If you had asked me when I was in high school or even in college if I wanted to be a cop, I would have told you: "Not on your life." It was not on my radar anywhere.
I have always had respect for what they did or maybe a fear which kind of parlayed into respect. I always knew it was in my best interest to say "yes, officer" and "no, officer" when pulled over for something I did wrong, plus I knew I would not be pulled over unless I deserved it.