[socalgal2]

> you absolutely do not want to have anything to do with the police to help solve your problems in the society

this is commonly said in the USA as well

[henearkr]

Ah ok, I see.

Maybe I rather have (had) the notion of police as it exists in the UK or some European countries.

There was the French "police de proximité" who acted as friendly allies (it seems it was dismantled in 2003, unfortunately).