I don't want to accuse all US cops of this, but it seems that, in too many cases, there is a complete inability to empathise, and the only courage some cops possess takes the form of an aim-able metallic tube from which lead objects can be rapidly expelled with deadly accuracy.

They need to be selected, trained (and repeatedly tested) to defuse situations with calm assertiveness. And if they fail the tests then they should be encouraged to change their career path.

(It doesn't help that US popular culture is chock-full of fiction in which all difficult situations can be blown away by firing a gun.)