“The firearms and ammunition found match the intelligence we collected, which is about someone planning to use guns in public assemblies to hurt people,” a senior officer said.

There was more madness to follow. While police had the suspect hooded and handcuffed at the crime scene, the riot squad had to be called in when they were mobbed by an angry crowd of protesters and local residents demanding his release.

It all went pear-shaped as insults and objects were hurled at officers who let loose with tear gas.

Let’s just take a step back here and digest this. An armed suspect opens fire at police in a crowded neighbourhood and the public would rather he be left alone. Anything but police in their backyard.

Criminal elements among the revolutionaries are stockpiling guns and ammunition, improvised explosive devices and God knows what else for possible use at anti-government mass rallies, but they should be given a free pass because they’re doing it in the name of fighting for our rights and freedoms. Police are the only bad guys.

An online survey commissioned by the Post shows the reputation of the police force in tatters, with nearly three-quarters of the city’s voters saying their trust in the 30,000 men and women who are supposed to protect and serve them has been eroded because of their handling of the protests.

Nearly 30 per cent of respondents had zero trust in police, prompting the survey organiser to note: “It is a figure we expect to see in authoritarian states.”

I hate to burst your bubble, folks, but if you consider this city to be an authoritarian state, you need to get out some more, see the rest of the world.

There’s no doubt some frontline officers are starting to lose control as they reach the end of their tether after months of relentless protests, regularly punctuated by mob violence, vandalism and good, wholesome fun and anarchy – while an impotent government, incapable of coming up with a political solution that would pacify the public and end the chaos, continues to cower behind the police force and reduce it to a goon squad.

But to actually label them as “worse than Isis” – really? Just look how far the rhetoric has gone, blinded by incredible hate and sheer ignorance.

I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve seen riot police arriving at a scene to stop road invasions and vandalism, only to beat a hasty retreat as local residents and protesters alike scream at them to get lost and attack them. Citizens apparently don’t mind the lawlessness, they just don’t want police.

“Disband the police force!” is a slogan I hear all the time. There’s no point in arguing with hysterical youngsters about this kind of thing, unless you enjoy being lynched, but I’ve asked purportedly intelligent and educated adults who share the same sentiment about police what comes next if their wish were to come true.

The answer? “We don’t need them. We can set up a citizens’ police force to maintain law and order.” I give up.

In the face of such nescience and naivety, against such odds, why bother if you’re a police officer? Let’s do it. Let’s disband the police force. Let’s go down in a blaze of nihilistic glory to Hong Kong.

Yonden Lhatoo is the chief news editor at the Post