(For him to see police as something to be avoided suggests that he had something to hide from them... but then again, a lack of division between the military and law enforcement suggests that the regime he speaks of had an iron fist. It's entirely possible that his "crimes" were unfairly declared so, though without more information I can't be certain.)

Suffice it to say that here, as in my own world, the police are a civilian arm of the government separate from the military and those arrested are put to trial in courts such as those in this building. A prosecutor argues the case against the accused, while a defense attorney counters these arguments. Only those found guilty face punishment.