Frankly, my tolerance for BS is a lot higher than most Americans' -- I very seldom go for help to the cops. And the one time when I did need help, they were most likely complicit in my vehicle being stolen from impound and exported. Less useful than nipples on a boar.

I take a dim view of cops, especially those in the DC area who seem to be more interested in harassing people and breaking up demonstrations than actually helping ordinary people.