NYPD and Jersey City PD, police abuse is very common. I was raised in both for 18 years of my life. Cops would randomly search someone, throw in in a few blows and get away with it. I saw with my own years daily, weekly, monthly, yearly cops harassing and physically and verbally abusing people with the people not doing anything to provoke them. SO from my OWN experience and what I have seen yes it is very common.
Here in Virginia a few years back when I was in the military, I was reporting to a new duty station. I had no idea where I was or going. I was pulled over by police and they he asked do I know why he pulled me over. I said no, he said this is a high drug traffic area. I said oh ok, I am in the military I am just trying to get to my duty station that I was lost and gave him my military ID. He then proceeded to call for back up, they took me out the car, cuffed me, slammed me on the hood of their car, searched me and my car. Once they found nothing the let me go. I was polite as can be because everyone knows if you say anything ill the abuse will only get worse. Now was any of that necessary?
Basically the way it is now, people are video taping bad cops. And they are getting tired of getting caught on tape abusing their power and are trying to flex their musle and stop us from doing what is right. Not saying all cops are bad, but is seems 50/50 out there now.