…of, you know, not deliberately endangering people.

明哲保身
mei.tetsu.ho.shin

Literally: bright – clear / philosophy – preserve – person

Alternately: The wise and rational person avoids danger and thus remains safe. Alternately (through a common misinterpretation of 保身), this phrase may sometimes be used to describe someone who lives according to the dictates of prioritizing their own safety or status over all else.

Notes: This phrase comes to us from our friend, the Classic of Poetry (Japanese 『詩経』 = Shikyou).

A synonymous phrase uses 防 (bou, “defend,” “ward off”) instead of 保. It may also be given the Japanese-style reading 明哲身を保つ (meitetsu mi wo tamotsu).

Japan, where the police actually see protecting-and-serving civilians as their job