This Is the Police

This Is the Police is a single-player strategy and management game. The story follows Jack Boyd, a police chief in the fictional city of Freeburg who is nearing forced retirement after decades on the force. With 180 days left in office, Jack faces the challenge of securing his financial future while navigating pressure from corrupt officials, organized crime, and the public. The narrative develops through dialogue-driven cutscenes, where the player’s choices determine Jack’s reputation, morality, and eventual fate.

The core gameplay takes place on a daily cycle where the player manages the police department. Each morning begins with reviewing news headlines, checking staff availability, and responding to emergencies across the city. Incidents appear in real time on the map, and the player must assign officers based on their professionalism, stamina, and equipment. Some situations are routine, while others escalate into dangerous confrontations that can result in officers or civilians being killed if handled poorly.

Progression is tied to the player’s resource management and decision-making. Officers and detectives gain experience from successful missions but may quit, refuse orders, or become unreliable if treated unfairly. Detectives are assigned to longer-term investigations that require piecing together evidence from witness reports and surveillance. These cases can be closed through proper analysis or manipulated for personal gain, depending on the player’s goals. Balancing loyalty, corruption, and efficiency is central to maintaining order in Freeburg.

Officers can be sent on side tasks such as political rallies, mafia errands, or city events, often creating conflicts of interest. Budgetary restrictions force tough decisions on hiring, training, and equipment purchases. A shift system splits personnel between alternating day and night teams, requiring careful planning to avoid understaffing during crime waves.

Dialogue sequences and branching choices reinforce the moral dilemmas at the heart of the story. Jack can attempt to resist corruption, work with the mafia for money, or serve city hall’s political agenda, with each path affecting future missions and story outcomes.