What are Police Officers? Our protection, or something else?

Police protect us. It's common sense, right? Or are police merely the revenue collection wing of the government?

How often do police officers stop a crime in the middle of the act or even prevent one?

When something happens cops show up after the crime is committed and write a report of the incident. Afterwards, they may or may not investigate the crime, make an arrest, and charge the perpetrator with a crime.

Fifty years ago the clearance rate for murder was over 90%. Now it is only 64%. According to NPR http://n.pr/2v9xq3c. So with all of today's technology and the fact that the number of officers per resident is generally increasing (according to the DOJ), the police are still solving murders at a rate incredibly lower than 50 years ago. How can this be? Simple, most of these cops are chasing money for their boss...The State. Many claim departments go so far as to have quotas http://n.pr/2tKr9vj.

When you see a police officer on the side of the highway or behind you in traffic do you feel safe? Or do you feel nervous? Nervous because seemingly anything you do in your vehicle is cause for pulling you over. Once you've been pulled over the police officer digs and digs until he can drum up some reason to ticket you. In other words, steal money from you for the State. Is your window tint too dark? You’ll be fined. No mud flaps on a lifted truck? Fine. Broken tail light? Fined. No seat belt? You guessed it, you owe the State money.

The police aren't employed by Uncle Sam to protect you. They're employed to keep you in line and make a nice profit while doing so.