I live in Marin County, and they wonder why voters won't pass their bond initiatives.
My father's best friend was a lieutenant in Oakland PD. They were so close he gave my father a "Get out of jail free card". It was just a business card which was signed on the back. If you commited a crime, you pulled out the card; you were let go. My father got out of a DUI with it. (I don't think they are handed out anymore?)
His friend was a level headed cop, a bit liberal for a cop even.
My father always wanted to hear about the big cases, or criminals they caught.
He finally told my father the truth. He told him we play chess in the basement for a good part of the day. He wasen't a beat cop. He was up their in rank.
My father was incredulous. He just didn't like the idea of government employees not out fighting crime.
I remember telling my father, I'd rather have a cop by a landline, rather than zooming around irritating citizens with pesky driving citations.
We finally agreed on something.