Growing up on Long Island and in Queens, Burns was regaled by his father, Edward J Burns, with stories of his cop exploits. Many of his father's stories have found their way into the show, reported New York Post.
Burns directs and stars as Terry Muldoon, head of the Public Morals Division, a plainclothes unit of the NYPD specialising in "victimless crimes."
He supervises a tight knit band of officers who crack down on everything from prostitution to illegal craps games.
The actor's 78-year-old father, who lives on Long Island, served as both inspiration and informal adviser. Muldoon even has the same badge number - 5425 - as the elder Burns did.