If time permitted, yes. However, when the first bullet flies, the reaction of cops as well as bad guys is to start shooting, too. It takes a LOT of training to slow down, think, and focus on putting your sights on the BG instead of focusing on the BG and just pulling the trigger. Unfortunately, most cops don't have that much realistic training.
That's what I figured.
Very true. There have been extensive studies into this type of situation that show that the police tend to look at the weapon, not the bad guy. As a result, they tend to shoot where they look.
I was in one situation where I was being shot at and it's very hard to describe what it's like. You get tunnel vision and loose your fine motor skills. I've seen guys eject all the shells from a shotgun without firing a round. I've also seen guys empty a magazine without realizing that they ever fired a shot. The only way to avoid this is to practice.
The best SWAT and Special Forces operatives will spend more time on the range in a month than most of us spend in a lifetime. They also go through thousands of dollars of ammo in a typical month.