Is the Law Enforcement "decent"?

Throughout watching the Wire, the police have teetered between atrocious and redeemable. When Pryzbylewski hits the "street" kid leaning on his car, and blinds him in one eye, the invisible line between "decent" and "ghetto" is blurred. Moments where the police continuously violate the "code of the Street" complicate characteristics of the Baltimore Police Department. As referenced in the Moskos selection, police are viewed by the "ghetto" through the individuals that then have harmed without warrant. As stated in episode 7, every man has a code, but what happens when the police break their own codes? Moskos also points us to the complex reality of "General Orders"which often conflict with the procedures of law enforcement. Through Tuesday's reading (Feb 5th) we discussed the dichotomy of "decent" and "street" in the context of the Codes of The Street, but are there similar categories for law enforcement?  If so, do these categories hinge on race or are they independent variables? Using characters from the Wire like Hauk and Carver could be placed in both categories and are examples of slipping into "street" when they abuse power as law enforcement, such as busting into houses or going to the towers drunk. However, there are redeemable moments, such as when Hauk stops to talk and listen to what the aunt of a delinquent and really embodies "decent" police work. Overall, I think Smith and Moskos challenge the notion that the police are exempt from indecency. In many ways the dealers are more appealing because their glimpses of hope with redeeming qualities, while some characters tend to squander their role as law enforcement. Once again, the determining factor between the two groups in the law enforcement camp, similar to the street side, is the hope, hope in justice and better lives for the citizens in Baltimore. A perfect example of this hope is embodied in the relationship between Kima and Bubbles. Kima lends her support to Bubbles, viewing him more as a victim of violence and drugs, thus their relationship is based on respect and hope.