Teaching Cops Empathy: Is it Necessary?

Brett Winterble asks, why do only cops need special training? Why not train the public to appreciate what a truly tough job police officers have? 

Police officers in San Diego County are undergoing empathy training. More specifically, they are participating in a class called “Effective Interactions,” and its goal is to help officers cultivate empathy for others.

What does that mean, exactly? It means using words, instead of force, to diffuse a tense situation