Bad Cops In Japan

Anyone who reads Japantoday.com can't help but notice the string of crimes committed BY police officers themselves! I like getting the weird news from Japan Today, but the posters and moderators usually leave me with a bad taste in my mouth. I get the feeling that people are just itching to turn every single incident into proof that this country is headed to hell in a hand basket. I mean, isn't most the world in the same point right now? Anyway... here are a few recent "incidents"

Cop urinates from a JR platform.

Not a cop, but apparently peeing is becoming a problem in Japan. Click here for the "truck driver pee" story.

Cop arrested for filming up high school girl’s skirt in Yokohama

Saitama cop arrested for assaulting girl on street

Cop arrested for breaking into female cop’s apartment in Chiba

And that's just recent news! A simple search turns up these stories:

Chiba police officer arrested for causing accident while driving drunk

Ex-police officer arrested for shoplifting in Chiba

Cop arrested for stealing girl's underwear during investigation

And here are stories on other sites. No need to actually read all the stories, but the headlines themselves should pain a picture.

Crime › Police officer arrested after hitting another officer with motorbike in Saitama

Crime › Police officer, teacher arrested for having sex with 16-year-old girl in Saitama

Drunken Police Officer: “My Car Got Stolen!”

Drunk cop arrested after fleeing scene of car accident in Fukuoka

Is this happening in other countries as well? Of course it is, but I feel like the pettiness of the incidents in Japan just shows you how a comparatively pampered country it is. I'm betting in other countries cops are getting arrested for murder, bribery, and other serious crimes. In Japan it seems to be for incredibly stupid things. Am I right?

Personally (after almost 20 years here) I have never had a real problem with police officers. I've never been stopped or asked to show my ID. I have been frustrated at how slow they are to respond when something happens, but I've never been a direct victim of their conduct or misconduct.

Your thoughts?