"I have friends who are cops.They totally hate this, and think this is one of the dumbest things they have ever been asked to do."
maybe your "friends the cops" would rather pick up pieces of human flesh and place them in an evidence bag?
hmmmmmmm
quite the contrary, although I don't believe a word you said about cops not wanting to "protect and serve" by checking bags; the "dumbest thing" I've heard is your post!
It might be the 2nd dumbest thing after your post.
They might want to protect and serve, they don't like having one arm tied behind their backs and that is whats going to happen, they know it, everyone knows it, and only a fool wouldn't realize it.
Just taking a stab at this, but NYPD cops may view the random search as fruitless. Little old women and babies are not terrorist bombers - searching them means nothing. Profiling is a tool that is not being used in NY - although it is used effectively in many other law enforcement capacities.
I may be wrong, but I know cops don't like to waste their time.