In the United States at least, 99% of the time when you are approached by the police, you are suspected of a crime. They are given wide latitude in using their feelings rather than facts to evaluate whether you should be taken into custody, physically harmed, or even killed. They are protected from consequences of poor decisions by strong unions and the concept of qualified immunity. There is vast evidence out there about why on average they cannot be trusted to deal with you fairly.

You’re right, life is multifaceted and complicated. That’s why you should never talk to the police without a lawyer present, but there are also many, many people who fall within the remit of 28 U.S.C. 1001 whom you would never think of as “police” and with whom you should never speak without your attorney present.

Hope that helps!

Why would you give ammunition to someone who can shoot you with no negative consequences? They prove over and over that they can't be trusted, so the smart move is to take them at their word, and not trust them.

SCOTUS has ruled that the police are not obligated to "protect and serve"; the police are not on your side. Respectfully exercising one's rights is a sensible choice when engaged with them.

I think it's very helpful to understand that the police have their own agenda and a completely different perspective on the situation as you. they don't really give a shit about your problems, if they show up, its to see if there's anything that intersects with their world. this is why even as a victim talking with the police is a deeply confusing process -they seem to care a lot about stuff that doesn't matter as well as not being that interested in whatever crime may have occurred. and depending on the circumstance you could easily be the one getting your legs kicked apart. you learn that eventually, but some hints probably help