Thanks for your comment.

It’s not as important in other divisions because not only is there less money within reach, what there is is on the books, meaning that if it sticks to somebody’s fingers it could be traced.

I took criminology in graduate school with Jerry Skolnick, who wrote the study of police culture that is still the big dog on the block, Justice Without Trial. Thinking over what you are talking about, I came up with an idea that would kill two social justice birds with one stone.

Have police officers rotate duty with workers in day care centers and nursing homes. On the police end, it pulls the profession back towards kindness. On the other end, it would become easier to pay workers who take care of our children and our elderly what excellent work at those demanding tasks is worth.

Skolnick was right and you are right that it really is a culture problem. Wannabe cops start out with the best of intentions, most of them, but it does not take long to slip into the “us v. them” mindset.