David T. Wright — You are the Enemy
Such training, and the militarization of police equipment and dress, have, I believe, encouraged cops to look upon themselves as an elite, apart from and above the rabble. That is reinforced by the official folklore about how dangerous police work is, and how cops “put their lives on the line” to protect us poor peasants. In fact, police work is far less hazardous than occupations such as mining, farming, and construction, along with many other mundane pursuits that aren’t celebrated in nine TV dramas every night.
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The result of all this esprit de corps – this emphasis on police “otherness” – must inevitably be contempt toward the public. It’s only a small step from there to seeing regular people as the enemy. In fact, in plenty of places it looks as though that step has been taken.