Wow, that's rings true to a degree. Didn't that kind of happen during the Columbine massacre? SWAT and other officers were there all geared up but didn't bust in and kill those creeps but waited for who knows what till the creeps killed themselves. Or am I wrong about that?

You're not wrong about that. Seems to be a common theme with cops these days. Yet hundreds of young and old New York City fire fighters ran into the two burning Trade Center towers without a thought about their own lives, eager to save as many as they could. It was more dangerous a place than any cops have ever had to deal with before. Yet these firemen did it and too many died themselves in the process. Seems like cops and SWAT are so willing to use excess force to apprehend non-violent criminals, or innocent folks, yet cowar in all their high tech gear and wait while hostages die during violent situations and standoffs. Sad. Now I don't mean to degrade all law enforcement. I understand being a cop is a tough job, but I think too many legalities prevent cops from doing their jobs today. There are situations where the cops have saved the day and they should get the credit they deserve. But there are many situation where the cops failed to act quick enough and people died. Worse yet innocent people mistakenly killed by the cops during a raid and the cops try to cover it up.

On the surface WesternHunters' analogy seems on target, but in the deep, dark crevices where Lawyers hide it is not so apparent. However in the legalities area he is dead on.
Any dog, no matter what the breed, will take an aggressive posture when someone kicks in the door. That posture is all the officers need to shoot to kill as it then becomes a threat to the officers personal safety, at least that's what their Lawyer will argue in court.
Now going into a building with hostages, or any other victims inside, when the shooters are still inside with them becomes a whole other issue to a Lawyer. The second the Officers enter the Building they become responsible for the safety of those inside, bear in mind the the actual shooter/s bear no responsibility, If any of the people inside are injured or killed by either the Officers or the Shooters then the Officers could be held liable in a court of law for negligence in the coming Law Suits.

Tort Reform, Tort Reform.
It don't matter if you are Republican, Democrat, Communist, Liberal, Conservative or Moderate, Tort Reform should be at the top of your list of things that need to be taken a hard look at and changes made.
Everything from your Car insurance to your medical cost are directly affected by Lawyers and the frivolous Law Suits they File along with the outrageous settlements and compensatory awards handed out by Judges and Juries.

No, cops are not legally responsible if you or anyone dies under their watch as a result of criminal activity. They are not legally required to protect your life from criminal activity. They only have to answer and take responsibility if it's thier bullets that hit you. Ask any cops. I seriously doubt that it's a lawyer thing. I mean, cops don't seem to care about lawyers when they beat a man senselessly just for riding a bicycle in a crowded downtown Denver street. SWAT didn't seem to think about that when they shot two Labs at the home of a town mayor. Persoanlly I think those cops shot those dogs simply because the thought they could. Seems to me like the cops aren't worried enough about lawyers to double check that they have the correct address when conducting a raid. I think it's more an issue of guts, competence, and integrity if you ask me. Columbine wasn't the only time they sat a waited til it was too late to save someone. Same mistake happened at a highschool in Bailey Colorado last September. I don't have a good view of cops, because I'm friends with three cops. Yeah I know them well and can get along with them fine, but I sure as hell don't trust them and never will. I also grew up next to a Denver cop was the worst neigbor imaginable. It's hard to believe an officer of the law could be so power hungry and abusive as he was against harmless people, yet cowar when he met his match. Just my .02 cents.

Ok WesternHunter I asked a cop, My Uncle, Joe Roland, Bay County Sheriffs Office, Retired. He had this to say, Cops Are NOT responsible for your injuries as a result of criminal activity as you stated, they are however liable for your safety once they have entered the scene and their action results in your injury.It matters not whose Bullet is inside you if the officers actions can be proven to be the DIRECT cause of your bullet wound. Most likely, he said, any suit brought about for this would be settled as it is usually cheaper. Uncle Joe stresses however that he is NOT a lawyer.
We have a situation down here right now where at least a dozen people a year drown in the Gulf and the County refuses to hire lifeguards because of the Legal risks. Ridiculous I say, but their lawyers state that if someone drowns while the lifeguards are on duty and it can be proven that not enough was done or that their response time was slow that it could lead to lawsuits.
It was only just recently that Florida passed the "Good Samaritan" law protecting people who try to save someones life but fails, from being sued by their families.
Your comments about cops not caring about lawyers when beating bicyclist is not even close to being the same thing as you never know what exactly happen that may have caused the beating, As I stated in my earlier post that an aggressive posture will get an aggressive response, human or dog. If there was no posture put forth by the bicyclist then those cops are criminals in my eye.
I too don't have any love lost for cops even though my Uncle and my Step Father were both Sheriffs Deputies and I also have several acquaintances who are officers and I believe from personal experiences that being a power hungry, abusive and down right disrespectful person is a prerequisite to qualify for a position as a cop and I know that from living with one for 7 years.

So your telling me that if a cop busts down my door and my 5# miniature dachshund starts barking at him he can shoot it I have seen the guy on it takes a theif take extremely vicious dogs and shoo them out the door or close them off in another room with no problem