Originally posted by Maverick
It's incorrect as every Officer has the exact ability you say they do not. It's called discretion. Not every violation of the criminal code observed is enforced.
One officers discretion, is a supervisors "dereliction of duty" and a lawyers civil suit.
It never fails... Officer friendly lets some teen keep his weed, kid tells his parents weed is ok because the cops let him keep it, or worse... tells the commie pinko brainwashed DARE officer... either of which prompts a call to the Dept. At which time a hot steaming loaf of crap begins racing downhill to land on the officers head.
Or Officer friendly decides to cut Joe Leadfoot a break for speeding, 3 days later Joe races over some kid, a few months later the Dept and officer are slapped with a civil suit by some lawyer claiming "If you had done your job, Joe would have not been speeding and my clients kid would be alive.
After a few expensive lawsuits, the Dept modifies its manual that pretty much makes discretion issuing excessive speed citations a policy violation... ensuring that next time, they can fire the officer in an attempt to immunize themselves from liability.