Nope, they exist to protect THEMSELVES. A lot of their training centers around an “us vs them” mentality here in the US - they are taught that ANYONE who is not a police officer is willing to kill them at the drop of a hat, and they must do the killing before they are killed. There are seminars that teach this mentality, very well-attended by police.

They might have protected the rich at one point, but now the only people they are truly taught to protect is themselves and other cops. Everyone else is a potential combatant and should be treated as such.