all the time, without shooting at them at all. It's called "having a brain". When you ARE warned of gun waving idiot, you don't just drive up and put yourself at risk. You assemble tactically, using your body armor, distance, the engine block of your car, etc. You are aware that the gunman may well be in a state of mind where he cannot comprehend what you are saying to him (ie, drunk, in a psychotic state, overdosed (perhaps accidentally or by another person with a medication, or illegal dope. You stay far enough back, barely exposing just your gun, hand, and one eyeball. So the chances of the gunman being able to hit you (with a pistol) are VERY small. And when you can SEE that it's a kid, you introduce even MORE discretion into your actions. Yes, 12 year olds can fire guns, but the odds of them firing effectively, while you surround them, using cover, are so small as to make YOUR (immediate, preemptive) firing pretty damned irrespronsible. IF shots are fired by the subject, THEN your return fire will be completely accepted by the community. Such are the risks that you are being (grossly) overpaid to take. If you don't like them, you can always quit and get a REAL job,you know? Leave the policing to people who have some courage, skills and sense. That 20 year pension and FULL medical coverage add millions of $ to the salary cops make, folks. They can retire at age 41, on a pretty cushy pension and FULL medical insurance for themselves and their spouses, for life. How many people get to do that? So, yes, we have EVERY right to hold our cops to a higher standard than Joe Blow who works at the 7-11. Cowards and Rambos need not apply for the job. Retired cops still get to carry a gun (concealed) anywhere in the US, that's worth several thousands of $ per year, right there! A cop, retired at say, age 45, may well be drawing (untaxed) HALF of his salary at retirement (with cost of living increases due to inflation) for another 45 years, during which he does NOTHING for the community. So yeah, we DO claim that cops should risk their lives (in minor ways). We do the same for Firemen.
Actually, those are NOT the risks they are being paid to take. MOD EDIT - Rule 3 police are under zero obligation to protect somebody, or to take any undue risk. MOD EDIT - Rule 3
