Sadly not just the public feels that way. I charged a guy with assault for punching me and the judge said police officers can't be assaulted it's part of your job description.
He threw the charge out.
Well, then... he's wrong. Judge's are people too, and sometimes people suck. I don't know where you are, but here in Texas Assault on a Public Servant (all types of peace officers, fireman, EMS personnel and any other type of public employee qualify) is a felony. Check out the below.
Texas Penal Code 22.01 -- Assault
(b) An offense under Subsection (a)(1) [THE USUAL INTENTIONALLY CAUSED OFFENSIVE OR HARMFUL CONTACT STATEMENT] is a Class A misdemeanor, except that the offense is a felony of the third degree if the offense is committed against:
(1) a person the actor knows is a public servant while the public servant is lawfully discharging an official duty, or in retaliation or on account of an exercise of official power or performance of an official duty as a public servant; .....
But, as I was a-Googleing, the below caught my notice...
Texas Penal Code 9.31 - Self Defense
(c) The use of force to resist an arrest or search is justified:
(1) if, before the actor offers any resistance, the peace officer (or person acting at his direction) uses or attempts to use greater force than necessary to make the arrest or search; and
(2) when and to the degree the actor reasonably believes the force is immediately necessary to protect himself against the peace officer's (or other person's) use or attempted use of greater force than necessary.
(I'm not saying that you were acting in the wrong, I just found that part really interesting.
Oh, here's something that absolutely sets up Texas for folks for our stereotypes.... (this is funny to me):
Texas Penal Code 9.21 -- Justification (more self-defense stuff)
(c) The use of deadly force is not justified under this section unless the actor reasonably believes the deadly force is specifically required by statute or unless it occurs in the lawful conduct of war. If deadly force is so justified, there is no duty to retreat before using it.
Something I find cynically funny in the above:
"unless it occurs in the lawful conduct of war"
Anyone ever heard of the "War on Terror," or the "War on Drugs?" Shoot, that's wide open territory, right there.