Well, when the police refuse to do their basic duty which is to protect and serve, then a free people must take that on for themselves. Arm up.
________________
Ummm. The basic duty of the police, as upheld by the Supreme court is to enforce the law.
That is it.
And the elite decide what is the law.
I see so in your world failing to maintain order is not derilection. They may legally not have a duty to protect but to vacate the streets to vandals is IMO malfeasance.