Revelations in the weeks leading up to the inevitable resignation of PSNI Chief Constable Simon Byrne appear to indicate a police service in chaos.
Mr Byrne's term as the PSNI's most senior officer was marked by a series of damaging controversies.
Appointed to the role in 2019, within months he raised eyebrows when he threatened to have the children of dissident republicans taken into state care.
In a clear statement of intent on taking up his new role he warned: "You carry on doing this and we will have your house, if you keep going we will have your car, we will have your kids, we will have your benefits and we will put you in jail."
While he later sought to clarify his remarks, for many within the nationalist community a line had been crossed when he signalled his intention to target uninvolved children.
Within months he again managed to antagonise a large swathe of nationalist opinion by appearing outside Crossmaglen PSNI Station flanked by heavily armed colleagues during a Christmas visit.
Despite apologising "for any offence that has been caused", his clumsy performance can now be viewed as a sign of things to come.
The Covid-19 pandemic threw up several major talking points including the handing out fines to people attending a Black Lives Matters protests June 2020.
How the PSNI responded to the funeral of senior republican Bobby Story provoked unionist anger along with plans to refresh the PSNI's branding the same month.
Mr Byrne was back in the firing line last month after it emerged that details of every PSNI staff member, 10,000 in total, had been released in error in response to a Freedom of Information request.
It later emerged that details of other serious breaches have also taken place recently.
Mr Byrne's ultimate undoing appears to hinge on how he responded after two PSNI officers confronted relatives of people killed by loyalists in the 1992 Sean Graham Bookmaker's massacre during a commemoration two years ago.
A court ruled last week that two junior officers were later unlawfully disciplined.
Mr Justice Scoffield said the decision to discipline the officers was made to allay any threat of Sinn Féin abandoning its support for policing.
Unionists accused Mr Byrne of taking action against the officers to placate republicans.
Sinn Féin has denied there was any threat to withdraw support for policing.
Either way, since last week, momentum has gathered within unionism around calls for Mr Byrne to go.
Policing advances must be protected
Simon Byrne's four years as NI's police chief beset by controversies
The calls for him to go was bolstered after it emerged that rank and file officers and civilian staff had been considering a vote of no confidence.
While some will welcome Mr Byrne's decision to resign he leaves behind significant issues, including a general lack of confidence in policing.
It can be argued that recent events have lifted a veil on a dysfunctional force that has failed to live up to the expectations raised by the Patten Reforms.
While Mr Byrne may have attempted to create a police service that commands the allegiance of all, some may say he has failed.
It could be argued he also leaves behind an institution where post-Patten Catholic recruits are not represented in the PSNI's most senior roles.
Those from a Catholic background currently make up less than one third of the service, while the figure for civilian staff is considerably less.
The last census results show that for the first time there is a Catholic majority in the north.
That majority is currently being policed by the minority - an unsustainable position moving forward.
Some within the nationalist community take the view that a culture of loyalty to the RUC continues to permeate policing in the north.
In recent years successive Police Ombudsman reports have found there was evidence of collusive behaviour in the loyalist murder of innocent Catholics during the Troubles.
Relatives of those killed by loyalists and state forces believe that the PSNI, including the period when Mr Byrne was leading the service, continues to obstruct and frustrate their campaigns for truth via inquests and other avenues.
Despite all the very obvious and longstanding issues facing the PSNI the Policing Board renewed Mr Byrne's contract in May of this year.
While set up as an oversight body, in recent years it has been viewed in some circles as little more than an extension of the PSNI's leadership team.
A recent series of closed meetings to discuss the current controversies has done little to counter a growing view that it has lost sight of its primary role.
Questions will now arise as to how much Mr Byrne's departure will cost the public purse and who will be willing to take up the poisoned chalice of policing.
