"Whereas COPS etc were more effective at ginning up public support for brutal policing." This is hugely speculative, in fact, I would argue just the opposite:

"Whereas COPS etc were more effective at ginning up public support for brutal policing." This is hugely speculative, in fact, I would argue just the opposite: if anything, it shows how ugly, grinding, boring and hugely 'social' policing is, as opposed to anything physical. It's literally about dealing with really weird and sketchy people in difficult situations all day every day.