A summer heat wave triggers discomfort throughout Springfield, prompting Homer to declare that what everyone needs is a little touch of winter. With that, he plugs in a novelty dancing Santa. Lisa warns that everyone should be conserving energy…and moments later, there’s a blackout. Looters take to the streets, prompting Wiggum and his men to take action. But the police prove ineffective, and they’re soon swarmed by lawbreakers.

In the aftermath of the terrible looting, Marge declares that she won’t feel safe until the town has better police. She blames Homer for the riot, believing that if he hadn’t plugged in the dancing Santa, there wouldn’t have been a blackout. Soon after, Lisa realizes that someone stole her saxophone. Homer vows to find the culprit. Later, he discovers a black knit cap hanging on a tree branch near Lisa’s bedroom. Using the label inside the hat, he tracks it to a hat store run by a beatnik proprietor. As Homer questions the proprietor, Dragnet-style, Jimbo Jones enters the store holding Lisa’s saxophone. Later, when Jailbird attempts to rob the Kwik-E-Mart, Homer saves Apu by throwing some boiling nacho cheese at Jailbird. Later, Marge tells Homer that if he enjoys protecting people he should form his own security company. Soon after, Homer offers Lenny and Carl the chance to join his private police force, called “Springshield.” Soon after, people throughout town begin showing Homer respect. Later, Mayor Quimby states that he still believes in the city’s police force, and allows reporter Kent Brockman to accompany him on a “surprise” inspection. But even though Wiggum had been given a head’s up, he disgraces himself. Quimby turns the town’s police duties over to Homer, making him Chief of Police.

Homer declares war on corruption throughout town. He, Lenny and Carl stage a raid on Fat Tony’s lair, and Fat Tony is taken to jail. But during an interview from his cell, Fat Tony warns that his associates intend to gun down Homer if he hasn’t left town by noon the following day. Later, during church services, Homer turns to townspeople for help. But, one by one, everyone turns him down. Marge pleads with Homer to leave town, but he doesn’t want to. When noon arrives, Fat Tony and his men approach the Simpson house. A terrified Homer peeps through the curtains at the mobsters. Realizing he has no choice, Homer exits the house. But as Fat Tony cocks his gun, about to shoot, a gunshot rings out. Several more follow, and all of the mobsters are hit in the arm. Homer declares he’s had enough of being a cop and throws his badge in a trash can, causing Wiggum to excitedly realize that he’s got his job back. But when Marge wonders who it was that shot the mobsters, the camera pans up to a bedroom window, where baby Maggie hold is a smoking rifle. She quickly takes the weapon apart and hides it before Marge and Homer check on her.