I'd wager quite a few of the smarter ones realize it completely, and enjoy the fear it puts into the little people. They enjoy the hate, too, because it gives them a convenient excuse for treating civilians like crap. "They hate us anyway, may as well shoot the dog as a precaution."
Of course, the liberals are happy with this development; everytime a bad cop gets away with it, the other corrupt cops are encouraged to commit such crimes.
I wonder if the defend-bad-cops-no-matter-what crowd here realizes what will happen when the bad cops turn on their own defenders.
“Thank you for your service, Citizen. Your services are no longer required.”