Were there so few convictions because so little criminality was revealed - or because these guys protect their own?
The LAPD is an ongoing criminal conspiracy. They rob banks, deal drugs, collect protection money, steal evidence, plant evidence and kill people.
If you think that was somehow limited to 10 years ago and it has all been rainbows and roses from that time - you are living in a dream world.
Wake up!
I'm probably going to regret engaging you further, but seriously, no, "The LAPD" clearly, without question, unequivocally does not rob banks, deal drugs, collect protection money, steal evidence, plant evidence, or gratuitiously kill people. You're maybe thinking of the TJ policia? Or Los Federales en Mexico? Or the Saudi Religious police?
Back in the day, before the advent of quota hiring Rafael Perez, David Mack, Kevin Gains, et. al. would never have made it through the background process. They are they guys, by the way, who did some of the things you attribute to the organization. And they got caught (by the LAPD), prosecuted (by the DA, with extensive detective bureau and managment support from the LAPD at the highest levels), and put in jail. They remain apostate to this day; i've yet to meet an LAPD officer who expresses anything but the greatest scorn for those turds, usually in the most colorful language they can manage. Nonetheless, the backgrounds are back in place, and have been for over a decade. LAPD learned from those errors (as did their political masters at city hall), and while there are still challenges, those egregious hiring decisions are a thing of the past. Don't believe me? Send in your application. Send us a note back and let us know how far you get. It's ok, we'll wait....
That said, the LAPD employs, in round numbers, 13,000 people. Some fish are going to get through the net, but no agency does more to ferret out wrongdoing in its own ranks than they do, which, frankly, is a lot.
So, the point, I suppose in trying to enage, is this: do you really object to the LAPD, or do you object to the concept of policing itself? Or do you just object to the concept of providing order to what remains of our culture, our values, and our Republic? Will it be OK when the really, truely, actually brutal policies, of say, Los Federales is brought here, after the reconquista?