For many of us, that is what we did. That is often not up to the officers. Say for example we cut out the revenue generation for the city or county? Who do you think is driving that b.s. ? That is the same asshole politicians whining now about police enforcement. You think most cops give two shits about people selling cigarettes and crap like that? How about citrus and floral crimes? I was basically booted out of a unit because we were so successful at actually arresting almost exclusively in progress felonies in numbers never seen before that we were moved to the COPS unit that was federally funded and worked bullshit like illegal aliens selling flowers and oranges at off ramps while my team was deep in the ghetto or barrio every night getting guns and dope sellers who were making life miserable for the decent folks who lived there. The breaking point for me and what got me ousted was a worthless yellow LT. who wanted us to go to schools to read books to little kids instead of doing actual cop stuff. We had tons of officers working overtime doing nothing but writing seatbelt tickets for a federal grant while patrol was understaffed for actually answering calls for service. Reality check-most of what the politicians and the liberal press are bitching about today was wholly created by them.
Want to know why I am in favor of privatized security contractors....because the job will be one thing, keeping the community of people who can afford it safe and protected with no pressure or mission creep based on money generation or doing social work projects.