In Austin, most the cops were pretty good when I worked there. In Houston, for many years, they were just a gang with the city paying for their colors. I hear they're better, now. In Waco, the county sherrifs started staking out the fireworks stands, and reporting to the fire department. If people drive into Waco with fireworks, they intended to pull them over and write them $200 tickets, as fireworks are illegal in the city (even possession). The fireworks stands set up decoys and gave them empty bags, so all they caught were people who hadn't broken any laws. It was on the front page of the paper, and is turning into a pretty good embarassment. I figure if cops have time to stake out fireworks stands, we've got plenty.
I think part of the problem is who would want to be a cop today when your own department's administration won't back you up if you shoot someone in the line of duty, and it happens to be a politically incorrect shooting (usually white cop, black "victim"). Or just the fact that they investigate every shooting as if the cop is the perpetrator. So, you end up with a ruined career, bad reputation, or even jail. And, again if the locals don't convict you, it can end up with the federals coming after you, like what happened in that scumbucket Rodney King's case. Four good cops ruined, and one scumbucket out there to cause more trouble in the world, which he did. Disgusts me.
IMO, the local PD's are no longer here to protect the public, but to collect revenue for the pols.