The problem is that few will agree on what it is that cops are paid to do. My oath of office required me to enforce the laws of the state as enacted without favor or prejudice.
The trouble begins, even in the best run agencies, when those laws are unpopular or people think that the laws shouldn’t apply to them or apply their own Constitutional interpretation that doesn’t align with those of the courts. Then the cops are jack booted thugs who need killing. There are more than a few people here who think that way.
Now that having been said, there are too many (and even one is too many) LEOs and even whole agencies who are ill-disciplined, incompetent, corrupt, gratuitously brutal, arrogant and who act as though the Constitutions of the US and the states are something to be gamed, twisted, tortured and evaded. A disturbing number of these are Federal. This is why the duly elected representatives of the people must take an active role in setting and demanding adherence to high standards of performance and conduct. The electorate in turn must hold their representatives accountable for this responsibility.
“This is why the duly elected representatives of the people must take an active role in setting and demanding adherence to high standards of performance and conduct. The electorate in turn must hold their representatives accountable for this responsibility.”
Therein lies the problem! The “duly elected representatives of the people” are themselves among the primary violators of the very laws they write for the rest of us. Insider Trading, not illegal for your Congressman, but it is for you as an example.
Cops are the quintessential go along to get along group.
I have no issue with good cops who honor their oaths and act reasonably. Its the lack of honesty, accountability, and honor that is displayed by far too many police officers in this country.