In the early 70’s some kids I knew from school were riding mini-bikes in an empty lot in an industrial park near my parent’s house. A local police officer came by and said they couldn’t do that, put the mini-bike in the trunk of the squad car (a Plymouth) and drove off. The kid’s dad went by the station to get the bike. “What bike?” asked the police.
A nearby ranch allows the Sheriff’s department to shoot there. You can always tell when they are there, not by the shooting but by the speeding cars and clouds of dust as they come and go. Do as I say not as I do.
Odd what that does for your respect for authority especially when they haven’t any.
Despite that, I was sitting in a Taco Bell watching a police officer stop a vehicle. The drivers was obviously wanted for something. As the officer tried to cuff him he took a swing at the cop. The cop struck him in the head several times with what looked like a sap with no affect. The guy ran off with the cop in pursuit. I ran out and tackled the guy for the cop as he came by. I thought I would be in trouble, but he and the other officers were appreciative. Surprisingly some of these guys don’t fight well.
I've had a few encounters when younger, where cops are on the take for themselves. Was with some buddies when we got stopped by cops. They automatically start rummaging in the car looking for stuff, popped the trunk and inquired about the tool chest in there. My friend Bobby says he doesn't know about it, someone else left it there. They pop it open and it's full of illegal fireworks, M-80s, barrel bombs, rockets etc. "Not yours?". "Nope" says Bobby. So the cops open the trunk of the police car, and dump all the fireworks into their trunk. Then they ask Bobby, "You want your tool chest back?". Bobby says "Sure.". And off they went. Cops must have enjoyed using those fireworks with their own families.