She Didn't Reckon With the Awesome Power of the Chief of Police (Updated)

This isn't about irresponsible parenting. It's about insufficient deference to the police.

Whatever the situation, the cop thinks either that they're absolutely right or that you ought to overlook their mistakes because they mean well and after all they're people entitled to mistakes like everyone else so shut up.

Except that everyone else doesn't get to make the rules. And I do mean "make," because as a matter of practical daily life the cops are the arbiters of right and wrong. They are the ones who apply the laws—at their discretion: they ignore laws when they want to, and they stretch them when they want to. Whatever your legal record looks like in the end, the cops have the power to mete out instant punishment (public embarrassment, personal indignity, time-consuming hassles of all sorts). You, insolent citizencivilian, will do as you are told or you will be disciplined.

Full disclosure: I have a blood relative who's a cop.

UPDATE, 3 Oct.:
This article is interesting for its acknowledgement that cops are not up to speed on absolutely everything over which they have authority. I am glad to see it. Cops do make mistakes, but the thing is that they rarely admit it, and that's why the overbearing exercise of statutory authority is problematic: The Cop is Always Right, Even When They're Wrong. This often comes up with respect to photography as well.