The only time I'll resort to tazing is if they pose a threat, i.e. he has a weapon in his hands and looks as though he's about to use it, or has used it, or if he tries to run either before or during an investigation.
Other times will be when the suspect has refused to comply with my polite requests for him to put his hands on his heads. Usually I'll give two warnings and a final warning with the threat of a tazer on the last warning. You've got to give folks enough time to comply.
It will go like
"Ok buddy, I need to detain you whilst we conduct our investigation, do me a favor and place your hands on your head."
"Sir, I'm going to ask you again to place your hands on your head!"
"Sir, this is your final warning, please don't make me have to use my 50,000 volts tazer."
"Ok buddy, I did warn you."
Tazed.
Personally I've always ran away and tried initiating on cops behind a wall
Gunfight over RP mentality. So basically what your saying is a cop who is trying to get you to comply, then forced to use non lethal methods because you made a choice not to comply is just going to be murdered in cold blood. Where is the roleplay in that?
Most people in RL when faced with the prospect of receiving a 50k volt electric shock tend to comply, but because it's a game and there's no real pain, people enter 'I want to win mode' and act like super heroes. Try complying then engaging in RP. You'll be amazed at how many cops let people go for good RP.
Problem is, if you have a reputation for repeatedly choosing a gun fight over RP, cops might be less likely to attempt RP with you in the future. Metagaming, sure. Human nature? Definitely.