It seems that being unarmed in that situation would be safer, wouldn't it? One doesn't 'win' a gunfight so being armed is just a provocation - unless there's a

It seems that being unarmed in that situation would be safer, wouldn't it? One doesn't 'win' a gunfight so being armed is just a provocation - unless there's a strategy and intent to disable/kill right off the bat in which case the police should be coming in as a coordinated SWAT team.