 In 1988 a Baltimore Sun reporter named David Simon (II) (qv)  joined the Baltimore Police Homicide Unit as a civilian assistant in  order to chronicle a year in the life of a big city homicide squad.  His extensive notes, interviews, and observations were eventually  published as the book, "Homicide: A Year On The Killing Streets."  This book served as the inspiration for the TV series  _"Homicide: Life on the Street" (1993)_ (qv) and much of the first  and second seasons of the show are taken from actual events  recounted in the book.