I recently took a job as a police dispatcher in a rural community with a low crime rate. So it's more mellow here, I guess, but I don't have any experience in this type of job so. One thing I've noticed is fear. Traffic stops are the worst - even though they are usually routine, officers have to deal with fear every time they approach a vehicle. One reason for this is all the guns we have here (in the US, in the south, in cars). This level of high-alert and fear permeates the job. Most of these patrol officers end up leaving here anyway, since they want more action in bigger cities. I think the adrenaline is a reason a lot of guys--they are mostly guys--become cops. Public service, too, but the macho vibe infects them. Most of these guys are good guys but on patrol they seem to get jaded by constantly interacting with the same bad seeds, frequent flyers, and members of the public. Those are just my observations two months in. I've only ever felt threatened by the police in Mexico. As a white girl north of the border, I've usually had good experiences.