Reuben *spoilers*
I liked the movie, but after seeing it again, now, I realize that a real cop never would have died the way Reuben did, in all likelihood. A real policemen would have been trained to kick the weapon away from the suspect's reach once M.J. had shot him. He'd know that the fact that the suspect had been shot didn't mean he wasn't still dangerous.
"Careful, man! There's a beverage, here."