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I've yet to learn why the priest hearing the confession can't tell the confessor as part of their absolution they must go to the police and tell them what they did.

The seal of the Confessional requires that the priest hearing the confession not say/do anything that divulges what was confessed. Thus the priest may not (for example):
- speak if the sin outright (obviously)
- treat the penitent any differently because of what was confessed
- give a penance that requires the penitent to divulge his/her sin outside of the confessional (that doesn't mean that the priest can't say for example that something stolen should be returned or that the criminal should turn himself in as a matter of justice - only that it cannot be compelled as a condition for absolution)

(p.s. the proper term for the priest hearing the confession is 'confessor', a more accurate term for the person confessing is 'penitent')

- give a penance that requires the penitent to divulge his/her sin outside of the confessional (that doesn't mean that the priest can't say for example that something stolen should be returned or that the criminal should turn himself in as a matter of justice - only that it cannot be compelled as a condition for absolution)

Thanks for posting the details.

This last part caught my eye. If someone confessing doesn't have to accept the punishment for their actions it makes you wonder how sorry they are. Criminals can pretty much just "game" the system. IOW, go commit crimes, confess, say a couple prayers and they are free to go do it again.