Tim -- Realizing we are all sinners and all of us stand in need of God's mercy and forgiveness which He freely gives us under His right-hand kingdom, the Church, under God's left-hand kingdom, the State, we all are required to submit to the governing authorities (Romans 13). I see Paul making no qualifications in that passage regarding our submission - we are simply to submit even if the authorities are not necessarily just. I find it very hard to believe that any police officer would intentionally seek to harm anyone. While there may be very rare exceptions, violence on the part of police officers is directed toward those who refuse to submit to the God-given authority of the officers. In that case, the officers bear the sword for a reason. If I needed to choose between the police officers and a riotous crowd of what are essentially anarchists, or even individuals who refuse to humbly submit to the officers' authority, I will stand behind the officers every time.