“It’s a great way for citizens to see how we work, what we do and how we do it.”

JENNIE McKEON @JennieMnwfdn

SANTA ROSA COUNTY — Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office will be patrolling the county, looking for “bad boys” as crews with the TV show “COPS” begins filming in the area this spring.

SRSO public information officer Rich Aloy said the film crew will be working with the sheriff’s office “sometime in April.”

“They’ll ride along for about six to eight weeks on the evening shifts,” Aloy said. “They’ll see the typical stuff you see in crime reports.”

This isn’t the first time SRSO has been on realty TV. The department was featured on the A&E show “Live PD” alongside Walton County Sheriff’s Office, but Santa Rosa pulled out of the show last year.

Aloy said the department would be meeting with the TV show’s producers to figure out logistics including what shifts they would film and what deputy to follow.

“COPS” is produced by Langley Productions and currently airs on The Paramount Network. Its first airing was March 11, 1989.

For its first 25 seasons, “COPS” was on the FOX network. According to the show’s website it is “one of the first (and only) true and unscripted reality shows.”

Aloy said he understood the fascination of law enforcement. But the reality isn’t what it seems.

“Working on patrol you get desensitized,” he said.

Aloy said he did not know what the show might capture or when it will air. That’s the nature of the job.

“Quite frankly, they may not use any footage or they might use a lot,” he said. “You never know what you’re going to see out there.”

There will be some things that can’t air. A supervisor with SRSO will also be on hand with deputies and the film crew to help protect the police work on investigations of a “larger magnitude,” Aloy said.

Ultimately, Aloy said he hopes TV viewers get a better understanding of a deputy’s work.

“It’s a great way for citizens to see how we work, what we do and how we do it,” he added.