> (b) if we subscribe to your idea that homicides (intentional acts)
> are a more serious risk than (in your words) unavoidable pure
> accidents. But the opposite is probably true. The intentional acts, I
> would argue, are easier to predict, plan for and avoid, especially in
> an environment that valorises the person taking them on, than pure
> and unavoidable accidents.
>
> --ravi
While easier to predict they may nevertheless still be unavoidable. Also willingly putting oneself at risk in such a manner is certainly something one can convincingly argue should be valorized. With that stated since cops willingly put themselves at unavoidable risk of homicide less than taxi cab drivers, convenience store clerks, etc. we need to be careful placing too much emphasis on this aspect of a cops job. A convenience store clerk or cab driver knowingly puts their self at risk more unavoidable than a cop. It is the very nature of thoses job. Cops can select when and where to confront criminals more often that they are unintentionally confronting them. Cab drivers and convenience store clerk do not have that luxury nor do they have the specific training that may help them in such situations. This means cops have a large advantage in preparing for such circumstances. We also cannot discount reckless bravado on the part of cops who believe their own PR.
The reality is that cops use the danger hype to justify brutalizing people. The job of cop needs to be couched more along the lines of that of Firefighters. Public servants who take a risk in service to others. The unrealistic inflation of the risks involved in all probability makes the job attractive to people who shouldn't be cops because they are mentally unfit to do so.
One last statistic. Dying while giving birth has roughly the same rate of risk as a cop being killed deliberately in the line of duty. I guess it's time we close off city streets and have long mourning processionals for women who die in childbirth. We also need a publicly funded trust set up to care for the people left behind when she dies. The same goes for cab drivers who are shot. They are the thin yellow line between total anarchy and getting to your destination. We are all truly indebted to these brave men and women who knowingly take the risk of driving a cab or giving birth so we don't have to.
John Thornton