How about this then? If a firefighter's sole intention is self preservation, they're not going to run into burning buildings to save others are they? They signed up, and went through hundreds of hours of difficult training in order to put themselves in danger for the benefit of others. Do police officers not do the same? Should they not put the lives of others before themselves as well?
The lives of the innocent, yes (in my opinion). The lives of people who might be innocent or might be pointing guns at them, and they have to determine which is true in a split second? Hmm. Ideally they make the right choice, but I don't think I could do it with any amount of training. Firemen go into each situation knowing whose side they're on, and that never changes. A lot easier mentally, though probably just as dangerous physically.Should they not put the lives of others before themselves as well?