[INVAR]

If someone broke into my house, and struggled with me to take one of my weapons and after I fired off a round, the perp ran outside - and if II shot him 4-6 times as he was 35 feet from my door running away…. I would be charged with murder (or at minimum manslaughter).

Why should that be any different for someone wearing a badge? Are the cops absolved from the same laws that govern the rest of us?

If the perp went for the cop’s gun, does that still give the cop absolution to shoot a perp running away while unarmed?

Whatever happened to tazers, batons or mace?

[Kartographer]

Because he had proven himself to be a fleeing violent felon making dead force appropriate.

[PhiloBedo]

If the 282 lb guy in that surveillance video, climbed in on me, in my car, to try and grab anything, I would shoot until he stopped moving. Self-defence.

[BunnySlippers]

I’m going to wait to hear what the policeman says first. Then make up my mind.

[Balding_Eagle]

This will help you rephrase your loaded and misleading question to fit the facts of the situation:

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3193194/posts?page=172#172

[Uncle Chip]

Whatever happened to tazers, batons or mace?

YEP.

What happened to calling in to dispatch and waiting for back-up???

Unless this cop was 6-6 and 300 pounds he should never have engaged the kid.

[cripplecreek]

Why should that be any different for someone wearing a badge?

Here in Michigan the burden of proof is far lower for an average citizen than it is for police. Unarmed utes are killed by people defending themselves all the time with no charges filed.

Its one of the often repeated messages of Police Chief James Craig in Detroit when speaking out to criminals. "The average citizen is far more likely to shoot you than police so don't mess with them".

[WayneS]

Are the cops absolved from the same laws that govern the rest of us?

The answer to that question appears to be yes.

[cpdiii]

If someone broke into my house, and struggled with me to take one of my weapons and after I fired off a round, the perp ran outside - and if II shot him 4-6 times as he was 35 feet from my door running away…. I would be charged with murder (or at minimum manslaughter)

Not in Texas if it is night. At night the law assumes that you can not tell if the bad guy is armed and thus deadly force is warranted. It assumes that the bad guy could turn around and shoot you.

[JimRed]

If someone broke into my house, and struggled with me to take one of my weapons and after I fired off a round, the perp ran outside - and if II shot him 4-6 times as he was 35 feet from my door running away…. I would be charged with murder (or at minimum manslaughter).

You are assuming that is what actually happened. Since the source may have been his accomplice in the robbery playing witness, it is highly suspect. Let's wait on the facts.