[yodsanklai]

> It was constantly full of police but my friends were always able to purchase drugs.

Personal anecdote. A while ago I was mugged while I was walking at 2am in Manhattan (around Union Square). I thought it was particularly safe as I always saw many cops everywhere (even just before I was mugged, and right after).

Not saying police are useless, but retrospectively, I realize that seeing many cops doesn't mean a place is safe but rather the opposite.