Trusting soldiers more than cops isn't an unusual position at all...
Very much in the tradition of the American far right, no?
Absolutely, although I hope it's not only a far-right position because increasingly it's one I share. But we all know I'm one of the most conservative posters on the forum.
I mean, I can't speak for the US; but having a police force that is at least partially military in its nature is far from unheard of in many European countries.
The big role model for that would be the French Gendarmerie; or its equivalents in other countries like the Italian Carabinieri or the Spanish Guardia Civil.
I can't talk for the Gendarmerie or the Carabinieri; but at least here the GC (as compared to the standard "Policia Nacional") is more military based in its command structure and operations. Gendarmeries in general tend to fall in a sort of grey area between the army and the police.
In terms of service though, the main difference is that the Guardia Civil tends to handle policing rural areas, acts as environmental protection police, does customs checks and acts as road police. Meanwhile the Policia Nacional handles the cities (though this is usually handled more often by the lccal police forces) as well as handles and investigates the more "serious" crimes like terrorism, money laundering, prostitution networks, etc.
Being pro-police is generally a right wing position; though preferring the GC over the PN I don't think it is really a left or right wing position. Though at least in Spain's case it would be uncommon among leftists, and probably even less common a couple decades ago; as the Guardia Civil was who launched the failed 1981 coup.
To be honest the Guardia Civil (and more broadly Spanish security forces and the military) did have a huge turnaround since the 80s. In the 80s they were seen as a reactionary bunch of people who were always only 1 step short of launching a coup. Their image has deteriorated over the past 5 years or so (because Catalonia and more recently a couple scandals with old retired generals that wish for a coup). But the Spanish police and military went from hated by most people to the most beloved institution in the country in only 2-3 decades.
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