This...
"Nor do I expect "perfection ", such a characteristic in humans doesn't exist. What I DO expect is reasonable, deliberate, intentional actions, that reduce or minimize the risks to noncombatans. The risks need to justify the rewards.... AND, as you said, one must accept full and complete responsibility for each and every round, and the manner in which it was employed."
EVERY pull of the trigger is a choice, and we are responsible for, and have to live with, the consequences of where EVERY round goes......morally, legally, emotionally, spiritually....whether the shot hits its intended target or not.
In this case the officer faced the very difficult choice of letting the dog attack, and maybe defending against the attack through other means, or discharging the weapon to try and stop the attack; both choices come with risks and consequences. He / she chose to shoot and now has to live with it.
The lesson for me is don't pull the trigger if I can't live with the consequences of what happens if it goes wrong. Its assumed that if I pull the trigger my life hangs in the balance. But change the dynamic a little...what if the errant bullet had struck a 4 year old girl, pregnant mom, expectant father? There are fates worse than death, and killing someone like that by accident may be one of them.
The circumstances, loud music at 4am don't mitigate any of the outcomes. I'm not commenting on whether the officer made the right choice in a very tough circumstance.... just that he or she has to live with the outcome....and that won't be easy.