“X-Cops” is episode twelve of season seven of The X-Files.
The opening says that this is a special episode of The X-Files and viewer discretion is advised. Followed by a segue of clips of Mulder and Scully together with police to the theme from COPS.
In Willow Park, California, Los Angeles’ Sheriff’s Department deputy Keith Wetzel has a film crew on ride along. He’s heading to a prowler call following reports of, well, a monster. He doesn’t see anything outside the house but finds a claw mark on the door. The woman who answers the door when he knocks is babbling with fear, and shuts it again. The deputy hears a noise and he and the crew head around the back. The deputy briefly disappears from sight, then runs back and tells the crew to get back in the car. Run. Inside the car, it gets damaged and then overturned.
Backup arrives and the deputy, now out of the car, is attempting to explain to Sergeant Paula Duthie what happened when a call comes in about armed suspects. The police head there and find Mulder and Scully. Once it’s confirmed they are FBI, they’re released. Scully says they’re investigating a case; Mulder says the same case as the police. Who are they looking for? Not who; what.
Mulder wants Wetzel to describe what he saw; he seems reluctant. The sergeant says they’ve been to this house before. According to Mulder, there have been half a dozen monster sightings in the last 60 days, only on nights with a full moon. Mulder describes what they’re after and says it bit Wetzel, pulling up his sleeve; Wetzel says he hasn’t seen anything.
Duthie wants to know what Mulder is describing. A werewolf. It attacked someone 29 days ago. They died, but not before they described it to a sketch artist. Wetzel should be kept under guard as he could become a werewolf. Scully calls Mulder over and reminds him about the cameras. Mulder doesn’t think this is live. And getting a recording of the paranormal would be great. Scully says it could end his career. More importantly, hers. She’s going to call Skinner. Mulder suggests she head to the hospital with Wetzel.
In the house with the woman who called it in, she is telling another deputy about the claw monster. Mulder wants her to describe it to the sketch artists. He has a sketch of the werewolf done to another, and thinks the woman will describe the same thing. He thinks wrong. This sketch artist draws Freddy Kruger.
Scully returns with Wetzel; the bite on his arm is actually insect bites. Skinner said the FBI has nothing to hide, which means the cameras stay. Mulder isn’t convinced it’s a werewolf any longer. Then they get a call about a person down six blocks away.
This is Ricky the sketch artist, dead with his chest clawed open. He apparently called for assistance due to a flat tyre and didn’t feel safe. Mulder shows Scully what Ricky drew. She finds a false nail with blood on it. The 911 was placed by someone across the road, Steve and Edy. According to Duthie, they’re always the ones to call it in. The two didn’t see anything, but recognise the colour of nail polish as that used by Chantara, a streetwalker who works the corner.
The camera crew is now riding with Mulder and Scully; Scully seems rather less happy about this than Mulder. Mulder is sure it’s something paranormal. Whatever it is, is being given different descriptions by those who’ve seen it. Scully is definitely not pleased to have a camera crew along, going by the death glares and something that verges on an un-smile. Mulder would love for the crew to capture proof on tape. The entire episode is shot documentary style, giving it a rather different feel. Despite the number of deaths, a more humorous episode.