Nothing we need done requires .... intimidating citizens.

Until you need SWAT to kick in a door with actual murderers on the other end. Really until you need violence to contain violence.

Then you get into the real questions: in their day-to-day interactions such as issuing citations are they intimidating citizens with behavior or their appearance? I've known several Military folks who later became police (and had significantly better escalation of force training from the military) who looked fierce but were big softies most days. No better friend, but no worse enemy and all.