> We are talking past each other.
Well, be more clear and maybe we could avoid it :) In some US states, the police are legally allowed to lie, it's not forbidden for them to do so. In some other states and outside countries, they are allowed, in others, they're not.
Was it so hard just to lead with this?
Indeed. That was a much better response – and there was no call for laughing their ass off at a genuine question. They may have been laughing at the concept of a police force that doesn’t lie to citizens but it still came across as a rude response.
There are two truths:
1. It is forbidden by law in many places (including the US).
2. They will get away with it regardless, in nearly every case. So often that practically speaking it's allowed