It's a long-shot, and I'm not even sure if it can be done, but is there a mod/hack that makes it so that (when applicable) the game sends a playable Sim instead of NPCs. (Eg. if Sim is Patrol Officer or Vice Squad and isn't on the lot then they get sent in the police car instead of random police npc, ect.)

Midge The Tree has a playable cops mod https://midgethetree.tumblr.com/search/playable+cops . I downloaded it awhile ago , but haven't gotten around to trying it out yet. Comments on the page I linked to indicate a few glitches may occur. It looks interesting though.

It's a good mod. I had one playable who was in the law enforcement career (a prerequisite for the mod to work) and she did her job well-at least some of the time. Darn burglar though gets away a lot, though...