There is no clear pattern of contact or engagement. Out of an approximately 740 hours in BLEA, DT and firearms constitutes less than 180 hours total. There has to be a balance in the entire training and if you believe that recruit officers receive extensive "hand-to-hand" training, you are sadly mistaken.
Dennis Tueller (now with Glock) makes it clear that the idea he postulated was merely a start to a reaction distance. Even the oft mentioned 21 feet is considered too close.
At what point do you keep yelling at a threat to drop the knife before you are DUTY bound and obligated to stop a dangerous threat from escaping into the community? In the case of Tacoma, a reasonable person can presume that stabbing at cars, occupied or not, is a threat. Dance around? Seriously? Would you merely dance around if someone was on your property threatening you with a knife? While you can make an effort to retreat and not be sued for it, WE CAN and we do get sued for inaction.
In case you forgot, soft body armor is NOT stab proof. Hell, they are not even stab resistant for patrol cops. Slashing? Maybe. But unless you have a specific stab resistant soft body armor system, what you wear won't protect you.
If you think all we do is just shoot versus threat assessment and elimination sans firearms, then again, you have no clue. Examine ANY agency in the area. Look at the total calls for service, total contacts with EDPs, successful resolutions without the use of deadly force. Think about how many times a citizen draws a firearm in self defense without having to shoot someone to solve a threat. But ANY time someone brings a knife out, the use of force continnum changes.
As a reminder . . .
http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/article/20100903/WRT0101/100903058/-1/archive
If you wish to learn more versus laying out incorrect information, I would suggest a ride along.