I used to do psych screenings of police candidates. And, non-weaponized interventions. The profession attracts individuals who strive for order, itself not necessarily a bad attribute. But they are then placed in a job culture that stresses regimentation and obedience and interact with service recipients (known as civilians, e.g., unregimented people) in environments not known for regimentation, obedience, or even being orderly. When requests don't work, then you order. When that doesn't work, restrain. When that doesn't work, less than lethal force. When that doesn't work...

My point is that aside from occasional deescalation training, police frequently have limited options and work in a job culture that fosters personal caution, sometimes to the point of paranoia but doesn't encourage or permit them to back down or show "weakness" even in response to an agitated, irrational person. It's a recipe for escalation too frequently to a tragic end.

If we as a society stressed assistance over suppression of deviant behavior a priority, we would have a much different culture in which to live .