Passive method of suicide by those without the guts to kill themselves. Involves entering or drawing a police response, then provoking a lethal draw of fire by either threatening with a real or fake weapon, or aggressive maneuvering towards the police officers. Life insurance policies may cover suicide-by-cop, whereas they wouldn't cover normal suicide.
1.) A lawful or unlawful killing of an individual that is done by a police officer.
2.) A term coined in the United States in 1976, to deliberately pass blame of murder/homicide from the actions of a police officer, to the actions of a citizen.