I’m not yet that pessimistic. I think it’s more a matter of particular police departments and particular policemen/women. Even an in an antigun state like NJ, where I obtained my permit to purchase a hand gun, you can find both helpful and obstructionist police departments and policemen/women.
In NJ it is almost impossible for an ordinary citizen to obtain a CCP. However, the town police officer who over saw the gun purchase permit program could not have been more helpful. She advised me if there was a bottleneck it would be the State Police part of the vetting process. As it turned out I had my permit in about a week. Perhaps my having been career military had something to do with it as my life was an open book and on record.
Unfortuntely and all too often the wrong people seek and are selected for police officers. By that I mean it seems people who were bullys as kids go for law enforcement. I believe it’s a means for these miscreants to satisfy their need for power over other people. Harless was undoubtedly one of these people.
Bottom line: I still try to judge each police departmemnt and police officer individually. I will support and respect them until they prove unworthy.
To a resident of Florida, such as myself, this sounds like you lionizing the cop that snagged you in his speed trap because he ticketed you for a lower speed than he claims to have clocked you at.....
Is it "legal?" Sure. But it's no less legal if he's a prick about it. The problem is the will to enforce "legal gamesmanship," not the comportment with which that enforcement is carried out.