Originally Posted by
Global Adventurer
I don't know what country you live in, but in the the U.S. for example there is a percentage of police officers within every level of government that are corrupt. From the beat officer, detectives and the chief of police. Beat officers accepting on the spot payments in lieu of issuing traffic violations and planting evidence. Detectives planting and manufacturing evidence and perjury during trials. Police evidence custodians stealing evidence, especially drugs. Police Chiefs covering up evidence. At one time for example, the police officers in New Orleans were as corrupt as they get. Probably close to the same level as in Mexico You get stopped on the road...just take out your money and you'll be on your way. This stuff happens all across the U.S. And most crimes on persons like personal robbery, theft and pickpockets are usually never solved worldwide. Those are small fishes.
Of course, corruption exists within law enforcement, but it's nothing like JDiver describes in Mexico. (I also get that there are groups in U.S. society that have historically bad relations with the police, but that's getting into OMNI territory here.) These "Is it safe to travel to ______?" discussions always bring out a "These things can happen at home too!" response. No. The police in the U.S. are not kidnapping citizens and forcing them to withdraw cash from the ATM.