How we cite our quotes: All quotations are from The Big Lebowski.
Quote #7
POLICEMAN: [laughs] Leads? Yeah, sure. I'll just check with the boys down at the crime lab. They've got four more detectives working on the case. They've got us working in shifts!
The takeaway from this: the cops couldn't care less about The Dude or his problems. Is it because they have more important things to worry about in Los Angeles? Or because The Dude looks like a loser and his car is a piece of junk?
Quote #8
WALTER: Oh, no ma'am, we didn't want to give the impression that we were the police, exactly. We're hoping we don't have to call the police. But that's up to little Larry here. Isn't it, Larry?
Walter is the king of exacting vigilante justice. All it takes is a deep distrust of anyone's authority that isn't your own.
Quote #9
SHERIFF: Mr. Treehorn draws a lot of water in this town. You don't draw s***, Lebowski.
The scene between The Dude and the Malibu sheriff makes you wonder: what's the use of law and order if cops only care about what happens to the rich people? The Dude has just been drugged and beat up by Treehorn's people, and he's the one getting thrown out of town?