You should talk to some homicide detectives, or even the people who deal with the day-to-day issues at the street level in downtown areas. The things they see on a regular basis are pretty mind-blowing, and not just per-incident, but cyclically and systemically. Their perspective on government policy and it’s effects are far different than ours by the nature of their jobs. That is a partial factor in how they vote and how they donate, particularly as of late.

Their life experience is dealing with the disproportionately bad aspects of society, just like you probably have a disproportionately good existence. There are assumptions and biases that come from both these exposure models.

And maybe it’s just a problem with their delivery, but if you hear a political party (unfortunately the loudmouth fringe more often than not) incessantly talking about how you suck, should be presumed to be an evil murderer, and advocate policies that you feel put your daily safety at further risk, you might rethink your donations and voting history as well. Not defending the bad cultures and actors whatsoever, but there’s more room for nuance in discussing the issues we have policing this large, individualistic, culturally heterogenous, heavily medicated and critically unmedicated country. The problem is a hard one, so easy simple answers should be viewed with skepticism. There is no “just do what Norway does” answer to the problem that can be made in good faith.

Oh, I completely agree with you. My views on police are mostly based on first-person reports or bodycam footage of what detectives, highway patrol, etc. have encountered. I also have some personal experience with witnessing a violent arrest up close, and was incredibly grateful for the police in that instance. People who pitch hardcore police reform have absolutely no idea what the police deal with, and their childish demands to "abolish the police" are missing a ton of context about the depths of depravity and evil that exist within society.

I don't think that necessarily factually disqualifies anything I said already, though. The police are a necessary branch of the state monopoly on violence, but right now in the U.S. I don't think the demographics and tendencies of the police force line up with our collective expectations for transparency, honesty, trust, and justice. There are too many opportunities for intimidation and corruption that are taken and defended.

Edit: Also you're completely correct about one political party listening to and supporting the police.

> … one political party listening to and supporting the police.

Well, not the Capitol Police.