The police are an increasing nuisance to society more than they are a help. I think most of them should be disarmed and become “peace officers” and only a cadre of highly trained and verifiably intelligent individuals would remain armed as they are today. Unfortunately, a large number of the current office corps are typed-aggressives who only went into their trade to lord over their fellow man and play with guns.
I gently disagree with your suggestion to disarm most police officers. It’s not 1950 in Sheriff Andy Taylor’s Mayberry anymore.
But by golly, you’ve hit upon something with your “peace officers” comment. Years ago, if you asked an off-duty cop what he did for a living he’d likely say “police officer” or “peace officer”.
Now you might get “I’m in law enforcement“. It’s a significant change, from “peace” to “enforcement”. And that change ain’t good. Too many cops now act as if they are soldiers operating in an occupied country.
This mindset will not be easy to reverse. Especially because the job is so much more difficult these days.
More and more police departments (of all stripes, county patrol, constable, sheriff, etc.) are nothing more than revenue generating departments for their organizational structure.
Meaning - all they do is take money away from citizens, and give it to the government.