Like most organisations though - a reputation takes many to build positively and only a few to ruin.
Policing in my area sometimes really annoys me. For example, there is a lane in a town near me that only buses and taxis are allowed through between 9-6. A couple of days ago, the police were issuing fines to cars as they came round the corner in this lane. OK, it serves the drivers right for going through the lane when they shouldn't have been but had the coppers walked 50 paces round the corner the could have PREVENTED people from doing this. They were being reactive rather than proactive.
My friend is a cop and asked for the day off recently - her senior 'joked' if she caught two people on their mobile phones she could have it off. I have also heard of other cops having competitions to see who could get the most in one day. On the other side I recognise there are many decent cops who wouldn't do such things. I know there are many coppers on here will offer first hand insight.
The point I am making is a reputation can be ruined by a few while others a re working hard to make a real difference.