Rome: Armed To The Teeth (1976)

aka’s: Roma A Mano Armata/Assault With A Deadly Weapon/Brutal Justice/The Tough Ones

Inspector Leonardo Tanzi (Maurizio Merli) is a tough detective working the dangerous streets of Rome. His violent method of dealing with criminals is brutal but very effective. He becomes enraged that most of the criminals he catches are released within only a few hours, only to repeat their crimes shortly afterward. Soon Tanzi is taken off the gang-control squad and placed at a desk job by his boss who is not happy with Tanzi’s violent procedures. Consequently, with Tanzi off the streets the gangsters start a wild crime wave, causing widespread corruption and anarchy in the streets. Banks are robbed, children are kidnapped, people are killed and it’s all up to Tanzi to set things straight.

On March 10, 1989, Maurizio Merli overexerted himself in a tennis match and died of myocardial infarction at the age of 49, despite being a health enthusiast.