Isn't it sad when a guy who loves his work doesn't love the people he does it for? I mean, you must not care for the leadership that tasks your outfit if you want to leave it, which means you have lost respect for the very people in charge of one of the most respected professions in America, police officers. My sister is a deputy, and while she respects many she works with, she has lost all respect for her superiors.
My best friend's dad who retired a few years ago after 30 years on the force, told me some stories that were just out and out bizarre. Cops giving rides to drunks, Cops taking care of their communities, instead of filling quotas. Police being treated with respect because they were pretty well the best, and most trustworthy. My friend's dad was that kind of cop. He is my friend, and never once lied to me about anything. If I ever had any questions, or had any ideas about my community, he answered them Truthfully.
Today's police force, is a lot different. There are good cops, and there are bad cops. The good ones, seem to be uncannily good, and bad, well... we see them all the time. I've met 2 bad cops in my entire life, the rest were great, and some of the best guys on the planet. However.. It's those 2 bad cops, that can really make a bad impression on you, and leave that impression indelible, so that you don't like even the good cops.
What can be done to improve public and Police Relations? I'd say first, get rid of the bureaucracy, and politics. The police should just enforce the laws, and not meet quotas. The average police officer should be empowered to make his own decisions, and make his own calls on each infraction. Rather than adopt a mass punishment mentality. Sensitivity training, is not an answer, a better answer is to make the public aware of who these people are, what they represent, and to respect authority. That way, the average law abiding citizen isn't having a bad time at the hands of police. Let the police save that for the real criminal element.
I'd much rather see a cop do his or her job, make the right decisions, and be able to go home at night feeling like they made the right decisions. As opposed to someone who follows every letter of the law, and is nothing more than a mindless thug of a police state.