You are using only a very, very limited definition of “dangerous.” Officers are assaulted an average of 58,000 times a year. It works out to a rate of about 10.3 per 100 officers.
Just because vests and other life saving technology have improved survivability over the years does not make the job any less dangerous.
Dirty hippies and communists made a goal of smearing the police whenever and wherever they could. It was one of the communist goals of the 1960s. The media carries that water for the communists whenever and wherever they can, publicizing only the negative, never reporting on the positive.
Go to a communist country, and you will see what they think of police. There is a cop on every corner. Cops are the highest paid sector, outside of party leadership. Communism and police go hand in hand. That is why we have police unions and unmitigated police corruption in the USA. 90% of US cops are dirty commies.
Causualty rate, if you prefer, for cops is lower than most blue collar jobs. Not just death.
The “Blue Line” has a strong union and are always looking to increase their mystique. Sorry, but it is not as dangerous job as you and the media make out.
For every carpenter, plumber, electrician,pilot, lumberjack, off shore fisherman, etc killed on the job, there are grieving spouses and children left behind. These aren”t “dirty hippies”, but hard working Americans trying to feed their families. And most of them do not trample the Constitution as they do their jobs, either.
Meathead get you aggravated again? Just have Dingbat bring you a beer and chill out. And don't watch Cronkite!