All "rent-a-cops" are NOT stupid and on power trips. I've know quite a few and most of them would never have put up with something like this much less taken part in it. Don't just block folks together because of what you've heard or seen in a few occasions. You did the right thing by stepping in, I've done it myself. I would follow up with a letter to the newspaper and a letter Safeway letting them know how you feel about it. I was taught to get involved and most folks I know were raised the same. My daughter would also have jumped in.