Yeah, a lot of people don't realise where the word comes from (same for "gypped" which comes from being scammed by a "gypsy"), and use it for both negative and "positive" (more like cultural appropriation, like when a white hippy calls themselves that word for example). Being willing to learn and do better is what matters, so you're good!
Personally I call cop all sorts of other names - bastards, pigs, nonce (UK slang for paedophile), but any swear, or accurate descriptor can work - fuckers, arseholes, oppressors, class traitors, and so on lol
I'm not big on podcasts, but I've heard a lot about that behind the bustards episode in particular, I might have to give it a listen (though I am aware of the history of the police/slave patrols from other, written, sources, but the more you look, the worse it gets).