Looking up prior convictions seems necessary to establishing the credibility of someone filing a police report. You shouldn't be able to use the police to resol

Looking up prior convictions seems necessary to establishing the credibility of someone filing a police report. You shouldn't be able to use the police to resolve crimes against you, yet expect yourself immune to the same legal system in which you seek benefit. This is particularly pernicious in communities where trust in the police is low, because if you "break rank" you can force the police onto the community, but the community as a whole can't benefit from what you bring to the police.