What is going on with the cops and why are we all of the sudden hearing so many stories about them?
Such stories have been released in the media for decades. Free Republic has chonicled abuses by bad cops for years.
If there is a perceived increase, it is probably due (in part) to the fact that more people have cameras and other recording devices on their phones and other personal devices and are willing to use them to record what happens.
Also, with the internet, we can read about incidents in another city and state whereas before, only the most major cases would have gotten interstate attention.
Can't answer your question, but I recall during the Rodney King riots that then Police Chief Darryl Gates expressed his frustration that standards had dropped because of affirmative action.
Trainees who would not have made the grade were pushed through because of the "quota" system.