There is really no defending the idea of local police having armored personnel carriers, heavy machine guns, and military gear.
I think it is obvious by now that there is a culture of power abuse in the police.
They are cruising around, basically looking for a reason to use the military gear they have, and when you're so vastly distinct from the people you're trying to protect and the people you're trying to protect society from, it is obvious at least to me that these people would develop fascist tendencies.