[lotsofmangos]

You may want to temper that desire with the thought that it does sound as though, motivated as they were, the police did about the same as the original thugs, to a variety of other people, without finding anyone.

edit - The German general Kurt von Hammerstein-Equord was quoted as saying;

"I divide my officers into four groups. There are clever, diligent, stupid, and lazy officers. Usually two characteristics are combined. Some are clever and diligent -- their place is the General Staff. The next lot are stupid and lazy -- they make up 90 percent of every army and are suited to routine duties. Anyone who is both clever and lazy is qualified for the highest leadership duties, because he possesses the intellectual clarity and the composure necessary for difficult decisions. One must beware of anyone who is stupid and diligent -- he must not be entrusted with any responsibility because he will always cause only mischief."

These police in this story are definitely in the stupid and diligent section of Kurt's matrix.

[hypertexthero]

I've recently [experienced][1] the latter type of policeman here in Rome.

[1]: http://simongriffee.com/notebook/police-aggression-coercion-...