@layman,
You're right relative to police bullies in Philly and elsewhere. I tend to be defensive of the police because a) Most of them are good people who want to do a good job b) Their critics can't help but spout hyperbolic generalizations that are divorced from reality c) More than once, the reflexive caterwauling about murderous cops has been grossly incorrect - Witness Ferguson and the fact that there are still no few cretins insisting that an innocent man was gunned down by a homicidal cop and d) In most cases, it is the quintessential crap-ass job that somebody has to do, and which the loudest and most strident critics would never attempt. One solution to the problem of rogue cops, I would think, is for all the crusaders who are so concerned about the treatment of young black men by cops; to, themselves, become cops. Since they obviously know just how policing in rough, crime ridden places should be properly done, their joining PDs across the country (but specifically in urban centers of poverty) would be a huge boon for justice and young black men.
The job of a cop in a big city sucks. I would never do it. They aren't paid enough for performing such an important function and with the constant risk of being injured or killed . They are surrounded, on a daily basis, by the dregs of our society, and not only witness the worst conduct of which humans are capable, but charged with dealing it with. Unlike the rest of us, they can't quickly turn their heads and walk away from the sight of the aftermath of some heinous crime...they have to immerse themselves in the gore and depravity.
They are under intense scrutiny from a generally hostile media, and reliably hostile liberal politicians and "community activists." Any time a member of a minority is shot and/or killed, there is a very widespread presumption that the cop did so because he or she is a racist rogue. Even if this is true, the cops who are not bad will still be tarred with the same brush and be required to simply stand and take the literally "in your face" obscenity laden squalling of demonstrators. For those cops who are innocent of the hysterical charges, the chances are pretty good that their lives are either turned upside down or ruined, despite exoneration. Some leave the force; some feel forced to relocate to a neighborhood where they can feel that their families are safe. The media barely mentions the fact that these cops and their families receive numerous death threats, incidents of valandalism, and general harassment. If such actions were directed at the family of the perpetrator injured or killed by the cop, it would be headline news. Vile claims about them are plastered on social media, and every ass-hat on the internet thinks he or she knows enough about the cop or the situation to proudly pronounce that the cop needs to burn in hell or be subject to treatment that, if it was meted out to a criminal, would drive them insane with outrage.
(These ass-hats, BTW, are everywhere and shooting off their vile mouths about all sorts of things. I am constantly bemused by the cretins who claim to be so big-hearted and loving towards animals, but who will wish the most cruel of fates on not only anyone who they believe has abused an animal, but anyone who dares to suggest they might be wrong in what constitutes abuse. You'll find the same thing with on-line critics of parents who don't match up to the ass-hat's profiles of the perfect mom or dad)
But, while I tend to defend cops, I'm well aware that there is a significant number of bad eggs who should not hold the job. I don't know whether or not if, proportionately, there are more bad eggs in policing than other professions (I would guess not), but any number of them in law enforcement is significant because of the disproportionate harms they can cause. Proportionately there may be as many or more bad egg Trash Collectors or Store Clerks than bad cops, but no one is worried about rouge garbage men or slimy 7-11 slurpy sellers.
I think it safe to say that there are plenty of people who are drawn to the profession by the promise of wielding power not available to the average citizen. I suspect most of these folks turn out to be bad eggs, and most of the cops who are bad eggs are so because of a desire to exercise power. I'm also pretty sure there is a fair number of cops who go bad because of the stress of the job and the constant exposure to the worst people have to offer. It doesn't excuse any abusive acts they commit, but to the extent that it is the case, it's something policie officials need to be aware of and guard against.
Most of us have learned what we know about cops and police procedures from the plethora of cop shows on TV. Obviously this isn't a reliably authoritative source. Some of these show depict a process whereby the PD has staff or associated psychologists who attempt to intervene and assist cops who are going down hill because of job stress, however if the PDs in urban centers are anything like all the other government bureaucracies, the quality and pay of the psychologists are low, there aren't enough, of them to properly do the job, and the entire process is as much distrusted as welcome by the cops themselves.
I have yet to see anyone argue that all cops are shining Paladins for Justice. Most of those who strongly criticize cops however, will only begrudgingly admit that it isn't the case that 100% of them are bad eggs, but then they will usually throw in that the ones who don't commit the offenses themselves are just as bad if they don't rat out the guys upon whom their lives could easily depend.
Everyone loves Frank Serpico (or at least his myth), but part of his story is all the grief he had to endure because of his firm adherence to principles. Cops, like everyone else, including their critics, are not perfect, and will often take the path of least resistance...especially when the resistance on the preferred path is brutal.
The critics of police will often argue "Well, if they find the job too tough to do properly, they should quit." I agree that they should quit, but then I don't know why any of these people join or stay on the force. Of course "just quitting" is not quite as easy as the critics imply. Far more than one of these folks is, I'm sure, perversely stuck in a destructive situation from which they can't seem to be able to extricate themselves, even though they know they should.
For the moral relativists that most of these critics are, and particularly when it comes to criminals, it's ironic how absolutist they become when the subject is cop behavior.
Bad cops are a big problem and extraordinary efforts should be made to purge them from PD, because of the extraordinary danger they present, but there is no more benefit to be gained from generalizing, exaggeration, prejudging, and demonizing than there is as respect young black men.
