But does their hiding make sense?
Few things will make people more angry and vengeful toward them all than when just one of them does something like this.
The subconscious thinking goes something like this, "If one does it, they all are bad and everyone of them deserves whatever bad shite that comes their way."
One bad apple spoils the PR and good relations for them all and lowers them all to that bad one's level in the minds of those who, once upon a time, they were to serve and protect.
Whatever happened to those days of my not so distant youth?
Say rather, the thinking goes “if one does it, and he is denounced and appropriately disciplined (fired & criminal charges), then the problem is with the officer, not the department. If one does it, and he is not named by his department nor does his department fire and imprison him for his crimes, then the department is to blame.”
When the department does not do so, the implication is that the entire department is littered with those who have repeatedly violated the Constitution, and they wish their crimes to remain hidden.
“If cops were human and smart”
Now that is funny!
They fear being shot by their own close brothers if they start trying to clean the ranks. You know, that’s why only cops should have guns.
“they would lead the charge to prosecute the offenders within their ranks “
If they did that and took steps to stop the trigger happy serial killer wannabees in their ranks I’d have no problem with them, but they hide behind that “Blue Line” Us-Against-Them nonsense.