I'm sure most of the anti's will view it as a "cop-killer" pistol round. It won't penetrate a "standard vest", but willed be vexed, nonetheless!
17 hmr does wonders for going thru vests from a rifle, I have no idea what its like from a hand gun. the 7.62 tok and the 9x25 dillon also do a very good job at going thru vests. So does just about every rifle round ever made.
If I wanted to kill cops, I'd use some type of carbine, rather its ak, AR, sks, mini 14/30... etc or a battle rifle, like say a M1, FAL,hk 91... etc.
None of that matters if I put a bullet in thier head. no vest is going to stop that.