The town of Garrison, New Jersey is home to several NYPD officers, led by Lt. Ray Donlan. Freddy Heflin, the town sheriff, idolizes the NYPD and once hoped to become an officer, but cannot due to going deaf in one ear while rescuing a drowning woman many years earlier. Heflin is aware that Garrison's NYPD community is involved in police corruption, but generally turns a blind eye as they do not recognize his authority. Internal affairs (law enforcement) investigator Lt. Moe Tilden approaches Heflin for information on the corrupt cops, but Heflin is intimidated and reluctant to betray them.