A lot of American protectionist crap in this thread. Italian police (berettas and all) are among the most diligent and courteous in Europe (and bear no comparison at all with the arrogant American cops!).
The problem in Italy isn't the police, it's their judiciary, who seem to think their job is, like Nero, to satisfy the public's thirst for blood. Remember this is the country that has convicted a Formula One team boss for causing the death of a driver in a racing accident, and is even now prosecuting the head of their own National Geophysical Institute for failing to predict an earthquake.
If I were Amanda Knox, I would stay very far away from Italy.