The car itself is a deadly weapon.
In 1970s Boston, this would have never made the news.
In 1980s Boston, this would have made the news as an unquestionably justified police shooting.
In 1990s Boston, this would have made the news as a questionably justified police shooting.
In 2000s Boston, this would have made the news as a questionably unjustified police shooting.
In 2010s Boston, might have made the news as a questionably excessive use of police force.
In 2020s Boston, the cop would have to go to trial.
I was raised during the era of the drunken, racist, World War II / Korean War vet, Irish Boston cops ... if they cracked your skull open your family would accept that you must have done something to deserve the cop's beatdown ... the cop was an unquestionable authority figure, he went to school with your parents so he knew your neighborhood and your family ... if your response to the officer was something other than a contrite "yes, sir", "I'm sorry sir", etc. you deserved whatever fate came your way at the hands of the officer ... that's they way it was ... you didn't run away (if you weren't fast enough or far away enough to out run them), you didn't resist, you didn't argue ... if your family got word that you were disrespectful to an officer in any perceived way, you'd get a beating from your parents, your uncles, your cousins, etc ... you stayed in line ... no lawyer or social worker was going to save my sorry ass ... that's the way it was, and that's they way it still is in a few places ... when I see these police body cams, I see resisting arrest, evading arrest, assault, battery, and other forms of escalation on the part of the suspects ... from my perspective, when the police come for you, you surrender immediately without resistance ... in the days before smart phones, body cams, and social justice warriors, the last place you wanted to be was in front of a cop when he's having a really bad day, which was most days ... because cops mostly came across people when those people were experiencing peoples' worst moments in life.
My cousin recently retired from a local Sheriff's office, and he couldn't retire fast enough. Other than love for the community they are protecting, I can't see why anyone would want to be a police officer in today's climate. Is it really worth it to be the spouse or a child of an officer that dies in the line of duty for a traffic stop, for serving a warrant, or being gunned down by some career criminal out on bail or on parole?
If the community you risk your life to protect and serve doesn't appreciate it, why put your family through the stress of being a cop?