I believe your pros and cons are accurate. I was issued my first 870 police model with wood furniture and a bead sight in 1986. As a patrol deputy back in the stone age, that was the only long gun we had available to us. Multiple wound channels at a specific range of distance, dispatching a charging vicious dog, or searching for a suspect in an area with heavy brush, being able to transition to different types of ammo---I think the shotgun had the edge. But those are very limited circumstances.
I am a CA POST certified instructor for handgun, shotgun and patrol rifle and these days I have been relegated to full time rangemaster. I mention that only to say I have some perspective regarding limited time, resources and a limited desire to train by some officers. I continue to get training on my own dime from reputable instructors several times per year on shotgun and AR. I personally enjoy shooting the shotgun more. Maybe because I am more familiar with it and maybe for some sentimental reasons.
With all that said, the reality for L.E. instructors, I believe, is shotgun training is an uphill battle. Fewer young officers have any exposure to weapons growing up. For them, the shotgun is not something they are familiar with, and many do not give it a fair chance.
I have an 870P and a Colt 6920. My humble opinion is all officers should be proficient with and have both a patrol rifle and shotgun at their disposal. But sadly in L.E. the number of shotguns being deployed will become very limited in the next 10 years I am afraid.
What the shotgun does well, it does very well. Forced to make a choice...I'll take a patrol rifle.
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