Stephen Downing, Police Officer Who Wrote for TV, Dies at 87
The New York Times • 12/10/2025 • Last cited 12/14/2025
Summary
Stephen Downing, a former L.A.P.D. officer who transitioned to television writing, passed away at the age of 87. He was known for delivering scripts for shows like “Dragnet” and “Adam-12” during his police career and later served as a showrunner for “MacGyver,” according to The New York Times.
Lindy Score Breakdown
35
Age (0-35)
36 days
4
Velocity (0-40)
1 source (low traction)
8
Tier (0-10)
The New York Times
0
Breadth (0-15)
1 unique
Total Score47/100
Related Story Timeline
- 2025-12-10Stephen Downing, Police Officer Who Wrote for TV, Dies at 87 (current)
- 2025-12-11U.K. Police Seek Suspects in Theft of Over 600 Artifacts From Museum (The New York Times)
Score BreakdownRisk 35
Source Reputation: Moderate trust (8/20 pts)
Consensus: Single source - no independent confirmation yet
Age: 36 days - proven survivor
Stories gain Lindy status through source reputation, network consensus, and time survival.
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