Why should you get an increased penalty for shooting a police officer than shooting a civilian?

Also, has anyone notices how all police look like they're 17 years old these days?

botheration, it's not that police are getting younger but you're getting older.

My main concern is that police aren't required to qualify more than once a year for weapons training. To be proficient in handling and safety requires much more regular attendance at the range.

I agree with R0bert in regards the whole "shoot to kill" issue.

Despite what we see in movies, hand guns are actually quite hard to aim with, and in the heat-of-the-moment, a shot to the chest may be necessary in order to stop potential attackers quickly. From what I've heard though, police are trained to aim for the abdomen as it can take a long time to die from a bullet wound there.

Bazz,

<<If they don't chase them then the crims will know that driving a stolen car is unpunishible as they cannot be stopped.>>

I agree, but I don't think catching a petty car thief is worth the risk of running down a person who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

If the thieves continue down the path their on, they'll be caught eventually anyway.

Actually, if sighted in properly to suit the ammo and the shooter, handguns can be aimed very accurately.
At an IPSC match, semi-autos are very reliable up to 25 yards and beyond. At a Service Pistol match, revolvers are accurate up to 50 yards.

If the police formed the reasonable (even if not necessarily correct) view that the driver was seeking to run them down, then they did not need to use powers conferred by the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 to shoot. They could shoot by virtue of their right to self defence. It wouldn't even matter if the vehicle were not at that moment on a direct line of impact; after all, vehicles can be steered.

Hello Sylvia,

I note in your response that the police have the right to self-defend. Yes, you are quite correct. In fact, we all have that right.

But you miss the point. I am not challenging the police right to use force. I was once a police officer and I know how difficult it is. I challenge convenient mis-use of force.

Police car chases killed, and still kill, a lot of relatively innocent youth. Public outcry put pressure on politicians who leaned on police to moderate their procedures.

Perhaps if police shootings become as prevalent in Oz as they are in the US then we may have another public outcry.