I haven't been to LA, but it's been pretty uniform where I've lived - police are typically poorly educated and on the scene judges for complicated issues. They aren't lawyers...many aren't college grads. They won't be held accountable for being wrong most of the time and they can't be - we're telling them to act as on scene arbitrators for legal issues they aren't trained to understand. You get through the encounter and appeal afterwards. Bright, educated people generally would never want that job - it's difficult, dangerous and dirty. You're dealing with the pond scum of humanity most of the time and you aren't getting the best and brightest. Mistakes are to be expected.