Actually, cops don't do any more than that.
If this is the case Mr. Gainer, how about I sit outside of your building with a digital camera, photograph everyone that comes and goes, and circulate such findings
That would be entirely legal, as long as you are in a public area and not obstructing traffic.
You answer this: in a high-mugging area that you had to walk through, would you or would you not be relieved that police were in view?
Yes, sometimes officers and entire PDs blow it and bad. Some of those deserve to have their heads handed to them. But don't forget the ones who do serve as conscientiously as possible but rarely hit the news.