They call themselves the Regulators.
They wear tattoos of a skull-faced man holding a shotgun, fire screaming from its barrels. They refuse to testify against their buddies. They've been accused of extorting and intimidating those outside their ranks.
No, they're not members of a street gang. They're Los Angeles County sheriff's deputies at the Century station in Lynwood.
Uh, yes, they are too a street gang. And they're the "Only Ones" we need fear. The others we can repel by force, if necessary, and have at least a chance against the resulting legal consequences. If we defend ourselves from these thugs, the entire force and resources of the state will be brought down on us with a vengeance.
They've gone from "peace officers" to "law enforcement officers" to "regulators."
I can't think of a better example for explaining crime lord Lee Baca's insistence on keeping the populace his arrogant thugs "regulate" legally disabled from fighting back.
[Via Tony G]