[teddyh]

You seem to think that we disagree on the facts. We do not. It is only your attitude that I have a slight reservation against. Certainly, treat police in person in whatever way allows you to survive. But actually hating them en masse (and doing only that), will only make the problem worse, not better. What will happen is that you will transmit your fear of the police to others, thereby cementing the power police holds. The English word “expect” is problematic here; I certainly do not actually assume that the police always will behave civilized, but I do expect them to, if you see what I mean. It is what should be expected of them by society. It is what I, a citizen, should be able to demand. Having this attitude enables me to insist upon proper behavior (in the appropriate venue, at an appropriate time, of course). But simply hating the police only exacerbates fear and resentment.