Common mistake, but plants are not moral subjects. If you harm any animal, even an insect, it will respond in ways that you or I would; fleeing, retaliating, or generally just panicking. I think you already understand that plants do not (although they do have biochemical adaptations to sense and respond to stress).
No mention of the rate? Or the rate in non-police officers? I’m seeing an increasing amount of articles quote raw numbers rather than anything statistically meaningful, I agree with the sentiment of the article but it’s veering towards rage-bait territory.