Verified answer

They are public officials performing a public job. In 48 states, it is legal to record police acting in a public environment if there is no reasonable expectation of privacy.

The other two states do not have the "reasonable expectation of privacy" clause in their wiretapping law, so it's a gray area.

So yes, citizens can and should be able to legally record the police, with the caveat above.

yes, they are accountable to the public that they serve.