Reply #4: There's an important distinction between cops and other public servants [View All]

A firefighter's job revolves around rescues and preserving the property of others
An EMT's job centers around providing emergency medical care to people
A cop's job is "get the bad guy."

To be a cop, you need to want to get the bad guy. In training, you learn that everyone is a potential bad guy, Your first assignment is usually in a prison, which is full of people society has deemed to be "the bad guys." You are taught that anyone who offers any resistance is "a bad guy" - why else would they be resisting.

The firefighter and emt are trained to see the people around them as people who they may someday need to help. Cops are trained to see those same peopleas people they may someday need to arrest.

I'm certain there are "good cops" out there - they can't ALL be assholes. But i'm equally certain that the job itself is VERY attractive, and also very rewarding to people who are assholes.