The Fed Ex man>?
The next door neighbor bringing you a box of girl scout cookies?>
Where specifically is the line?
Would any of these people be able to shoot and kill your dog? I doubt it. They deal with dogs, even aggressive ones, all the time. None of them have the right to shoot your dog. I've talked to a number of these type folks (delivery men, mail men, meter readers) and they all agree there's no reason to have to fight or shoot someone's dog. They simply learn how to deal with dogs and calm them down.
WOW are you uninformed. All of them would have the right to shoot your dog, whether in Uniform or not. If You are atacked by an animal or person you have the right to defend yourself. Jim27 was an officer heading to the door of a house. The door of a house has no assumed right to privacy. ( if this is a common house) Thus officer or not if a dog attacks you can do anything in your power to stop it. If the quickest means is to shoot it so be it. Just because your animal has never attacked you doesn't mean he won't to others.
People use animals as warning devices or distractions for their property. Fine no problem. However in Officer Jim27s case he was there on the property for official business, in a public right of way, ( yes the walk way to your front door is considered public) Dog attacks, Officer life or body is threatened....= dead dog.
Because dogs are animals and not people they have little ability to reason with an outside person. OR take a command from a known authority figure AKA a police officer. Because they are animals, by their very nature their behavior is unpredictable, then the officer must assume a dog advancing in a aggressive manner is just as dangerous as a human. The officer can pull a weapon and demand a person to halt. Unfortunately dogs do not watch much TV and do not know the meaning of the situation they are in and thus shot. Sad but a fact of life.
We do not pay officers to risk their lives "deal with dogs and calm them down". If your dog is unrestricted and acting in a agressive manner to a police officer, it will be shot or peppersprayed or cracked in the head with a nightstick and that will be your fault.
If the choice is between an officer coming home at the end of his shift unharmed because he had to shoot a aggressive pet great. That means he will be there the next morning to save someone elses life by putting his in danger.