Sounds like you were with the rwong force(s), Wageslave. I couldn't have hoped for a better transition to civvy street after 28 years Military; I saw smart, joined-up thinking at virtually every level of the Forces/Constabularies on whose behalf I flew around the country. The occasional dipstick, sure - but overall I was impressed by the quality of the people who, with our consent, keep an eye out for us.
Officers aboard the aircraft who knew their patch really made a difference too, as evidenced by a car theft in my first set of shifts. On hearing what type of car had just been stolen, an Observer directed me to fly to a certain address where we watched said car arriving nearby. Not sure that we have retained such knowledge and skills with the advent of NPAS, but as I'm no longer involved I have no current evidence.
..."damn things" and "Wageslave" make it sound like you might even have been on the rwong career path, too.