>>We need them. But this is getting ridiculous. <<
Not really. Police are an invention of the last 200 years or so. Cops these days are basically secretaries with guns. If someone is committing a crime against you, YOU are the one that will prevent it. All the cops will do is come by later and try to get info to catch the guy.
Their job was to protect a space set aside for certain uses. Many of them had the authority to execute violators on the spot.
I think things have gotten better.
200 yrs is a long time in the modern world. What was this woman supposed to do, start a firefight?