The Hill Street Station was located in the 'ghetto of a large unnamed Eastern city' according to The Complete Directory to Prime Time Network TV Shows. However, realistically, it was Chicago - it was filmed at the old Maxwell Street precinct.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Street


>>>>BTW though I'd scour the screen for any glimpse of a car decal or shoulder badge I could NEVER discern what city HS Blues was supposed to be. And I don't think it was ever mentioned.
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>>>>Does anyone know? It was a bloody miserable looking place anyway.
>>>>
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>>>I think they very intentionally didn't identify the city. Although some things make it feel New Yorkish, other stuff feels midwestern.
>>>
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>>They never made it explicit but parts of it were definitely Chicago. The police cars are like the ones here, right down to the "We Serve and Protect" slogan, and the station house was an actual Chicago police station. I believe most of the show was shot in L.A.
>
>But they only ever said "Metro Police" on the side - not which city. Besides AFAIK the Chicago cops have chequered bands round their hats, like in the UK and Australia (though our cops have 3 checks abreast).
>
>As for shot in LA, well that's not unusual: Cheers was too, although the establishing outdoors shots weere of teh actual so-called Cheers Bar in Boston (totally different layout inside BTW)
>
>Again, Chicago is rather famous for its high skyline; I saw no evidence of that in the show.