Cagney and Lacey are two female New York policewomen doing their job as best they can in a male-dominated police department. The weekly program was variously a "cop show", a relationship drama, and an "issues vehicle".

Cagney and Lacey go undercover as prostitutes.

A Chinatown robbery brings Cagney's retired father back on the beat.

Cagney and Lacey uncover a deadly smuggling ring when searching for a missing child.

Cagney and Lacey are accused of racial prejudice when they investigate a gangland beating

Cagney and Lacey become involved in an investigation of child abuse and possible murder when they rescue a child from a window ledge.

Cagney and Lacey must ignore their feminist sentiments when they are assigned to protect the life of a female ERA critic.