Question

Police discretion

Answer 1

@Shadow

Answer 2

Police discretion is the leeway given to police officers to act as they see fit on the job, in accordance with the law (plus or minus some wiggle room).

Answer 3

For example, in a traffic stop where a driver is not putting his hands on the wheel or obeying the police officers commands/unresponsive, this may lead the police officer into calling for backup and removing the driver from the vehicle.

Answer 4

This may not foot the bill for probably cause (it’s more like reasonable suspicion), so it’s there that a police officer trends into a grey area.

Answer 5

This obviously has it’s benefits and downsides. In one moment, such proactive thinking may stop a mass shooter. In another moment, you killed a man pulling out his black leather wallet.

Answer 6

Thus it is this grey area that puts police officers in a bad light. As the media never reports on the good things people do (except when it’s virtue signaling). All you hear about the police is when they’re racist or otherwise screw up. Hardly when there is an act of heroism in the community.

Answer 7

Thus in a lot of ways, this useful tool is being hinged back. Perhaps aptly in some scenarios, yet overall when you decrease the capacity of those who protect your community, it doesn’t help against their fight with the people who don’t abide by any rules.

Answer 8

Thank you so much for responding, I understand.

Answer 9

I appreciate it a lot!

Answer 10

No problem