Fly for Fun - you have the right end of the stick . . . so long as one realises that:
1. a
smattering of civvie Obs (rather than complete civilianisation) is a good compromise, and
2. civvie pilots are invariably ex-military and, as a result, have had plenty of experience in dealing with significantly more difficult decisions than those required in a Police environment, whether it's the flying part or the DUEO substitute.
Cambridgeshire did have a civvie UEO for a few years - but he was the retired original Policeman UEO, until blots appeared on the copy-book! I believe they then employed another civvie (retired police plank pilot?) for a short while while they "analysed his skills"! My understanding is that this resulted in Cambs taking shelter under the Essex PAOC umbrella, who still have a proper Police UEO!
I'm afraid I can't agree with paarmo on the
total civilianisation, however, as previously mentioned.