “it is going to be a very similar type of show to the one that existed previously.”

Live PD was canceled after broadcaster A&E admitted they destroyed footage from the show capturing an on-camera death. In June 2020, as protests against police brutality sparked by George Floyd’s murder took place across the country, the the Austin American-Statesman broke the story about Live PD; they reported the show’s cameras filmed 40-year-old Javier Ambler being tasered by two sheriff’s deputies while begging for his life.

In a statement issued to the Statesman by A&E at the time, the network shared, “Video of the tragic death of Javier Ambler was captured by body cams worn on the officers involved as well by the producers of Live PD who were riding with certain officers involved. As is the case with all footage taken by Live PD producers, we no longer retained the unaired footage after learning that the investigation had concluded.”

Live PD’s cancellation coincided with the end of Cops, which was also canceled in 2020. And much like Live PD, Cops has also made a comeback with a caveat — the show resumed filming three months after it was canceled, but footage will air internationally, and not in the U.S.