Have your friend read several articles documenting the phenomenon. If these officers were *not* acting with the approval/condoning of their commanding officers, they would not repeatedly commit and get away with such actions. (As a rule, these cases are *cleared* by “internal investigation” around the country).
At best, he is ill informed.
At worst, he lied to you and told you what you wanted to hear.
My friend is retired from a major city police department after working many years initially on the beat, then in bomb squad w/many awards for his work in that department, and then in homicide.
You saw my question as I wrote it to him. It was not loaded at all. I asked, and he gave me an honest response, nothing I wanted to hear. If I wanted to hear anything it would have been that there was some universal policy as I had speculated in my post, and my question to him, because I like being right, but he said there isn’t, and I believe him as I know he is an honest individual. We’ve been friends for over 45 years.
I think you have some problem with cops personally. I’m NOT pleased with the rash of dog shootings across the country anymore than yourself, but it appears by what my friend has stated that it’s most likely copycat shootings, and a problem locals around the country will have to address with their local LEA’s, as each agency seems to handle on duty shootings differently.