the increased tensions between civilians and police as well That's a big part of the problem right there. Police are civilians [1], but they have been picturin

the increased tensions between civilians and police as well That's a big part of the problem right there. Police are civilians [1], but they have been picturing themselves as some kind of messed-up "soldiers against crime" that they now believe their own nonsense; it's them against the civilians (not them against criminals - them against civilians). Hiring ex-soldiers to be police officers is part of the problem; military training (of the killing people quickly through intense violence type [2]) teaches a mindset that is utterly unsuited to policing. Living in the UK, I feel safer with routinely unarmed police. [1] Sure, in some countries the police are actually military or paramilitary personnel, but those countries aren't being discussed here. [2] Which is, of course, by no means all. I was reserve forces myself for fifteen years and never touched a loaded firearm.