Big cities can generally afford those multimillion dollar settlements when police violate some civil rights or murder someone. I imagine that is not the case in small rural towns. One such settlement makes them uninsurable (if they even have insurance). The second bankrupts them, and state receivers raise property taxes to cover that expense. The town council and mayor all lose office at the next election. The police chief or sheriff "retires", etc.
Remember what happened to Joe Arpaio in Phoenix. Good example of police leadership changing when the public doesn't agree with their tactics.
