Do not believe the local cops will be on the side of the people if the shtf. A deputy told me today that people need to “respect my authority”. And he did look a little like Cartman.
It varies from locale to locale.
In Olympia, Washington a few days ago the cops yawned as protestors violated a new gun regulation initiative in plain sight. The reason: the police liked the crazy law no better than the “gun nuts” did.