I think Bingowings that you are ascribing the Jedi the requirement of being galactic law enforcement, which as you say is just one way to look at it. The members of the Supreme Court can also be said to be the "guardians of justice", and that's just nine people for an entire country. The Supreme Court can also be "revered and despised", even though it is just a few people, because it represents the highest form of justice in the United States. Of course, the Jedi Knights would be more active on account of their military activity (Obi-wan being a general), but the point is that they would be the elites, commanding and influencing many normal people, people who have only a vague idea of the mystical Force that their commanders care so much about.