Wow! I couldn't agree with you more. My father came back from landing in Normandy then ending up in Bastogne to joining the police force. His overview was that the squads were too late and too tactical. He would say something like, "Hell, might as well call the fire department and let 'em run their sirens. They'll get there first and might scare 'em off."
Then again, the job of the police is to protect the public at large (as in secure the area) not protect any individual (as in those getting shot).