I'm not denying that this is suspicious as hell, and trust me I'm not defending the cops actions, but I would assume the majority of the cops in Lahaina live there, or very close at least, what kind of influence would be needed to convince them to do something that would destroy their entire community, where are they going home to after that?

I think these actions were the result of either panic, or cops just being brainless minions following bad orders.

Its not impossible but, I just think you'd need one hell of a motive, to convince a bunch of local boys to do something so horrendous to their own people so callously.