[Oatka]

Militarization starts in the language,

Indeed. When the police started referring to us as "civilians" instead of "citizens", the decline accelerated.

[Molon Labbie]

FWIW, I correct any officer that I work with that the police are civilians.

[ChicagahAl]

“...When the police started referring to us as “civilians” instead of “citizens”...”

Remember when (unarmored) patrol cars used to have “To Serve and Protect” painted on the doors?

Try to find one of those mottoes on a cruiser today.