I think, one of the reasons that, there are so many "Cop-Bashers" out there, because Law Enforcement Offices/Agents scare them. Some scare the heck out of me.
Example: Girl gets mad at her boyfriend, calls the cops, and tells them he beat her. Boyfriend gets balled up and tossed in the slammer till he sees the magistrate. Magistrate says he can go home, but the police pick him up the next morning at his home and back to lockup and see a judge. The case was dismissed, because the girlfriend showed up to court with a stick that she claimed he beat her with, but the arresting officer had logged another stick as evidence already.
He lost his job because of a lie (security clearance/attendance issues because of the arrest and confinment time). You say it can’t happen? I’ll give you his name and number, so he can tell you first hand. Yeah, I know it wasn’t the LEO’s fault, but the system is set up so that on the word of one person, it can be abused, and shatter a bright career with a good company for one man. Scary stuff huh? That’s the power law enforcement/courts holds, and it’s not perfect.
I’m not a cop basher and, I shoot with many officers from my area. The one’s I know are good people, but when on the job few seem like the sort you want to be friends with. I’m reminded of something I was told once “Lead by shining example or rule by fear, are the only good ways to handle subordinates.†Guess, which one is easier to do?
Those are some reasons why I believe there is a rift between citizens and law enforcement in my opinion, and worth as much as it costs.