Yes. The police have squandered their moral capital. We're not talking about Andy Griffith here. I view them more as those strutting about, ordering bystanders to turn off their cameras, beating someone on the ground, telling them to stop resisting, handcuffing those they shot to death in the back to make things look legitimate, and tampering with evidence.
The discussion is not about whether the cops have moral authority or are the good guys. That’s utterly irrelevant to this case.
The question is whether police engaged in actual combat must follow the legalistic rules appropriate for less-intense situations.
I think it is ludicrous to think that a policeman cannot follow a fleeing suspect into a house without a warrant, or take cover as need be when engaged in a firefight.
With the exception of such dire needs arising out of exigent circumstances, I’m right there with you on the need to get our police under control.
BTW, I’m curious how exactly “handcuffing those they shot to death in the back” helps “to make things look legitimate.” Do you have an explanation for that?