I think there was a tipping point a few years ago after people read too many stories of home invasions by SWAT teams at the wrong address and innocent people and pets killed for no good reason. Maybe these stories are not accurately representative of all law enforcement but it does seem that there are trends in the following directions:
1. Increasing militarization of the police, even in small towns.
2. A trend toward a very broad interpretation of what might constitute a threat to the police, which has to be dealt with by deadly force.
These events give the police bad PR. Normally you would think that conservatives would tend to favor law and order. But people in favor of small government are in some cases starting to view the police as just another branch of big government.
I understand your concerns, and I appreciate them. I have the same concerns. I’m just a little concerned that some people are generalizing a bit too much, ( i,e. al cops, jackbooted thugs, pigs, et al) and where that leads to.