Splits in Iranian Police Forces?

I just ran across the article below..

Splits in Iranian Police Forces Could Spell Trouble for Government

Former police officers in Tehran have reported to sources contacted by NewsCore that they are being replaced by people from villages desperate for money and willing to use violence without hesitation.

Although exact numbers are difficult to pin down, sources in Tehran said about 20 to 30 percent of a police force of approximately 5,000 there had been let go, with more dismissed in other parts of the country. At the same time, as many as 700 to 900 civilians have been brought in to replace them during times of protests, with the number dropping during peaceful periods.

According to the article it sounds like the new recruits are little more than mercenaries. They are more apt to use violence against civilians (or anyone else) and their primary loyalty lies with whoever will pay them the most.

They are not seen as loyal to the cause of the revolution by the former officers.

"Many of us are being replaced by busloads of people from villages who are willing to do anything for a piece of bread instead of protecting the ideals of the 1979 Islamic Revolution," said one former officer.

According to another officer, pro-regime sentiment "does not exist among the recruited security forces. The joke is some of them call themselves or think of themselves as police. The lines have been blurred."

"All they want is to get paid, there is no loyal or noble or ideological intention. If this continues then our morals will be lost and we will be no better than Israel or America."

There are several dates coming up in Iran in Febuary that are very likely to see protests. The mix of protests and these new officers seems to be the recipe for some serious trouble.

The question is - who is the cook?

Would the Iranian government be so desperate to quash the protests they would hire these people? Would the new officers accept money from another party (US or Israel) to make trouble of the price is right? If so, why would Iran trade loyalty for people that would work for the highest bidder?