Isn't it time for police forces to focus less on force and more on real policing = serve and protect?

No, i disagree. I think the police do a great job. Walk a mile in their shoes and just like a soldier when you leave the FOB shit might get bad, there is no gaurantee you come back. A peace officer is not a political figure he/she are enforcing the laws that the politicans pass and want enforced. Respect authority. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes

Damn straight Matt and Scott.

SGM (Join to see) - Who is the "we" you are commenting upon?

Among the sheepish population there is a movement to soften the police. But at the same time the anti police and cop blockers are stepping up the violent attacks on those that serve and protect their community. You can't have a softer style police force while they are actively engaged in defending themselves on the street and at their HQ's. Yes I would love to see a society where police do not have to use lethal force on suspects. But I am a realist. And I do not think we will see things get better in our lifetime. Our society has some very serious issues and too many of us are busy following the Kardashians to give a rip about the real problems. Sorry for the gloom and doom. But from my foxhole, we have a long way to go.

It's a common sense problem plain and simple. The right approach for the right situation... there aren't enough flexible, adaptive people in the world to fill the shoes.. it's also a hiring process problem.. a lot of good people are simply disqualified from being police because of mistakes... sometimes mistakes that made them better fit for the role.. they learned what it's like to be on the other end of the mistake... a lot of arrogance in the police force stems from a "I'm better than that" mentality that breeds a "I'm better than you" outlook.

SGM (Join to see) - Just how long is "not for long"?

SGM (Join to see) - What you fail to realize is that the community interactions are much more violent today than they used to be. It was never a safe occupation, but the criminal of today truly displays much less regard for their own safety or for that of others. Also the display of strength in numbers actually lowers the potential for fatal police encounters. A swarm of police officers on a potentially violent subject will usually be able to stop a badly developing situation with much lower risk.

MSG Sand, agree...but also that we are in a time like no other in our lifetimes. Police have increasingly evolved into a quasi-military militia force. As in all cases not everyone is arrogantly elite; yet facts show that many think they are above the laws they enforce--the same is true with Congress and many other officials elected, appointed, etc. 1SG Lopez, yes, real criminals need real law enforcement, and our efforts, policies, and resources should focus there. We need to decriminalize many offenses, and demilitarize local police.

All of my interactions started with either Sir or Ma'am. Regardless of the age or outcome. I kept it a simple as I could. Never degraded and always tried to stay on my side of the fence and not over step. However, there were a ton of times I was pushed to my limit and I had to take action against someone's actions.

SGM (Join to see)

I don't disagree that police have beefed up their equipment and tactics, but I think you are reversing the effect and cause? Police have not been proactive but reactive. As the level of violence initiated by criminals has risen, so has law enforcement response.

I am least twice as old as most of the criminals in these stories we are be bombard with but you know how many times I have been chased by police? None. This is because of number of reasons, not the least of which is that I have not broken any real laws? I am willing to bet the same is true with you? Lawlessness cause police violence, not the other way around.

The 99% that are good officers are culpable when they look the other way at what the 1% is doing wrong. That bad seeds in LE make the jobs of good cops much harder. In my 43 years on this planet, I have seen all sides of LE.Some good. Some bad. I have friends and relatives that were career LE that could not wait to retire and get away from the current generation of cops.
I've been pulled over and threatened with arrest for being in the "wrong" neighborhood.
I've had cops help me change a tire in the rain.
I've been cuffed, and slammed to the pavement due to mistaken identity (without even an apology afterwards.)
I've been given warnings when I should have been arrested or ticketed.
LEOs are slices of the general population. They aren't gods. They aren't all evil. They have bad days and good days. Unfortunately, the bad ones have established a stereotype that will be difficult to erase. Dash cams, body cams, and regular uniforms will go along way to help. The cameras (both in the general population and LEOs) only help to add transparency and context. A more civilian attire will speak to their professionalism as civilian servants rather than troops.