Sadly he let the frustration of seeing yet another idler/incompetent in an official uniform get the better of him. Even so the result of such action is perfectly predictable, he was lucky the wananchi didn't growl a bit louder. Manhandling ("hitting" - blimey, I thought "assault" was an overstatement, but...) a cop is seldom good for one's future comfort.
I expect the fellow will get his arse kicked, that sort of overbearing behaviour is bang out of order and culturally very insensitive indeed.
If the deputy chief panjandrum was involved you'd (read Lewellyn) would expect the lz to be a bit better protected than that even in the land of whingeing thieves, idlers and tribalists as the prez called it. Well, he would know.