Honestly my emotions are mixed when it comes to police.. you hear bad things about the lengths they will go to in order to prosecute someone. The flip side who else can you turn to when you need legal help? I try to keep a distance regardless and only call on them when it is really dangerous or something.
I hope that the appeal works out I can't imagine anything worse then having other people tell you that your in the wrong when you clearly know you did nothing wrong.