Unfortunately it's a very distressing, and depressing subject once you become aware of it, and start digging into it.
Can't tell you what to think. If anyone does, I'd very seriously question them. Me personally, I know I'm more afraid of cops than any other group of people.
Why? Because I'm a generally law abiding, careful guy. I don't go looking for trouble, I avoid trouble areas, and being a reasonably big guy, I'm not likely to attract a mugger.
Even if I do I'll hand over my wallet, and cell phone without question... nothing I carry is difficult to replace, my phone is locked & backed up, credit cards can be cancelled within the hour, and I very rarely have over $200 on me in cash. IMO it's nothing worth getting hurt, or hurting someone over.
Unfortunately cops are not something I can avoid. I pass by 1-4 on a daily basis, in just a 30 mile commute every day.
Also unfortunately, while they are usually just out to make their quota, (whether arrests, or tickets) it's not as easy to get away from one if he wants to be a @$$.
What we're seeing, is a very very dangerous trend that is accelerating, of for profit policing, that is being augmented by the federal government also practically handing out military hardware. We've always had a for profit judiciary. Our jails, and prisons are now for profit. Now this is trickling down to even the small police departments, and for profit policing is becoming a fact of life. Violent crime is down. Police departments are more bloated then ever. This means they have to "crack down" on administrative crimes.
Add to that them getting military hardware. As the old adage goes... if all you have is a hammer, every problem turns into a nail. As we can see in ferguson, if they have this hardware, they will use it. Doesn't matter if there is cause to use it.
There is internal affairs though, right? Unfortunately no. It's more of a joke. Most IA complaints are dismissed, if they even get that far, as the cop simply being "discourteous". Never mind that the discourtesy could mean a false arrest for you, a criminal record, a beating, and lots of money for a lawyer who you really can't afford.
There are prosecutors though right? DA's and judges who will keep the cops honest.
Good luck with that. The prosecutors are the same guys the cops work with on a regular basis. They are colleagues, friends, and sometimes even family. Forgoing that obvious bias that you have going against you, you also have to consider that from a legal standpoint, should it ever come down to your word against that of a cop, you're out of luck.
Going even further, the courts have been very consistent in expanding police powers, eroding the protections offered to you under the 1st, 4th, 5th, etc,. (As of this summer cops in Pennsylvania no longer need a search warrant to search your car for example.)
I'm getting off on a few tangents, my post is turning into a bit of a rambling rant, so I'll conclude with this. Cops, the people who are supposed to protect you, and uphold the law, have killed more people than terrorist, since 2001.
You should be afraid, you should avoid them.
If you are interacting with a cop;
-Record the encounter. Record your encounter, record that of anyone who is with you, who gets stuck talking to cops.
Do you have the right to record a police officer? The answer is unequivocally yes. Don't be a jerk about it. Keep your distance. If you're told to back up, do it, and document how far you moved back.
Make sure your phone is password protected, have the camera rolling, if you need your hands free, stick it in your pocket, it will at least get audio. (You can setup a dropbox account for free, and have your videos and photos upload as soon as you take them. DO IT. There are also apps, like FiveO to stream to drop box as it's happening. How many examples does one need to see, of police reports that contradict video evidence? How many cases of police homicide, and abuse do we never hear about because there was no camera rolling? No need to look to Rodney king... just look at the man killed in new york this summer. Had there not been a camera there, you can bet the cop would be out on the street right now.)
-Am I being detained? Am I free to go? - Be a broken record if you have to be. If you are not being detained, you are free to go. If you are free to go, you are not being detained. Get an answer, and if it's good, start walking away slowly. DO NOT RUN.
-Do you have to provide an ID? Maybe, check your state laws. Usually you do not if you are not driving.
-You do have to identify yourself. Name, Date of birth, address. That should cover you, but again check your state laws. It could be easier to to just hand over an ID though.
-Never consent to anything. SAY IT: I do not consent to any searches. I am exercising my right to remain silent, and SHUT UP.
DO NOT SAY ANYTHING. Don't talk to them. There is this horrible myth that once you're in handcuffs you have to be mirandized or it's inadmissible. That's simply not true. You will only be advised of your Miranda rights IF they choose to proceed from you being detained to you being arrested, and even then, only if they want to interview you, to find out something more. You can be held for up to 24 hours, or more, if it's over a holiday or weekend, without being charged. Don't do anything stupid while you're in custody. You're on their turf, and they have every advantage, including knowing exactly where the camera blind spots are so they can beat the shit out of you.
/Rant.