[PhatHead]

I agree with your clarification, but I would add that police officers who violate 4th Amendment protections (even of the guilty) should face more than a slap on the wrist, otherwise the amendment offers no protection in practice.

[inquest]

As I see it, they should be subject to the same laws as everyone else, unless they get a warrant (subject to the restrictions on warrants outlined in the 4th). That doesn't mean that they automatically get punished in the absence of a warrant, but that they're subject to the same legal process that any citizen would be who did the same thing. If it crosses the line into criminality, then county prosecutors should be able to go after state cops, and state prosecutors should be able to go after local cops. If necessary, accomodations should be made for qualified private attorneys to prosecute them.