There's a reason why Japan relies on the police.
We briefly talked about it in an article about Japan's vision of cyberpunk and how often the protagonists are somehow connected to the government: they represent law enforcement, some official research facilities, or something like that. It all stems from the wish of the authors to change the system inwardly, not from the outside. And that is prevalent not only in the cyberpunk genre, but in others, too: various cops and detectives are shown to be non-conformists, fighting the machine from the inside.
Here's a list of 9 such characters that won't make us want to run to the other side of the street.
Toushirou Hijikata (Gintama)
Loyal to a fault, short-fused, and incredibly effective in battle, Toushirou Hijikata has been seen defying the laws, even the ones he has set up, for the greater good — of both the regular citizens and the officers who were entrusted to him. He is a vice-commander of Shinsengumi, one who appears strict, but always ready to help those in need and look sideways if someone who proved their worth and trust does something unlawful. Just don't go near him if you’re sensitive to tobacco or mayonnaise: he devours both in unhealthy amounts.
Akane Tsunemori (Psycho-Pass)
Level-headed, sometimes even doll-like in her cold-heartedness, Akane Tsunemori is logical and extremely attentive, capable of deducing things and connecting dots better than most. She complies with the Sibyl system, being a perfect citizen in its eyes, but openly defies it as the story progresses, willing to save those who were wronged by it. Despite her seeming lack of emotion, she has a kind and just soul, one that favors truth more than anything.
Daisuke Kambe (The Millionaire Detective)
He may be a bit of a prick, but he's effective at what he does. Daisuke comes from a billionaire family but works as a detective for the Metropolitan Police Department. His heritage, however, affects his way of solving problems, as he often chooses to drown them in the abundant amount of money. Also, being a part of the Modern Crime Prevention Task Force, he is skilled at using modern technologies, which paired with his nearly unlimited finances makes him extremely useful. That doesn't change the fact that he doesn't really value human life, though, but he gets the job done.
Jyuto Iruma (Hypnosis Mic)
On the one hand, Jyuto Iruma is a dirty cop: he's in cahoots with some gangs, and he threatens and extorts money from his colleagues and subordinates when they do something that doesn't align with his morals and exceeds even his own dirtiness. See, he has a certain reputation to uphold, and despite being ready to take bribes, especially from his fellow colleagues, he treats regular citizens with respect and care. And also he raps together with the head of the yakuza clan and a former marine.
Motoko Kusanagi (Ghost In The Shell)
We need to clarify one thing: the manga version of Motoko and the anime version are two different creatures. In manga, Motoko is not just a cyborg who wallows deep in the existential crisis between the blood-chilling action moments; in manga, she is utterly hilarious. She cracks more jokes than some characters in the gag series, and that pairs beautifully with the grittiness of the world portrayed in Ghost in the Shell and her personal moral doubts and questions. This crucial character trait was lost in the earlier anime adaptation and cemented Motoko as someone grumpy — but no doubt reliable.
Misaki Kirihara (Darker Than Black)
She drives a blue Porsche 911 through the crowded streets of Tokyo and works as a superintendent in the International Affairs Department of the Metropolitan Police. And she's simply cool and reliable. She is extremely dedicated to her job, and even after the years spent in law enforcement she still believes that her main responsibility is to protect those who cannot protect themselves. It's commendable. Even in a world distorted by some barely explained supernatural events, she stays loyal to her principles.
Koutarou Amon (Tokyo Ghoul)
Koutarou is smart and very perceptive. He is skilled in dealing with ghouls and knows how to put them to rest with his signature weapon in the most effective way. He's very strict with himself, always focused on the task at hand and never sparing himself, ready to sacrifice his own body so that justice would be served. His strict morals also put him at odds with his colleagues, who have different priorities and would first sacrifice others, even innocent bystanders, before themselves.
Re-l Mayer (Ergo Proxy)
An investigator of the Intelligence Bureau in Romdeau, she doesn't fit in the society perfectly. She doesn't rebel, but somehow omits certain regulations that she believes aren't useful, yet still thinks that "questioning the system is bad." She thinks that the world that they created is boring, and so are its citizens. So when she gets an opportunity to embark on an adventure, she readily accepts it, succumbing to her curiosity, even though later she understands that some of her actions affect those around her not in a good way. She's not very sociable and seems a bit too posh, but she's no less effective at her job.
Rin Asogi (Rin: Daughters of Mnemosyne)
Rin decided to use her acquired immortality for justice: she helps others and fights those who try to wrong her. Being 1,000 years old, in the 20th century she established a detective agency Asogi Consulting, using her observational and detective skills, and also her ability to sense lies to solve problems. Throughout the years she perfected her fighting skills and has an eidetic memory, and her cheerful, loyal personality makes her extremely loveable.