I've known a LOT of cops

[The Velveteen Ocelot]

127. I have known some as well, and all but a couple were decent, ordinary people.

But I think the job tends to attract authoritarian (and sometimes racist) types who enjoy exercising power over others, and it's up to police department management to screen out the ones who are likely to abuse their authority. In some departments, unfortunately, management also has the same outlook. And, since all human institutions are like fish - they rot from the head - if management encourages or even allows a culture that permits their officers to be abusive, the ones who lean in that direction anyhow will take full advantage. And even the "nice" ones can be corrupted, so that even if they don't misbehave themselves they won't try to stop the ones who do.

My own experiences with the local police have been only positive. But I'm a white, middle class person with no criminal record, not even a parking ticket. I am very well aware that this department has some officers who would not be quite so pleasant and helpful if I didn't fall within that demographic.