Linemen and "lot of jobs" don't carry firearms and are not charged with the same duties as police officers. Nor are they constrained from carrying out their duties by politicians.
A lineman has a simple, straightforward job with a known percentage of risks which, as documented above, have been greatly reduced over the years.
Conversely, a LEO walks a fine line through a web of laws, regulations and human unpredictablity. The training of a police officer is designed to maximize effectiveness and minimize risk. However, as political correctness/liberalism creeps into every segment of American society, including the military and police forces, the LEO has become a more frequent target of the empowered perps. Shootings and fatalities of police officers and sheriffs are on the increase.
Spend a week or so in southeast Los Angeles, where Officer Ripatti worked and get back to me with your "statistics" regarding dangerous occupations.
Well said :):)