[dragnet2]

Because the first officers on the scene were wearing body armor that was only rated for pistol rounds.

And to think a couple decades ago very few cops had body armor. Now they need to have the proper body armor and it must be rated to match the suspect's firearms and ammunition. Times have changed.

[gundog]

There’s an episode of “Adam-12” in which Reed and Malloy are faced with an active shooter. They call in for bullet-proof vests. The contraptions that the sergeant brings them look like an X-ray techs apron.

[Does so]

I had to buy my own body armor, but the Department would replace it every couple of years at no cost to me. They didn’t try to collect their latest replacement when I retired from the Department.

“How would they know what kind of rifle he had - unless they “confronted” him, and/or had a clear shot at him?”

Regardless, intimidating “blind” fire/ricochets from police would have taken SOME toll on that horrific murderer.