Getting into this late. Not gonna read the whole thread.
It is just a word. And people tend to have an us/them attitude no matter which side they're on or what words they use. Even when there aren't clear sides we make sides and whatever the nomenclature for us/them it will reflect the attitudes of each side.
Calling us non-LEO or non-sworn are more concrete terms. Police and firefighters and even the nice lady at the Floyd County records office are public servants. They serve civilians. Technically they are themselves civilians. But words often get bent to represent a less concrete meaning.
Although I care more about how I'm treated than if they call me a civillian, since they serve me, I'd prefer they call me master.