Biofilm, huh? I think you may be on to something.
Returning a long-overdue book to the downtown Santa Fe library last evening, I took a walk thorough the plaza to see how our "phase two" was coming along. There were about 40 police strolling about--with only a few pedestrians, locals all wearing masks, and a few unfortunate tourists (not wearing masks, evidently not needed in the biofilm). There had been a rumor of a demonstration which had not materialized. So the officers were enjoying the evening "break", as they told me.
I can't sleep at night worrying about how we're going to keep peace in the valley in the near future as the quickening collapse of our systems becomes logarithmic. Many big-city police are recruited based on former military service. Also, many who get a high from dealing with violence are attracted to policing. The recruits are then trained as warriors, not peacekeepers, today even dressed for duty on the "front lines". Beyond the systemic context of racism, poverty, etc. etc., the elected city mothers and fathers who theoretically "control" local law enforcement either don't give a damn, or they're scared of the very powerful police unions.
I'm old enough to remember the release of the President's National Advisory Commission on Civil Disorder, known as the Kerner Report, FIFTY-TWO years ago in 1968. After surveying 24 "disorders" in 23 cities, the final conclusion was that "Our nation is moving toward two societies, one black, one white--separate and unequal". The report then went on in extraordinary detail to describe the challenges of pervasive racism and the absence of political will to provide the federal money needed to intervene AT THE SYSTEM LEVEL. It was quite remarkable to read again; every word could have been written today; President Johnson immediately dismissed the report, released on February 29; and on April 4 Martin Luther King was shot dead.