Are cops really that bad?

I have a lot of police in my family and close friends. I myself want to become a cop. The one thing that stuck out more than anything was when a police friend said "Everyone hates the cops until they need their help" Just like any position, there are good and bad apples. It's unfortunate, but it's a fact of life. The reality is that police do a lot more than most people could ever imagine. Could you really put up with the kind of lame excuses and abuse that these men and women have to tolerate on a daily basis?