Since the crap when!? Last I checked, police and most of their superiors aren't subject to recalls or indeed any accountability whatsoever.

(Would be an interesting scenario.. individual officers elected on popular vote..)

The police are accountable to elected representatives. Therefore the taxpayers are responsible for their police dept., and owe money to the victims when their police go astray. I chose my town in part because of its professional police dept., which in turn implies smart voters.