I am not an attorney, but felt the need to correct one of the posts above:
Probable Cause is required to obtain a search warrant.
Exigent Circumstances are the facts which permit LE to skip obtaining a warrant before searching for evidence. Probable Cause would still be required. The only difference being the time between getting a search warrant from a magistrate and searching for evidence.
Probable Cause is always required for an arrest, however Reasonable Suspicion is all that is required to stop and investigate.
There are different types of searches and not all searches require a warrant or Probable Cause. The best example being a search at a border crossing. There are limited types of searches, normally called a "pat down" or "frisk" that can be conducted based on articulable facts such as; suspicious activity, late at night, in a high crime neighborhood, etc...
All actions of LE are subject to review by supervisors, prosecutors, magistrates, and ultimately the citizens who grant them their authority.
Riots happen from time to time. The people of NYC are paying for approximately 35,000 sworn police officers. When I worked in NYC, the vast majority of NYPD officers were hard working and did their jobs professionally. Every profession has bad apples...even in the Big Apple [Flower]
I pray that no one is injured.
Be safe.

