Was season 5 inspired by the Zodiac case and Dave Tosci?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lUyxf2GyL0
I watched this video a few years ago and found it funny and very wire-esque how the lead detective Dave Tosci, as they state at 0:55, was reassigned to the pawn shop unit after posting fan letters posing as the killer. Not only do they mention the pawn shop unit, where both Tosci and Lester are sent as punishment. But the whole scandal of pretend letters from a serial killer draws the mind to McNulty's plot in season 5 and how he fakes letters from a serial killer, among other things, to try to keep funding for the BPD. This is similar to Tosci's reasoning for sending the phony letters aswell. Is this just a funny coincidence or possible inspiration? I at least assume that sending good police to the pawn shop unit is common practice and probably a coincidence but it is pretty interesting anyhow.