This has been standard operating procedure for decades; nothing new. Here in NJ decades ago we had some thugs disarm two cops and make them do some pretty sick stuff before killing them; nobody should expect a cop to go through that.
"My best friend of 28 years (we became friends in the military) is a cop. He's a patrol sergeant in a medium sized city (~100K) and he is absolutely outraged at what he sees taking place across the country and thinks in a lot of instances these guys are cowards and afraid.
One thing he attributes this to is the lack of experience. He had 20 years military experience when he joined the force. He sees less and less of that. He has a bunch of kids (20's) with no life experience wielding a weapon. Their cocky and from a different generation that we are...they have less respect THEMSELVES for authority and it shows.
These are his words from 16 years as a cop and 20 years as a military vet."
I am still in (28 years now)...and indeed the culture change...even in the military...has been phenomenal over the last 20 years. Its the generation.
All I know is what I see...what I've experienced...and what my best friend and other cops I know (have many in my church and one lives across the street) tell me. Most law enforcement I know would personally disagree with you....VEHEMENTLY...that to lay a finger on them (especially when you are naked and unarmed) warrants a death sentence. They would call that line of thinking...the thinking of a "p*&#sy" and would have no respect for you as a man...and in these conversations I've had with them about this...that is what sticks out...they think a lot of the instances involve boys playing cop...no real men. You want to approach your job like that..."put on a dress."
My friend would say those cops are cowards and afraid to get the hair messed up...or afraid to throw down...so they use an excuse to pull a gun. He sees it A LOT in his younger officers and female police (who for the most part don't have the strength to fight).
The bottom line is this: We should not WANT the police to have the option to shoot us at any perceived threat. We should want them to do everything in their power to keep from pulling that trigger. This isn't the wild west...and it should never be. That's a state I do not want to live in...and you shouldn't either.