Individual people EARN respect by their actions, not by the clothes they wear.
This writer has friends who are decorated war heroes (one of them damned near died on Iwo Jima). There are other people in uniform who have committed war crimes. Are they equally deserving of respect? Of course not.
There is a cop of Cranky acquaintance who literally saved a child’s life by shooting a man who had a gun pointed at the kid’s head (no kidding, it really happened. The man’s a legend, and deservedly so). There are other cops who have taken bribes or committed crimes. Are they equally deserving of respect? Oh, Hell, no.
In days of yore, there were people, attired like hippie freaks, who went around helping the poor and feeding the hungry. The Manson “family” dressed the same way. Again: equally deserving of respect? Oh, f***ing HELL, no.
So to all whiny-assed, bullying crybabies among the NYPD who are going “waaah” about not being respected: shut the f***ing f*** up, you f***ing f***wits. There are some damned good cops in that town who have earned respect, and who give respect. Guess what? They will get the respect they deserve.
The bad cops will likewise get the respect THEY deserve. And not one bit more. The fabric that covers our bodies means little when compared to the actions of the humans who are covered by that cloth. A uniform, in and of itself, means exactly nothing.
Mr. Blunt and Cranky
bluntandcranky 
The oval office is just an office space and deserves no special attention. The National Flag is just a piece of cloth and deserves no special attention. Presidents and mayors and policemen and firemen are just flesh and bone and deserve no more respect than their actions have demonstrated.
But a reminder; When you wear the “outfit” of your city, state or nation, you pledge everything up to and including your life.
Good points about uniforms, which have an unfortunate influence on stereotyping. Question: do we bare any responsibility when we share the same uniform with others, not so much in general popular culture styles, but when a standard uniform is issued?