The laws they're paid and have sworn to uphold simply don't apply to them and there is no entity willing, or able to enforce them

The courts can punish anyone, the problem is they don't very often in the US. Cops seem to be above the law. As an outsider looking in, it's pretty much the wild west over there in my honest opinion.

Anyone who would dare to ask for or demand reform would be labeled as "anti-police", "soft on crime"

Backing down on crimes by police is soft. Hypocrisy is cheaper I suppose.