[zeugma]

When the guy runs away, the officer is no longer defending himself. He is acting as an agent of society.

We would concur on that. In "theory", an agent of the state should have a higher burden in such an instance than a citizen. The problem is, these days, unless an illegal is involved, cops have little or no consequences to their actions.

I'm sure there are circumstances in which a citizen could make an argument that the attacker posed such an obvious threat to others that deadly force was required. I wouldn't want to sit in the witness chair and make that argument.

Depends upon the place or circumstances. In Texas, when on your own property, you have a lot of leeway if it is after dusk or before dawn. 

Even if it was true, that means a lot of people got maimed or dead before it got to that point.

Not sure what you meant by this.

[sig226]

My own view of the theory is that the cop is the personification of the society, rather than a specific individual who is part of the society. Historical examples demonstrate that a person who is willing to attack a police officer is capable of anything. Most people stop.

To clarify my reference to the witness stand, imagine the driver has already run over a bunch of old ladies on the sidewalk at Bingo night and is driving away screaming, "Now I'm going to get the ones at Saint Anthony's!"

Even if I shot the guy and stopped his attack, there would be a lot of innocent blood on the ground.