Police department

I have suggested in the past that the Washington bureaucracy has become a forth branch of government and it has been gaining in power over the past 40 plus years. Today's news has brought similar problem in focus on the municipal level and that involves the police departments. It starts with the police union which is strong enough to influence the election of local district attorneys. These officers of the court then become indebted to the police and it makes it difficult to convict police of crimes. It also makes it very difficult to discharge police for improper actions. This is similar to other public unions such as the teachers union. The police departments in many cities have grown into powerful forces which the city officials find complicated and difficult work with. This may be an area to reform by having the DA appointed by the mayor.