Jim, I have operated choppers for police ops, and at times needed to use the aircraft downwash to control what was happening on the ground / water. Ya does what ya gotta does.
I did notice some of the ground people trying to throw something at that chopper on TV. Their "negative aspect" isn't considered, only the actions of the good guys? Do you really place a greater priority on protecting the rioters than protecting the police?
I wonder what these people think they are going to achieve by destroying anything they can find. Perhaps "USA" stands for the Unstable States of Anarchy.