nonsoldier: somebody who is an ordinary citizen rather than a member of the armed forces
This term infers that the police are outside civilian law like a soldier. I assure you that they are not because they too are civilians. A better term would be "tax payer". From my earlier post I think this has come about because former or current soldiers (Reserve and National Guard) make up a large part of our CIVILIAN police force. I believe it is because of these people that the definition has started to change. Soldiers are trained to neutralize "targets". The human aspect is taken out during training. This is so a soldier will not hesitate to kill.
Peace officers on the other hand are more than soldiers or at least they should be...they are like a moral compass for any town. Sometimes they have to act like parents, counselors, teachers, mechanics, roadmaps, and salesman. They represent the city they are protecting, so they are expected to be everything to all people...especially outsiders of any town they serve. Then again, sometimes they must act like soldiers.
I don't envy the position they are put in everyday. What "soldier" would want to stand out in a brightly marked car with bright lights in the middle of the night without cover. I could never do it. It takes a better man than most to subject themselves to that sort of stress. Arpege92, God bless you and your family for what you have sacrificed for the sake of others.