Tony Baretta was an unconventional cop. He was
streetwise, single, with a decidedly funky lifestyle:
he holed up in apartment 2-C of the run-down King
Edward Hotel with his pet cockatoo Fred. He was
usually seen in a T-shirt and jeans, with his
trademark cap pulled down over his forehead. Being
the orphaned son of poor Italian immigrants, Tony
knew the city inside out. He was a master of disguise,
and because of his rough appearance was able to
infiltrate such groups as motorcycle gangs and even
"the Mob." Needless to say, he refused to have a
partner and always worked alone. Inspector Shiller
was his original boss, later succeeded by Lt. Brubaker.
Billy Truman was a retired cop who was a
combined manager and house detective
at the hotel where Baretta lived.