Not a lot of us can take being cursed and abused on a daily basis and remain cool. Even cops have a bad day sometimes and make bad decision. i think it is because they recruit from the human race. Maybe it is time for robo cop.
Excepting of course being a police officer - their "bad decision" could in fact not just ruin someone's day, but destroy their lives. They accepted the consequences and the responsibility when they signed up, they knew damn well how people view cops - there are no excuses.
If ya can't handle the job - quit.
I worked for
years in human services, it was part of my daily routine to have chairs and other various objects thrown at me in a hail of accompanying obscenities. I never once lost it on a client, I never once "lost my cool". When I felt I could no longer perform my duties objectively (mostly the administration was responsible for this), I retired and moved on to a less stressful occupation.
I think many police officers loose sight of just how profound an impact they have on the populace and as such, feel powerless and lash out - using any opportunity to assert themselves, to reaffirm (at least to themselves) the power, the control they wield over others.
This petty resentment is NO excuse.