She could have just killed her children and was suicidal. She crashed her car, and is sitting there in an unresponsive catatonic state.
She has a gun in her lap, but is afraid to use it on herself. So she chooses suicide by cop and makes the decision to shoot at the police officer as soon as he gets close.
Nah. Could never happen. What are the odds?
You're right. The cop should just ignore procedure and help the poor woman. WE know it's OK (now that it's over, of course).
I have "unsnapped" when I was riding shotgun on a drving citation. My partner was at the driver's side window and I was on the passenger side and far enough away and in a drainage swale so I could see the driver from shoulders to waist. The driver suddenly dropped his right hand toward the space behind the console, and (a)my heart stopped; and (b) I unsnapped my sooper-dooper Level III holster. Then his hand came up with a microphone it it.
In other words, I tend to wait for some overtly suspicious or aggressive behavior or the sight of a weapon. (I haven't seen the video - dial-up here.)
She has a gun in her lap, but is afraid to use it on herself. So she chooses suicide by cop and makes the decision to shoot at the police officer as soon as he gets close.
But she didn't have a gun in her lap. By your logic anyone who is stopped for speeding should be shot because they might have a gun on them.
ANYONE walking the street could meet that criteria. Does that justify tasering everyone you come into contact with?
God forbid the cops should actually help someone. /sarcasm