99% of cops aren't like what you see on cops... even cops from the same department as on tv. Hell, you can have 10 people on the same shift, with the same training, all FTO'ed by the same person, and you will have 10 different types of cops.
As for the city attorney not liking vollies, who cares? They don't have to run lights. And people will get used to the idea of having a VFD when it comes to getting ride of people who go on 3 or 4 calls in 24 hrs or those who go on 12-20 in 12 hrs. Plus, VFD's can have fund raisers a lot easier than a PD.
If the SO doesn't need a patrol, get rid of it and let people funnel that tax money into the PD. People bitch that cops ask for a new car every 3 years while the FD will make a truck last 12+. When that engine goes off line, it has the same miles as a patrol car after 2 on the street.
Tell you what, if you think cops are such a waste of money, ask those the public what they would rather have: a 5 min longer response time to a house fire which fill training volunteers will be fighting, or a 5 min longer response time to a rape in progress, domestic with weapons and kids, or even a person not breathing (since both my departments are dispatched along w fire and ems, and we often get their first with an AED, ambu bag, and min of first responder training) due to a dep coming from the other side of the county or a PD being so short staffed they can't even respond.