Why now singular pronoun for police?

For the past year or so, news stories often refer to police as a singular noun. For example, "The police was present for the mostly peaceful yet disturbingly violent riot."

In many other languages it's singular, but I would have sworn it's always been plural in American English.

Assuming my observation is accurate, is the plural-to-singular reference shift a strategy to depersonalize police and condition the public to view them as a force or entity instead of individual human beings?

I realize I'm leading the witness, but anyone else relate with this?

Last Edited by SoulWinner on 08/05/2021 10:38 PM