In all bourgeois republics, even the most democratic, the police (like the standing army) is the chief instrument of oppression of the masses..... The police beats up the "common people" in the police stations of New York, Geneva, and Paris; it favours the capitalists either because it is bribed to do so (America and other countries), or because it enjoys wealthy "patronage" and "protection" (Switzerland), or because of a combination of both (France).
Vladimir Lenin, They Have Forgotten the Main Thing
Lenin on Police Oppression of the Masses
