The blame though isn't on the cops so much as on our society in general.
We have delusions about the reality of police work because of TV and cinematic distortions of real life.
This results in overblown reaction to real events, like riots in cities, because someone of a protected class was killed while committing crime.
As a result, police officers are more cautious about using their own judgement and their fear of repercussions for making a decision.
“The blame though isn’t on the cops so much as on our society in general.”
The blame is on the cops. The “society in general” tried to rush in and save the kids, but were stopped by those same cops.
The blame is precisely on the cops.
Your post #7 is sadly and totally correct!