ThisveryKafka-esquefilmisKeaton'sresponsetotheFattyArbucklescandal.[citationneeded]Eventhoughthecentralcharacter'sintentionsaregood,hecannotwin,nomatterhowinventivelyhetries.Hegetsintovariousscrapswithpoliceofficersthroughoutthefilm.Eventually,heunwittinglythrowsabombintoapoliceparadeandendsupbeingchasedbyahordeofcops.
Attheendofthefilm,Keaton'scharacterlocksupthecopsinthepolicestation.However,thegirlheistryingtowoodisapprovesofhisbehaviorandgiveshimthecoldshoulder.Therefore,heunlocksthepolicestationandisimmediatelypulledinbythecops.Thefilmendswiththetitle"TheEnd"writtenonatombstonewithKeaton'sporkpiehatproppedonit.
OneofKeaton'smosticonicandbrilliantly-constructedshortfilms,Copswasdeemed"culturally,historically,oraestheticallysignificant"bytheUnitedStatesLibraryofCongressandselectedforpreservationintheirNationalFilmRegistryin1997.