Rich,
I am not underestimating the LEO's. I am making an observation that not using enough force in deadly encounters seems to me to be becoming more of a problem. I am sure that these guys took the course of action that they thought at the time was best and it has a good ending for all involved, except the dead guy. Would they have acted differently if it were not in the back of their heads that no matter what they do it could be detrimental to them? A decision that they had fractions of a second to make will be quarterbacked for years while they are dragged through the courts, slandered and sued? Our insanely litigious society is a big part of the problem and the average person will never understand why you just couldn't have shot the gun out of the BG's hand like TJ Hooker did on the late night re-run. Having to shoot someone more than once is excessive. Everyone knows that when you shoot someone once in the shoulder with a handgun that they go flying back ten feet and are instantly incapacitated. My own Mother thinks that way and I have stopped trying to explain. Sometimes it just gets frustrating when I hear of coppers getting hurt, or killed and I think that maybe it could have been different.
