Obviously, you're not watching the right cop shows.
Body of Proof - not a cop show per se, but set in the Medical Examiner's office so there's cops and murder as a central theme. Very well written, very well acted, very much worth the hour spent.
Castle. On my must-watch list. Nathan Fillion stars as mystery writer Rick Castle and Stana Katic as NYPD Detective Kate Beckett. Probably the best written and acted comedy-drama of any genre in years - since
Firefly, in fact - but definitely a cop show.
Both of these shows are head and shoulders better than your average cop show.
(And, just as an aside, I think maybe the side discussion should be tabled for another time and/or venue.)
I am
Dawg