. . . Those officers technically disregarded their duties. IMHO, they did the wrong thing for the right reason. Your description of your friend shows that he means no one any harm, but the fact of the matter is that even when the law is disregarded, it's still the law.
I don't think it's doing a wrong thing on their part. They have discretion and they should use it that way more often. I applaud them for doing what is right and just in spite of the law.
I would say the same about police officers in Illinois who disregard laws prohibiting carrying guns for people who are otherwise law abiding citizens. Some of them have the good sense to ignore it when they find someone is carrying. Some really good ones will encourage people to carry in spite of the law.
I do not support this because they're helping with a pet cause of mine. I support this because they are doing an inherently right, just, moral, and ethically sound thing. This harkens back to my repetition that "legal" is not synonymous with "right" and "illegal" is not synonymous with "wrong." Many things are illegal, but inherent right. Many others are entirely legal and inherently wrong.