Reminds me of this joke:
Two worker see their boss arrive in a fancy car. The older worker sees the envy in his younger colleges eyes and says “You like the car? Well, if you really put in the time - you know, really work hard and do a lot of overtime - for a few years? Just work yourself to the bone. And that might just be enough… for him to buy another.”
What we need is a police force of negotiators and social workers.
A police officer should only get a job after a mandatory time spent as a social worker and a expensive study of law and peaceful conflict resolving.
Before that: no weapons and no authority.
Also accountability: every bullet and every taser use has to be explained. Cams 24/7 on the job, disabling them should be a grounds for immediate expulsion.
Oh and of course, cops should no longer be above the law.
I think this would also scare away a lot of the people who become police officers for the wrong reasons.
Yes, I believe it could be possible to have good cops - it’s just not possible under the current system. Hell, the current system is a deterrent to good cops.