All Cases Involved Friends?

This show was on when I was only 4 to 8 years old. I remember it being on but not much detail. I've been watching episodes on MeTV starting part way through the 2nd season. Is it just me or did every case in the time frame start with one of their friends or acquaintances?

I thought they were supposed to be a special team given special cases. I've yet to see them assigned a case. They seem to just use the department to help their friends. Julie's old teacher attacked for her stance on sex education. The daughter of the Captains friend who is distraught after watching a drunk she allowed to sky dive fall to his death. Pete making friends with a Native American who is then wrongly accused of murder. It goes on and on.

Hopefully they'll have an official case soon.

Added one week after my initial post:

Okay, the same trend continues. There was a murder that the Captain was called in on but before he contacts the team Pete and Linc find the victims teenage son in the park. The son is the prime suspect but is mentally challenged and can't remember or communicate anything about the murder.

Next, Julie is on vacation, (driving a massive Chrysler or Dodge sedan) up in the mountains when she is taken hostage by a man who has kidnapped his son from the mother. Both of them were exposed to Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever and contract the disease. Of course the Captain, Pete and Linc find out and rush to save her.