Benefits Of Police Discretion

Police discretion simply means the ability to decide alternative endings. Although it may seem simple, police officers must decide if a need for discretion is needed or not. In law enforcement there is a need for discretion, but it solely depends on time and place. Discretion in the police department can start as soon as an officer leaves the station. Although police officers use of discretion can have benefits to the community. For example, better use of resources, better relationship with the community, and good policy practice. Each decision police officers make can be influenced from their own choice to use discretion. For example, many police officers can use their judgment when citing an individual. The police officer can use their judgment …show more content…
“The precursor to the New York Police Department’s current Patrol Guide [before 1980s], revealed that shooting a fleeing felon, firing warning shots, and putting a horse or other animal out if its misery were suitable and necessary actions in police work’’ (Examining Police Discretion, 2011, p. 2). Eventually those guidelines became restrictive. Concerned for stray bullet hitting innocent bystanders and the high murder rates made NYPD stray away from opening fire in a public place. Over time NYPD 's policy changed. “The NYPD policy delineated that officers could only use deadly physical force (discharge their firearm) in situations in which deadly physical force was used or threatened against them or another person’’ (Examining Police Discretion, 2011, p. 3). As time went on, there were many restrictions were implemented to police policy and thus changed the way police officers used their discretionary powers. “ In 1985, the United States Supreme Court acknowledged the changing times and evolving standards of decency and decided the famous Tennessee v. garner case. [...] The Supreme Court held that a police officer may not use deadly physical force to apprehend a fleeing felon who does not pose a “significant threat of death or serious physical injury” to the police officer or to others at the scene’’ (Examining Police Discretion, 2011, p. …show more content…
The usage of police discretion with respect to drones can be an advantage and disadvantage. Law enforcement departments have been using drones for surveillance. Many of those in the community are concerned with law enforcements discretionary powers and their ability to use these drones. According to Talai (2014), “Digital surveillance technology implicates a central meaning of the Fourth Amendment-distrust of police power and discretion” (p. 3). Police Departments who have access to these drones cause concern to the public even though using drones will create a safer operation. Those in favor of drones argue that drone will benefit the community. “ The mission is to have just a few officers being able to cover arguable the entire city wherever there 's a camera and redirect resources-police on the street- to areas where they are needed as opposed to having to blanket the street with officers” (Talai, 2014, p. 5). The fear that most community members have is giving the police the ability to track down their every move without them knowing it. The officers need for discretion in these types of situations are being criticized because many believe that their fourth Amendment are being violated. “Drone surveillance is yet another tool in the arsenal of police discretion, including surveillance arrest [detention and] incarceration, and