I’ve said for two decades that there are only three types of people that become cops these days:
1. Those that will take any job they can get
2. Thugs - typically high school jocks that couldn’t find anything else and like the power it brings.
3. Young and ignorant that honestly think they can make a difference.
Number three will eventually get weeded out.
In small towns I pretty much agree but I will add a 4th category. The small numbers of retired Vets who came home take the job for mostly good reasons and have to work with categories 1 to 3. Working with idiots is not the nice quiet retirement job they envisioned.
Most cops have a background in the military. Do you want a warrior or someone wearing a pussyhat?