also, since i've been in the military, i will say that ROE is utterly different in every regard just to put this in perspective of what "overzealous policing" looks like in many parts of the world. pulling checkpoint duty we had a policy of "signal, shout, shoot" on approach of vehicles. when within 200 meters, we had signs and stuff that makes it obvious to slow down at the checkpoint and stop for words. people ignoring this were "signaled" with a flag that was bright orange i had to wave at them. if they didn't slow i "shouted" at them with an M4 with tracers shot into the air or dirt near them. if that didn't work either, they're usually within 50 meters at this point and i am cleared to shoot them with the .50.
when i was a sheriff's deputy i carried a baton, a can of Sabre OC spray, and a newly issued TASER device. i also carried my duty weapon, a SIG handgun. i was working with a contract city and was called to assist transportation police with a possibly armed violent man at a train station. we approached and i stood nearby with my hand on my gun. when he start approaching us determinedly, i drew the TASER and ordered him to comply. he refused, kept approaching, and eventually ran at us carrying a bag in one hand and what turned out to be a bottle in the other.
he pretty much ignored the TASER entirely - the loose hoodie combined with a couple shirts made it so it had little effect and we couldn't tell for a second. in that short time i had just dropped the TASER and drawn my duty weapon, he had already sprinted close enough to slap the transportation officer over the head with his hobo bag and tried to run past us into the parking lot. he was tackled by the second transportation officer thankfully. he had covered about 2 car lengths in that time frame.
it is taught pretty universally to never underestimate a melee attacker if they're close enough.
