Bullshit.
Yes, in a big city run by Democrats (statists) the police do enforce statist policies, because they are answerable to the statist civilian politicians (who the statist people elect). Even in an authoritarian police state you still NEED police (probably even more) because there is still going to be crime and the human condition, period! In this very scenario respect of the police become critical and must be enforced through violence, like every single other policy they have.
Outside of statist governments the police are answerable to the local politicians who are most likely freedom loving Americans. Ergo, they are not an arm of a statist anything, and they exist to protect and serve the public, mainly by taking out the trash. People respect and have a deep love of the police for this service they supply and with it the danger it places them in. There is no need to use force to engender respect/fear.
Truth be told, Anthony F. Ambrose is NOT talking about "respect". I think a total lack respect is a foregone conclusion when you vote for a statist, authoritarian government. At that point what he's lamenting is a lack of fear. These people don't fear the police enough, because fear is exactly what's required to maintain a statist, authoritarian state.