I wonder how much of that is a result of the TV Cop Show effect? For decades now, we've had shows that portray suspects as certainly guilty, just in need of the proving. If the suspect gets away, it's due to "technicalities", and particularly "edgy" shows will paint cops as heroes who frame/murder such people. Confessions coerced out of suspects through intimidation or physical torture are portrayed as "walking a moral line", rather than being COMPLETELY over into FLIPPING ILLEGAL.
Ah, yes. The TV Cop. They're never wrong, never excessively violent, never need permission to "do their job", work happily with any TLA, have affairs with coworkers, glamorize the dirty cop, ...
I don't think I've ever seen a routine traffic stop on TV. Maybe it's not TV-worthy. But if a five-year-old asks me, "What do cops do?", which version do I give them?
