OK, heres a true story that happen to me just last fall.
It was Sunday @ 0530 (thats 5:30 in the morning for you civies) I was on my way to work when this buck jumps in front of my Ford, THUMP< THUMP. I saw the buck slide over to the shoulder then try to stand. He couldn't, I guess I broke his front legs. Well in this state it is illegal to "put an animal out its misery" so protocol states that I have to contact Fish & Game. They were closed and state police responded (In 35 min) well there was this female and a male officer, he, trying to be the COP, calls for "permission" to shoot his weapon. He fires once, deer just shirks it off, twice more. Deer's really pissed now! Empties his mag. Deer still kickin around thoroughly mad at this point and bleeding profusely. He'd die in a few min anyway. So this officer goes to get "something bigger" I walked over and stood on the deer's throat for about 5 min. He died! Now if the officer would have let me fire my weapon I'd been taking the deer home without the lead poisoning! I can carry it I just can't "dispatch an animal" without asking permission.
Who says cop can shoot!
Searcher