Not fear.
Sadism.
They aren’t afraid of dogs, or cats, or birds in cages (for the most part).
They shoot dogs (and cats), stomp cats, and kill birds *because they can get away with it*.
If you shot a K-9 “officer” because you “felt threatened”, you’d be locked up before you knew it.
If you lived.
Saw three State Police canine units parked at a local bistro for luncheon the other day.
The vehicles were parked directly in the sun, with the windows rolled up tight.
I almost "confronted" the Blue Blimps, then realized suddenly that I was just a peasant, and peasants are the "confrontees", and they'd better remember it, unless they like the taste of pavement, with just a hint of leather...