—Spider-Man[source]They're private police! On Alchemax's payroll, and -- speaking from experience -- very easy to buy off.
History

The Public Eye was the private police force owned by Alchemax.[1]
They were paid off by Spider-Man to treat him as a hero. When Spider-Man was being hunted by the Inheritors, the S.H.I.E.L.D. of Earth-41940 paid them to help Spider-Man. Later, Goblin bribed them to capture Spider-Man and his new allies.[1]