[raybbr]

I’m curious what you expect the police to do when they get a person with a gun call in an area like that?

Approach with caution. They're supposed to regard the safety of everyone - not just themselves.

Should they perhaps pull up thirty yards away?

Yes.

Should they allow the person to take a hostage?

Didn't happen and wasn't going to happen.

Should they perhaps let them get a few rounds off before they get serious?

Depends. When a cop shoots first and then asks questions he's a "hero". When a civilian does it he goes straight to jail.

[DoughtyOne]

I’m curious what you expect the police to do when they get a person with a gun call in an area like that?

Approach with caution. They're supposed to regard the safety of everyone - not just themselves.

Okay, then they should allow the suspect to fire off rounds in the direction of whatever is behind the officers, an appartment building, business, just whatever happens to be there right?

Should they perhaps pull up thirty yards away?

Yes.

Why?  They wanted to take immediate action with that individual.  Already you're revealing you don't quite grasp what "person with a gun" means.  You want that person disarmed as rapidly as possible.  If that means taking them out, then that's what it means.  Why should some family behind the officers have to lose one or more of their loved ones?.

Should they allow the person to take a hostage?

Didn't happen and wasn't going to happen.

If he's thirty yards away and bolts, you have no idea what will happen.  Thirty yards is 90 feet.  That kid could retrace his steps and wind up back at the playground with other kids in danger.  He could run in other directions too, enter a home, take hostages.  You never know.

Should they perhaps let them get a few rounds off before they get serious?

Depends. When a cop shoots first and then asks questions he's a "hero". When a civilian does it he goes straight to jail.

Cry me a river.  Lesson, don't play with objects that look like a gun at a playground, and then do anything other than get on your stomach on the ground when officer pull up.

DO NOT pull something that looks like a weapon out of your belt and expect salutations and a conversation for you efforts.