84,
I've had communication with some police with a bad attitude also, nobody is denying that there are some jackasses wearing a badge, but for the most part, they just want to do their job, go home to their families, and walk their daughters down the isle some day.
Even when in my mind, I was thinking that "this Cop is a *****", I still bit my tongue and treated him with respect.......and never got roughed up, tazed, or shot.
We don't have to respect the "person" with the badge I guess, but we should all respect their authority. And like you said, if you disagree, let the justice system play out, and you win in the court of law.
I would get personal satisfaction making an idiot cop look stupid in court, but out on the street, their position should be respected.