About 2,000 people gathered in Cairo's Tahrir Square on Monday, halting traffic only hours after military police and soldiers had cleared the last few dozen pro-democracy activists from the area.
The army had appeared to be in full control of the square, the heart of the protests that toppled president Hosni Mubarak.
Then hundreds of police marched through, unhindered by troops, saying they wanted to show solidarity with the revolution.
The police protesters and the fresh crowds of onlookers around them disrupted traffic which had begun flowing at the weekend.
Waving Egyptian flags, the police demonstrators shouted "we and the people are one", saying they wanted to "honour the martyrs of the revolution".
The unusual police march sparked fresh demonstrations just hours after troops and military police removed the last pro-democracy protesters from Tahrir Square, which they had occupied for more than two weeks.
Egypt's military had earlier delivered an ultimatum to the dozens of protesters remaining in the square - to leave and let life get back to normal or face arrest.
The square had been the scene of violent clashes when police tried to disperse the demonstrations that erupted on January 25.
The widely-loathed police were withdrawn from the streets on January 28 after failing to crush protesters with batons, teargas, rubber bullets and live fire.
The army stood by during those confrontations, without helping the protesters or the police.
But during Monday's march they insisted they backed the pro-democracy protesters.
"We are with the people. We ask the people of Egypt not to ostracise us. We are not enemies," Lieutenant Mohammed Mestekawy said.
"We are in this together and have been mistreated by the same system. Many police officers have died in the revolt along with others."
Some scuffles broke out between the police protesters and civilians who accused the police of trying to jump onto the bandwagon and steal their revolution.
"I do not believe them. Where were they when my brother was killed by thugs?" cried Samah Hassan, who picked a fight with one policeman as the marchers headed to the Interior Ministry.
"They are free riders. They want to claim the revolution for themselves. They are agents," he shouted.
Low to mid-ranking police officers said they were unfairly portrayed as traitors and enemies of the people.
"The rest of the higher ranks are corrupt, but we share the same troubles as other Egyptians - low wages, lack of freedom, humiliation," said Salah Mohamed, who has served for 15 years.
'Victory march'
Protest leaders say Egyptians will demonstrate again if their demands for radical change are not met.
They plan a huge "victory march" on Friday to celebrate the revolution and perhaps remind the military of the power of the street.
Egypt's generals are asserting their command over the country following the overthrow of Mr Mubarak.
Having suspended the constitution and dissolved parliament on Sunday, moves welcomed by those who saw both institutions as perverted to Mr Mubarak's personal ends, the military council is planning to issue orders intended to stifle further disruption and get the country back to work, a military source said.
Disgruntled employees are already pressing for better deals.
The interim military rulers called a bank holiday on Monday after disruption in the banking sector and there is a national holiday on Tuesday to mark the Prophet Mohammed's birthday.
Free and fair elections will be held under a revised constitution, the military said, but it gave no timetable beyond saying that it would be in charge "for a temporary period of six months or until the end of elections to the upper and lower houses of parliament, and presidential elections".
Nor did it detail what civilian or other participation there would be in amending basic laws during the transition.
The cabinet appointed by Mr Mubarak last month will go on governing, reporting to the army chiefs.
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