I lived in Chile for a couple years too, and while I knew cool carabineros and didn't have much trouble with them myself I've seen points of view that are way different. I think every system has good and bad eggs, but sometimes the organization and system established can either discourage or encourage poor behavior to some degree.

Funny anecdote I heard in a poor part of Santiago. A guy stabbed another guy during a futbol match. When the carabineros arrived they got the victim to a hospital and everything, but then they pinned the guy to the fence and let every other player in the game give him a good punch.

I think just about anywhere in the US would do. I've lived all over California in the last decade, and while the police out here aren't perfect, they are saints compared to the description of the Chicago PD in this thread.

LAPD and SFPD are under constant scandal, OaklandPD have been under federal control for years. You don't know what you're talking about wrt California police probably because you're white and wealthy.

"Constant scandal" with on par with Chicago PD? I don't think so...

In my limited experience, the larger suburban areas are better (though far from perfect) with respect to police interaction than either cities or small towns (including rural areas).

Big cities tend to have similar problems as Chicago. Small towns and rural areas seem to ripe for petty abuses and also generating revenue via excessive traffic stops.

I grew up in the VA suburbs, and the police were terrible. Not systematic corruption like in Chicago or New York, but petty traffic stops and an awful attitude.

Honestly, if I have to deal with corruption, and all the other stuff, I'll at least have nice weather with it at this point. Central coast California, Boulder, CO, etc.

I've had nothing but overly positive experiences with police in Austin.

The difference after moving from the North East is glaring.