I think you fail to understand the intricacies that differentiate law enforcement from other high-risk jobs. First off, only 3 more died from roadway deaths vs. homicides so I think you're being disingenuous in how you phrase your comment. Also, the death rate isn't listed for cops so I'm not sure that those statistics actually say its less "dangerous" than other professions. The graph only says it includes occupations with high rates, not that they are the Top 10 highest rates or that it is inclusive of all high-rate fatality jobs. Now, thats all somewhat nit-picky but still.
However, the major difference is that none of those other jobs involve working with something that is actively trying to kill you. Sure, loggers might get killed more but that is from mistakes and accidents, the trees aren't making a conscious effort to avoid being cut and trying to kill the loggers. Police have to be wary of every single person they come into contact with because how can you tell which of those people is going to be the one who tries to kill you? Young teens all the way to the elderly have killed police officers. Men, women, white, black, all types of people have killed cops. So I have to assume each person is going to be that one trying to kill me until I can ensure otherwise. This doesn't mean you have to be rude or treat people poorly but it does mean you need to be planning how you are going to kill them first. I can sit and talk with somebody and have a wonderful conversation but in the back of my head, I have to be planning what I'm going to do to kill them in the fastest and most efficient way possible.
The point is, I know there are people who want to kill cops and I have no easy way of picking them out from all those who don't, so, I have to assume the worst until something else indicates otherwise. Making it even harder, what you might think demonstrates that you are safe either doesn't register the same in my mind or I don't notice it. You can say "oh well I don't have guns and I like cops, and I would never, ever, be a threat." but you expect an officer to just take your word for it?
Wow. You literally just summed up every fucking problem with Law Enforcement in one reply. Just because a handful of people will use force to evade the law does not mean every god-damn civilian you interact with is planning to kill you. I don't know if you are a LEO but, this mentality is literally perpetuating everything that people hate about LEOs. It's a disgusting attitude to have, and is quite frankly pathetic.
So I have to assume each person is going to be that one trying to kill me until I can ensure otherwise.
This whole guilty until proven innocent is something no other Law Enforcement in the world uses as a basis for interaction with the public. None. Not even my father who was an Officer in one of the most dangerous places in Northern Ireland during the troubles did that.
It is not a civilians job to prove he is not a threat. Not in any fucking way. Your job is to protect the public, not protect yourself even when it means killing another human even though it's a misunderstanding. It's a spit in the face of every Officer that upholds their oath to protect and serve.