Excessive Force, in relation to Police matters...

[Oneironaut Zero]

So, there is a story that is back in the news, about a man who was shot by police officers, when "attempting to run them over with his (stolen) SUV." The officers fired over 130 rounds to "neutralize the threat", which is what they are trained to do. I understand that a situation such as this is harrowing, and unpredictable, and the objective of "neutralizing the threat" is a just one. However, we have other instances (such as another, when a man who made a threatening - however slow and avoidable - advance on an officer with a knife was gunned down) when "neutralizing the threat" is conceivably less demanding than shooting to kill. Another example of this (not to make this too personal or anything) was when my best friends 9year old (and completely non-violent) doberman pinscher was shot dead by police officers, after they walked into his backyard to investigate the house alarm going off, and then ran from the dog upon seeing it, prompting the dog to chase after them. So what exactly is "excessive force?" Are police justified by using maximum force to neutralize a threat, when it is perfectly clear that such exhausting measures aren't the only options left on the table? Is the knee-jerk reaction to shoot for the head or heart - at the first sign of danger - one that should be taught to our men and women in uniform, or should they be held to the standard of assessing the situation and reacting in a way that limits the loss of life; including the offender's? Any opinions and/or related stories out there?