Police vests were weaker back then same with the quality of 6.5 damage. They were also less competent than they are today by a big ass margin. As I was the person defending the fed you spoke about.
To cop balance debate I wish for just two things I really, REALLY wish Bamf/Paratus would try/implement.
Remove payout from lethals. <---- Period. @bamf
I don't like nor do I take advantage of combat seizing as I disagree with it.
Cops are fine as is in terms of assets (though our armored vehicle selections throw us off curve considerably in engagements because with the strider, timmy has to man smokes and the experienced person has to drive or vice versa, black ifrits/UC would be awesome and a realistic balance update). I'm just honestly gonna say you are unintelligent if you are complaining about cops coming back at Prison Break/Fed/Bank.
If cops return more than once (1 life +1 respawn) to a pursued cartel/rebel that's pretty dumb.
Lethals should be a choice not taken lightly, and still getting payed for it is keeping the rebel cops that play once a month around to go and shit around on the server for hours, and get paid to be awful officers.
Remove the payout and wait for feedback for a few weeks like the BH update. I guarantee we'll get healthier police interactions. As the other LTs said payout doesn't determine our lethal judgements, as it shouldn't.