>This doesn't sound right … smacks of secret police.
To what police should they report to? Cant be a secrete if there is nobody to tell. They demanded this shit, reap the whirlwind.
>and what if those weren't Feds, but some unknown group?
They got rid of the yolk of having a police presence. The public demanded it. Those in power gave it to them. Again, reap the whirlwind. I have zero sympathy or empathy. They shit in the bed, they now can sleep in it.